I recently had a deeply troubling experience around Fear.
I can't get into the details of it because it isn't my story to tell, but my own Fear around it Impacted me for nearly 48 hours.
In some ways, the Fear doesn't necessarily disappear, but interestingly it has changed.
For me, it went from a Horrified Fear, to an Angry Fear, and then to a bit of a Sorrowful Accepting Fear.
I have been contemplating Fear in light of what all occurred.
Fear is something that Influences so much of our World today.
How we Approach Fear, or React to Fear, or Handle Fear often dictates much of our Actions.
It is interesting because it makes people both Predictable but also Unpredictable in so many ways.
I can often see and completely Understand Why People React the way they do because I can see how Fear plays a role.
In Business and Leadership, we can see its Impact so much.
Leaders make Terrible Decisions because of their Fear of how Investors will React.
Investors make Snap Decisions that Impact Hundreds or Thousands of Lives based on Fear.
Employees react in Unproductive Ways due to their Fears around their Livelihoods and their Desires to Provide for their Families.
There are so many things that we all Fear.
We Fear Repercussions for our Actions.
We Fear Repercussions for our Lack of Actions.
We Fear for our Safety and Security.
We Fear for our Futures.
We Fear that our Pasts will Haunt Us Forever.
We Fear that we will Never Belong.
We Fear that we are in the Wrong Place with the Wrong People.
We Fear what we Control.
We Fear what we Can Not Control.
Every Step around us begins to look like a Cautionary Tale.
None of us want our Lives to become Cautionary Tales, yet it can often Feel like those are the only Options Available when we look.
Our Minds begin to look at the Possibilities, and they all begin to look like Scenes in Horror Films.
To be Fair, sometimes these Possibilities are not Unfounded.
There is Darkness that seems to be Lurking in the World.
Darkness that wants Nothing More than to Prey on those Fears.
There are Wolves, and Sharks, and Monsters that exist among us and they do Attack.
They Exploit, and they Target, and they Cause these Fears.
It often happens Purposefully and for an Agenda.
They spread Fear like a Virus or Disease, Hoping to Create Turmoil wherever they are able.
I often see Fear, and I Do Not find it Unjustified, as Unfortunate as it is to say that.
There are Real Things to be Fearful of in our World.
Perhaps what is the Scariest Aspect of this is that there are Scenarios that do play out around Fear where no one is to blame, and the only "Villain" is Fear itself.
Yet, at the same time, Fear is a Terrible Master.
Nothing Positive comes from allowing Fear to Control us.
When we look at Psychophysiology, Fear causes us to think at our Worst, to Act at our Worst, and to be Blind to the Possibilities.
When it comes to All Emotions, including Fear, there is a Line between "Having" an Emotion and Allowing an Emotion to "Control" our Behavior.
When Fear Controls us, we often move in directions that Cause Horrible Things.
Sometimes, that Fear causes truly Tragic things.
Misunderstandings and Misdeeds, all with Missed Opportunities.
Fear can often Cause us to Act Predictably, but it is always Predictably in Detrimental Ways.
If we are to Change The World for the Better, we must Understand Fear.
You Can Not become a Great Leader until you Understand how People React to Fear.
However, as a Leader, you must both Understand Fear and Not Allow Fear to Control You.
You Must be able to Find People's Fears, yet Simultaneously Lead them Away from those Fears toward Hope.
If you Live in Fear, and your Team Lives in Fear, you will Never Succeed or get to your Goals in Life.
But, through Hope, and Understanding Fear while Not Allowing it to Dictate How to Live, you can Change The World.