Fear, what is it? Well let's see. The Oxford dictionary has many definitions for it, but let's break it down to key words. 1) Unpleasant emotion, 2) Anxiety, 3) Apprehension...and there is more, but I think we all get the drift. We all have experienced it at some point in our lives. As humans it is a built in part of our psyche, it's NOT an option. That being said, Since I have been here Nov. 2013 I have seen and taken part in discussions revolving on this topic, and have a few thoughts of my own on it.
There are some that Fear is irrelevant to life, that it is only harmful to said psyche and can be vanquished from their lives, period. Also claiming that Wisdom has taught them that it is indeed irrevelant. Well let's look at that. Fear is an emotion, I'll grant that, but it is also an instinctive part of us. It has a fulcrum point however. That fulcrum point is like a fine edged blade. On one side is Fear and on the other is fearlessness. In my opinion that fulcrum point is called situation. Fear, like everything else we Humans do is Situational. For example; You see a burning car with a person inside struggling to get out, Do you rush right in and assist that person regardless of the personal danger ( fearlessness ) or do you step farther away as to not be harmed ( Fear )? Two farthest ends of the spectrum right? Kind of quirks around self preservation. Both ends of that spectrum are based on a Situation, the outcome is also based on a Situation.
Two men on a battlefield, One seemingly fearless, the other relying on a balance of fear and fearlessness to make sound decisions. Again Situational, the fearless soldier rushes headlong into the battle only to be struck down in a hail of bullets, while the balanced soldier pops his head up from cover and takes calculated shots at the enemy, only to find at the end of the battle, his brother soldier crumpled, dead from numerous injuries. Situational balanced fear, saved his life. His fear commanded him to hold cover and take the necessary precautions to live and fight another day, while the fearless soldier blew off that rational balanced fear, only to be killed on the battlefield. This is only one situational example however, War does not play out on any single situation.
A Reconnaissance expert sent to locate and survey a possible threat, sits with his team in hiding on foreign soil with a potential enemy perhaps 300 feet away about 100 strong, sees a young girl walking down what passes for a roadway being grabbed by a sentry walking his rounds, thrown to the ground, his hand covering her mouth, begins raping her. The recon expert and a soldier he commands slide out from cover and the recon expert slids behind the sentry and cuts his throat and pulls him into the bushes to hide his lifeless body. Doing this not knowing if the young girl would heed his signal to remain quiet and not alert the 100 to his presence and that of his team. Fearlessness? or Balanced fear, that allowed him to gamble pretty much certain death or worse of himself and his team?
Those are just 2 examples of the necessity of balanced fear. Humans need a balance of fear and fearlessness in their lives in order to function rationally. I will say that to tip that balance to far one way or the other can be a dangerous inbalance to not only our health, but our psyche as well. But for anyone touting Wisdom to claim that Fear is merely irrevelant is foolish at the very least. I personally embrace my balanced Fear......It's kept me alive!