This topic is an extension of my (most recent) previous post concerning the type(s) of fear that prevents us from accepting certain truths which in turn allow us to reach different (and more intellectually honest) conclusions.
Now, if someone is wielding a box cutter and is poised to stab me in the neck because they want to kill me - I *should* be afraid. In my case, I never saw it coming. So I never had the time to be afraid. However, a few weeks later, while I was back at the park engaging one of the homeless in conversation, I was asked if I wasn't concerned about being attacked again. Right at that moment, another homeless person came up and hugged me from behind. My response: "If I really was worried, *that* (being hugged unexpectedly from behind) should have freaked me out." The point is that it's not really fear but anxiety when you are worried about something that *might* happen.
For want of a better word, fear is legitimate and should be the normal response to actual danger. I'm not sure it applies to people who need to be right all the time - the only real danger is to their own self images - which could probably use a little deflating anyway. Perhaps it's pride more than fear which is the prevailing emotion that needs to be checked. It seem to require humility to consider the possibility that one might be wrong. So perhaps it's more about conquering anxiety and pride that allows us to make truly informed choices?
No comments:
Post a Comment