Student Opinion Column: Is Fear Really a Bad Thing?
Launch the media gallery 1 playerFear has been widely regarded as something that is “bad”.
When a person stops to think about it, though, is fear really that terrible? Before today’s age, it helped to keep our ancestors alive and some people have even used it to better themselves.
There is still the looming concern that our fears can destroy us and overcome us, so this brings up the question: is fear good or bad?
I believe fear is what you make it. There are certain fears that you can use to motivate yourself to become the best you that you can be. Fear of failure encourages us to work hard to try to accomplish our goals. Fear of disappointing others forces us to try to meet the expectations that others hold of us. This same fear, though, can completely destroy some people. It can make them feel anxious and cripple under the pressure. It all depends on the person and how they react to the unease and fears they hold within themselves.
Then there are the things that a person could be truly afraid of: snakes, tornadoes, roller coasters, and, in my sister’s case, spiders and anything creepy or crawly. In my sister’s case, it is a little extreme to the point where she will scream if she sees any sort of bug. I can always count on a biweekly trip down to her room to kill some tiny, little creature that is crawling around while hearing her either screeching or crying in the background. This type of fear can be debilitating to some people, like my sister, but other people can work to overcome these fears and become stronger as a result.
A person’s opinion about fear all depends on how he or she chooses to view them. Do you think of fear as an obstacle that you can overcome and use to lead the way to your success? Or do you think of it as a menacing beast waiting for the moment when it can overpower you? Fear of failure can motivate you to succeed, but it could also topple your confidence.
Fear is truly what you make it. It all depends on your outlook.