Fear is really a device..
Fear is a tool for enemies to get their way over on you. Fear is also a necessary biological response to danger. It can save your life. It can ruin your life too. How are we supposed to know healthy fears from insanity?
Sharing some reading on fear.
I’ve been reading about fear, when it’s rational, when it’s unhealthy. It turns out, folks have researched this pretty well. They’ve even come up with ways to help one determine what kind of fear they may be experiencing. I just wanted to share some of what I discovered.
2 kinds of fear.
There’s what’s called “rational fear” and “irrational fear,” Google says. Rational fear is based in reality. It helps with avoiding danger. When the danger is over, watch out for irrational fear. Here you’re looking at phobias and other behaviors. One of these means they’re crazy, one means you are. Side note: been crazy a long time, myself. I wouldn’t be too worked up about being called ‘crazy’. Just because it’s true doesn’t mean you have to be snooty about it. There’s still some good stuff coming. I’d hate for you to quit before the magic happens.
Fear God.
When I was a child, I was taught to fear God. I was even considering a tattoo of just that, “Fear God.” There was a “No Fear” brand of clothing and stickers at the time. It made sense for a hot minute. Glad I never had money for that tat. I’ve seen a couple “Fear God” tattoos on folks since. Double glad. Feels very much like sports. That isn’t what this is about for me.
Fearing God, to me at this point in life is an irrational fear. Even if I was still a Christian, it would be too. The Christian doctrine is about turning over your fear to Jesus. That’s faith. The message should be, “have faith,” not “be scared.” I don’t have faith. But I can see its uses and understand if folks go that route. I don’t think they’re right to make anyone else afraid of God, though. That makes for peons, not troopers. It isn’t enabling and reaffirming. It’s stealing. That’s not faith. It’s criminal.
3 key words starting with “Reality.”
The folks on Google have come up with 3 keys to determining what kind of fears we experience and I’ll tell ya’, I think they’re handy. Reality, proportion, and function are three words to try to remember. A lot of danger is false, so reality comes first. Many times we take on fear that isn’t ours. Or we are led to believe we are in danger so we behave predictably. A reality check helps here.
Proportion.
Proportion is the amount of fear based on the amount of danger. Many of us are out of whack there. Getting shots is no big deal. Perhaps there’s issues if you’re fearful in that area. There’s no evidence normal shots cause autism or anything. But the perceived evidence can make for bad decisions regarding vaccines. If you’re struggling with perceived or real danger, I think that’s okay. It’s okay to be confused. I wouldn’t be afraid of confusion right now, perk of fear work.
Function.
Function is about what you miss out on, being afraid. Avoidance phobias, avoiding social situations. Now, I don’t like crowds. But I do like going places. Work in progress.
The bros are scaredy cats.
There’s a lot of dudes around here with loud trucks, flags, guns, crazy loud music, “Fuck off!” signs in their windows. I’ve seen lots of confederate shit the last couple years. Arrogant jerks, really. But they’re just as scared as anyone, maybe more so. They’ve justified being assholes because they’re so terrified. Get this, they’ll tell you that’s being “manly” too. They’ll try to scare you into being a jerk with them! Don’t fall for it. If you’re a man, you don’t need them. But if you’re a kid, you don’t have a lot of choices. I try not to be too hard on those dudes. I picture sad childhoods with just about every one. Even if they don’t know it was sad. But they’re very annoying. I don’t always do my best there. Just being honest.
I’m not done with fear, by a mile.
I have many irrational fears. I’m working on them, but the reality, proportion, and function questions have helped a ton. “Am I acting right? What am I afraid of?” is a thought process with me now. Any time. That’s pretty new. And it’s gotten better since doing it. “Getting better” for me means acting rationally and healthy sleep, most often, being nice if I’m on my game.
Just one thing that’s different now,
I used to say “that’s not the reality of the situation,” when listening to folks’ bullshit. Actually learning what and what not to be afraid of has removed that sentence from my vocabulary. Why say it? To feel superior? It might be their reality..It’s not like I’m equipped to do years of therapy here. Why try to start? It’s because I was irrationally afraid these folks would be in a position of power over me. Once I realized they were just as powerless as anyone, and the rich bastards they look up to are actually the power, it felt good to let them figure out reality like I did. Maybe it will stick that way.
Return to home.🏠
About AI and fear:
One of the major fear mongering topics of today circles around AI. I encourage deep thinking on consequences. I’ve found in my thinking and research, AI is much like us in that it’s good and bad. In general, I’m not a fan of it in creative areas..but I love how it saves time in menial tasks. Given the reaction to AI art globally, I’m not as terrified as I used to be of it. That’s just one topic! You can do this! Don’t act afraid, act like you’ve thought about it.
Free codes if you like from GetMusic.FM,
Boots on the Ground, protest music with bkbirge me and Keri.
The Kintners is just me and Keri with friends occasionally.
Djembe Funk is just me having a ball in my music room. Enjoy!
Thanks for checking things out. Hope you enjoyed it. -K
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