Bring Truth to Fear - Definitions

Truth is a humble, comprehensive, and inclusive process of honest discovery of what is relevant and meaningful.

True is what is accurate and consistent from various perspectives based on what we know up ‘til now.

I believe there are absolute truths but it is likely we only understand them partially. The only way to deepen our understanding is to be open to doubt and question. Exploring different perspectives does not weaken fundamental beliefs. It clarifies and extends what we know to be true so that it becomes more inclusive and connected with a broad range of experience.

Fear is a response to perception of threat, real or imagined. The purpose of fear is to get our attention and build energy to allow us to deal with potential threats. Fear lasts as long as we focus on potential danger. Shifting focus to dealing with the situation dissipates fear.

There are three sources of fear. 1) Perception of a threat in the immediate situation (Natural Fear); 2)Thinking about threats (Mental Fear); and 3) the release of tension that was formed to block the experience of fear (Structural Fear - often experienced in PTSD). Natural Fear lasts only as long as we focus on potential danger. It dissipates when we shift focus to dealing with the problem. Mental Fear lasts as long as we keep on thinking about it and can become a deeply ingrained mental habit (Fear-Based Thinking). Structural Fear is gradually resolved when balance is restored and maintained and the experience of emotion is not resisted through tension and breath holding.

Fear builds tension, narrows our focus, blocks learning and creativity, and draws our mind to what we did before. It drives us to act based on first impressions and leads us to put people and issues in broad categories that block further understanding and resist change.

Fear leads to exclusion and isolation and pushes us to interpret unknowns as potential threats. Fear grabs and holds our attention and is a powerful media and political tactic.