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Fear is essential for survival. But too much of it paralizes rational thinking a
nd makes one extremely dependent. Now fear is pervasive in modern life, affectin
g every aspect of what we do including politics, education and economics. TV and
other mass media make the matter worse, inflating peoples fears by focusing on ho
rrific stories.
In reality, things are getting better. We face increasingly fewer dangers and ri
sks, for example from disease, as technological advances help us conquer lethal
diseases one afer another. The problem, however, is that people perceive the wor
ld as increasingly dangerous.
Fear is the key driving force now, both in economic and political matters. Peopl
e are ready to go to extreme lengths to ease the fear of falling behind. And thi
s is a weakness that is often exploited by profiteers and politicians. They appe
al to peoples fears and market their goods and their parties as ways to stave off
dangers.
Now what motivates people is not the pursuit of happiness but the need to keep u
p or get ahead of others. The idea of falling behind instills such fear in them.
They dont have clear ideas about what they are afraid of. The object of fear is ju
st a vague, hostile force. Excessive fears erode trust and values and generate a
sense of helplessness. This is why modern society is filled with fear and anxie
ty. The best way to fight off fear is to confront it and see clearly what it is
that you are afraid of. That is the only way to figure out how to respond and to
avoid an unnecessary waste of energy. The only thing to be feared is fear itsel
f.