Your biggest Fear

What was your biggest fear & How did you conquer it?

How do you feel now you're not afraid of it compared to how you felt before?

I've not posted a thread in a little while so figured I'd post this one...

My biggest fear used to be that I'd never be socially accepted by anyone.

One day I was thrown into a group of people and made to participate...this conquered my fear because they accepted me into the group.

I feel so much better now, happier and more confident...

Here's a little quote I've come up with myself.

Fear is like the dark, you do not fear, fear as you do not fear the dark...You fear what might happen within it...the fear of the unknown or danger...but the fear of getting hurt is a lot worse than the actual pain its self...you can heal your pain...but not your fear...that you must conquer.

To say I am not afraid would be to lie, but I am not very afraid of much especially in general life. Am I afraid of the dark? No. Am I afraid of heights, a little, because if there is an edge and no railing I realize that I could fall and either seriously hurt myself or kill myself. To me fear is a healthy condition towards dangerous elements within the environment.

I do not get afraid when I go white water rafting because I know there is safety involved and set up. Do I worry? Yes, sometimes. Yet that is healthy, recognizing that I am in danger. I am more likely to be afraid in a car than white water rafting. There are times when I am worried about driving because of the snow or better yet, stupid drivers. We all make stupid decisions sometimes while driving despite how conscious we are trying to be of it.

Though I am not so afraid of dying...I just hope death is not calling me yet.

There are some fears that are natural and aren't debilitating to the quality of life you have. They are good fears in my opinion, haha! Like being nervous on the edge of a cliff or roof. Your body reacts to it by holding on more tightly or thinking more clearly. Now, obviously, if that fear turns you into being unable to move, that's excessive and becomes debilitating. I get nervous on the edge of a roof, but I'm quite comfortable in a jet 35000 feet up; there is a huge difference between the two...

Anyway, to the OP. I used to have a fear of death. My former religion had death packaged up quite neatly on how to prepare for it, what to do after you died, what to expect, etc. When I stopped believing in my former religion I became very worried and fearful over what would happen to me or loved ones that died.

How did I overcome that fear?

I lost my fear of death through my studies in the Initiate Program.

I had one other huge fear that I overcame while being a Jedi, but I don't quite know how to illustrate it without sounding arrogant so I'll pass on it for the time being. (Haha, you might say I have a fear of coming across as arrogant if I share it, haha). I'd like to share it, but it's a very sensitive subject. I'll think about it.

MTFBWY,
LTK

What do I fear? Normally I would say that I don’t have any fears that everyone else wouldn’t share.

I agree with much of what has already been said and I do believe that having fears is a natural response to what can be perceived as a dangerous situation. They are probably coded in our DNA as a kind of “self preservation device.” And as long as you don’t let your fears control either you or your actions then they are a healthy part of life. I would also say that there is no merit to the absence of fear; but, rather the merit is found in how one faces, or deals with their fears.

That being said… years ago I was accused of being a “know it all.” And I was even accused of being arrogant. These were hard things to swallow and I spent a lot of time thinking about these accusations. I realized that from their perspective there was probably some truth to the accusations. But, that did not mean that the accusations were true! Prior to coming here, I had always thought of myself as being “pretty smart” and tried to help others as much as possible whenever I could. What I failed to consider was rather they wanted help in the first place… or to hear what I had to say!

And so I started deploying lots of “CYA” devises such as, “in my opinion” or “just a thought.” I don’t guess that I ever really “got over” or “concurred” my fear of having those accusations thrown my direction again; because, I still employ those “CYA” devises. And I am constantly careful not to say too much. Or, maybe that occurrence is what I needed to humble my inflated ego!?!?!?!

Not becoming the best version of myself I know can be.
I have the knowledge in my brain.. I can manage at times.. but I grow weak and falter often and sometimes it takes me longer than it should to get back up.
I don't mean physically - it's much, much more than that...

When I think of fear it always brings to mind the Bene Gesserit litany from Dune:

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

I've found that, for me, I have to face my fears head on. I have to be 'thrown in at the deep end' so to speak. For example, I used to fear speaking infront of people, that was, until I had a job that made me speak infront of hundreds and thousands of people. Now, it doesn't worry me at all.