Fear - The Mind Killer OR Is It?

"Fear, like breathing, is necessary. Fear is a good thing. It's what keeps people alive. Too much fear, unnecessary fear, is a bad thing." ~ Remo, The Destroyer Series

Fear has been the subject of this blog before. There is an excellent book on fear written by Mr. Gavin DeBecker. Awesome book. Rory Miller has also written about fear from a perspective of violence and violent people. Fear is something with the stigma that it is wrong and we must eliminate fear from our lives yet the quote of this fictional character tells us, rightly so, that fear is something nature provided for survival and other things and that fear, if perceived and used properly, will benefit us when we need the extra chemical push of our bodies and minds. 

In one of the books I am reading the author also mentions how fear works, fundamentally. How love and the fear of violence kind of trigger the same chemical reactions and releases in our bodies. The only differences is perception according to the labels and the scripts that run for love and for violence. 

Controlling fear means being exposed to fear in a way that helps us to recognize, take control of and then direct that fear toward more productive venues. It is about using the adrenaline or chemical dumps that occur when exposed to stimuli that induces releases be they about some non-violent stuff or violence. It sure would help martial artists who study for self-defense to actually use it properly if self-defense becomes necessary. 

"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." ~ Dune Quote