Mice, snakes, spiders, closed spaces, embarrassment. Those are examples of our fears. But is fear always a bad thing?
Fear can be real or only in our head. Fear can paralyse us or help us. Fear can warn us and save our life. But there’s one thing we have to learn – we have to know, how to manage it. Fear is sometimes similar to fire – it’s our “friend” as long as we control it.
When is it bad to be worried? Our worries and fear are bad when they stop us from doing our career or living a normal life. If you get in such a situation, it’s time to solve the problem!
Related Grammar
Mice, snakes, spiders or other insects, embarrassment, failure, closed spaces, public speaking. Have any of those words given you goose-bumps? Have you shuddered at the thought? If so, you are probably very familiar with fear.
What’s hidden behind this word? What’s the “something” which makes my breath hitch or quicken and my hands tremble? Fear is an emotion we experience simultaneously with pain or danger. It awakens a need or desire to escape or fight.
We can distinguish two types of fear – real and imagined. Here we should realise, that fear isn’t always a bad thing. Mostly when talking about the “real fear” we must admit it can help us. Whether it warns us for a danger or makes us feel suspicious, it might save our life. Without feeling fear in certain situations, we could unintentionally risk our health.
We can be brought into real troubles, when our fear is irrational or imagined. This fear can be paralysing and may end up preventing us from having a normal productive life and career. Let’s face it; there are many people who get stuck where they are only because they are too worried of failure, rejection or simply of a step in the dark.
It’s not a big deal when those fears don’t affect people’s lives or jobs, but otherwise it’s necessary to try to fight and overcome the fear or in more serious cases even ask for help.
Definitions
failure – the fact of not achieving the desired
goose-bumps – a bristling of the hairs on the skin, e.g. from cold or fear
shudder – to shake or tremble suddenly and violently, e.g. from horror, fear, aversion
be familiar – to have good knowledge
the breath hitches – when the breathing is out of control
tremble – to shake, shiver
simultaneously – something happening at the same time
distinguish – to indicate differences
suspicious – to be disposed to suspect something wrong
unintentionally – not done on purpose
face (something) – to express that one must be realistic about an unwelcome fact or situation
get stuck – to be unable to move further
to step in the dark – to do something with an unsure result
overcome – to overpower, e.g. with emotion; to deal with something successfully