The Other ‘F’ Word
Apart from the much celebrated ‘F’ word which we are all aware of, there is a low profile, 4 letter ‘F’ word which we all experience but mention much less. That word is ‘Fear’. By definition ‘Fear’ is an emotional aspect of every creature and it is inherently linked to ‘risk’. Thus, it is the response to a perceived sense of threat or risk to one’s well-being in one or more ways.
There are two types of Fear: Good Fear and Bad Fear. Good fear is that which protects you or anything that one deems valuable. The definition of ‘something valuable’ depends on an individual’s perception but generally wealth, status, power, security, life, health, family, self-respect and emotional well-being cover almost all things valuable. Obviously, any Fear that stops an individual from putting his own life at risk is ‘good fear’. Similar arguments could be put in support of fears that protect health, family and security. There are exceptions to these but we will ignore them for now (Example: An acrobat or a mountaineer puts her life at risk).
If we think about wealth, status, power, self-respect and emotional well-being; they form another group of valuables that are critical to an individual’s ‘successful’ existence. Generally, wealth gives status and power, which in turn boosts a sense of self-respect (note: self-respect is not the realm of rich people only) in an individual, who ends up in a better emotional state, which in turn can be exalted if the former group of valuables (notably health, family and security) line up in favour of the individual.
We would all agree that life, health, security, emotional well-being, self-respect are non-negotiable to even grasp the concept of ‘good fear’. Are the rest far too important? Wealth, status and power are important but to what level is dependent on an individual’s ambition and requirements. The higher the level of importance accorded to the later set of valuables, the more chances are that an individual might be ready to challenge ‘bad fear’.
‘Bad Fear’ is the fear that makes you think twice before taking a calculated risk. But what is ‘calculated risk’? What if risk taken does uncalculated damages? Would the Fear attached to such risk then be ‘Good’? The answer depends on the perspective of the individual. All those who are passionate about learning from failures would embrace this ‘fear’ while those against would slam it as a wrong decision or a ‘bad call’. We must have all heard about that billionaire who started his business with ten shillings or another who fought illness, penury and rejections to become a great statesman or that General who crossed a swollen river to win an unwinnable battle and on and on go the stories that egg people to embrace ‘bad fear’. The funny part about ‘bad fear’ is that, it is just not bad. It’s just deemed to be bad. Thus, fear that stops an individual or group to say or do things to achieve a higher goal is ‘bad fear’.
Those who choose to embrace this fear and take a calculated risk, stand the chance to succeed or fail abysmally. But so long as the risk taken doesn’t give rise to risk aversion, the risk is worth taken, the fear is worth embracing. Thus, the next time you face a situation which demands risk taking, the solution may lie in the ‘bad fear’ zone. Ask yourself, what you can lose if you embrace a risk that may be making you uncomfortable. After all, between success and failure is ‘fear of failure’ and the ones who cross the chasm get rewarded handsomely? Forget about the negatives.
The 19th century monk, Swami Vivekananda posed a question: What would you do if you get pickpocketed on a busy street? Would you run after the pick-pocket or would you keep walking? This in itself defines the dilemma among other things: should I embrace ‘good fear’ or should I embrace ‘bad fear’. Should I keep pushing or should I run and cry about the loss.
This leads to another valuable, the supremely valuable ‘happiness’ which encompasses all valuables and it is the measure of this valuable that drives separation of all fears, good or bad. Now, does zero fear drive extreme happiness? The difficult answer is ‘it depends’ but an expansion on that theme should be left for another day.
