#SMED 11
The Webster Comprehensive Dictionary describes fear as ‘ An emotion excited by threatening evil or impending pain, accompanied by a desire to avoid or escape it.’
It further describes afraid as ‘Filled with apprehension; apprehensive; fearful.
In addressing the issue of ‘we are the afraid of the wrong things, I looked at it from different angles, i.e phobias and general fears
Phobias
The internet defines phobias as ‘an aberrant and intense fear of an object or situation that poses little or no actual danger.’ A number of phobias are listed, ranging from a fear of :
- open and high places; closed or confined spaces; heights; snakes; darkness; flying; drinking alcohol; undressing in front of someone; houses or being stuck in a house, etc.
For those people suffering from some of the afore-mentioned phobias, the fear is real and they go to extreme lengths to avoid being caught up in such situations where they come face to face with their fears. In this regard I am specifically reminded of an incident in season 5 of ‘America’s got Talent’ where Sharon Osbourne found it absolutely hilarious when fellow judge, Howie Mandell (well-known for his phobia of germs), made a dash from the judges table when he perceived that a contestant threw used dental floss at him.
In responding to the statement, ‘We are afraid of the wrong things’ I believe that to the millions suffering from phobias, their fears are real and correct according to their frame of reference. Without a passion for or a degree in psychology, I believe that whilst some people have empathy, others find it difficult to understand the extent of such phobias hence it is easy to conclude that they are afraid of the wrong things, i.e .
- “Nothing is going to happen – why are you afraid of flying?”
- “Nothing is going to happen – I fail to understand your fear of heights!”
General fears
There are numerous examples where people carry deep-seated fears with them throughout their lives. Some of the examples:
- Afraid of rejection – prohibits people of expressing affection, love
- Afraid of failure – prohibits people/students of trying
- Afraid of people not believing them - prohibits victims of telling about sexual molestation
- Afraid of growing old - prohibits people of letting go of their youth
- Afraid of dying - prohibits people of letting go of life
- Afraid of the dreaded telephone call in the middle of the night when teenagers are out partying - prohibits parents of having a good night’s sleep
- Afraid of commitment - prohibits people of building sound relationships
- Afraid of losing parental status - prohibits mothers especially, of letting go of their sons
With the necessary support, behavioural and attitude changes, I believe that we fear the wrong things and that fears within this category can be adequately addressed. One recent fear relating to South Africa South Africa
Post 2010 Soccer World Cup, Sepp Blatter, Danny Jordaan and the millions of proudly South Africans proved conclusively to the world, and in particular to Australia and England, that they were afraid of the wrong things. Soccer fans arrived in their thousands and we hosted one of the most successful soccer tournaments. Even our vuvuzelas made it onto the world stage.
In conclusion, the quotation by Marrianne Williamson speaks a thousand words :
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. "
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. "
South Africa showed the world that they were afraid of the wrong things
It's human nature to fear things that we have no control over. We can either let this get us down or choose to overcome the fear and make something positive out of it.
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