Fear And Control

It doesn't take a sixth sense to know that what we fear has a way of controlling us, in that it has a potent influence on what we do or do not do. For me, this aspect of fear manifests more in not doing than in doing.

For example, If I fear not living up to the expectations that my parents have of me, then I will not do what they do not expect me to do.

At a basic level, fear can seem like a guardrail that sets us on a particular trajectory and prevents us from moving outside of it.

On a different level, fear can also seem like a potent tool to utilize for control. Whether we are conscious of it or not, as individuals we can instill fear into our fellow human beings and have them do something or not do something.

This is how parents subtly influence their children with stories about heroes and villains, for example.

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The Tool of Control

Taking a step back, a tool can be wielded masterfully provided the wielder understands the structure and functions of the tool. Now, is fear natural or not?

Such a question doesn't necessarily have a yes or no answer, since it depends on the perspective one is looking from. This is usually the situation when living in a sophisticated or multifaceted world. There are many viewpoints to tap from and one isn't necessarily the correct or incorrect view, since each has an element of correctness and incorrectness in them.

Taking a strictly modern viewpoint, I'll say fear is both natural and unnatural, perhaps, more of the latter than the former. In my view, the difference between the two is one is warranted while the other is not.

Natural fear is warranted, it's tangible and objective. Unnatural fear is the opposite, it mimicks tangibility and objectiveness but when we move pass its appearance, we do not find anything substantial.

Coming back to the example mentioned above about the fear of not living up to the expectations of my parents. Is that kind of fear natural or not?

My mind can trick me in all sorts of ways to make me believe this kind of fear is natural and warranted. Perhaps, my parents have given so much to me so I have to do what they expect or maybe, they know better and want the best for me.

Granted, both can be correct and seem like justifiable reasons to fear bursting this bubble of expectation. But if we're being really realistic, this fear is baseless, since this bubble of expectation is an illusion born from the dreams and perceived potential of its creators.

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In terms of control, this illusionary bubble of expectation can determine my career path, the place I live in or visit and even the type of person I marry.

Such is the scenario, where fear can orchestrate a life on autopilot, lived within the confines of someone else's dreams.

Fear's Wider Reach

Taking a step forward, fear as a structure has a function called control. And this control can be enacted unintentionally, not just by parents on their children, but also by societal expectations, peer pressure, and even the media we consume.

Fear of being ostracized, ridiculed, or failing to keep up can become a powerful motivator, shaping our choices in subtle yet significant ways.


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