So, yesterday I was watching a video online, an intriguing one. The video captured an experiment where toddlers were placed in a space with medium sized, trained pythons. The toddlers were playing around the snakes, freely and with no regard for any harm or danger. They were even playing with the snakes, yet nothing happened. The researchers, of course stated they knew nothing was going to happen. It looked disturbing though.
The experiment was used by someone to discuss what fear is and how we are conditioned with fear in every facet of life. He stated that the fear of height and the fear of loud noises are the inherent fears a child has. All other forms of fear or measures by which we become frightened by things, scenarios or happenings are a conditioning of our minds as we developed. When we grow to see some things being feared, or we're outrightly told things that instil that fear, then we get conditioned to fear such.
Over time, I've tried to fear less. I have my stories of the things fear cost me, and I must say that it's painful to recall such things and see that it was fear that stopped me. Is it me choosing not to give answers to some questions back then in elementary classes, only to realise they were right? Or that of not starting something because it might not come out successful? Fear cripples. Yes, and I've learnt this enough to carry confidence as a shield even as I face life.
There was a business I was supposed to explore. Should I say that it was fear that kept me from going in or was it me being careful? I don't know. But maybe both played a role. I was willing to take the risk, but maybe not the degree or measure of what I needed to. I agree that there were some loopholes regarding the knowledge about that venture, which ushered in the probability of failure. And where the thought of failure has ground, fear was the mastermind and usher to it. I guess fear might have had some level of impact in the situation.
What would it be like if fear were to be taken all out of the equation? I believe I speak for many when I say that people would do a lot if fear were absent. The only reason some people couldn't attain one height or another was fear. One fear or another is the reason many dreams and desires remain unfulfilled, and businesses and institutions are not established. I understand the place of being discreet and calculative, because not being afraid doesn't mean being careless. Yet, can we say it's not fear in most cases?
The absence of fear would do people a lot. It would mean the absence of a barrier, giving people access to that goal or dream they desire. Nevertheless, it's noteworthy of mention that fear can be a defence system, shielding us from the effects of some things we might tend to go into. Especially when such things are improper or not plausible. In that sense, fear could be considered healthy.