Fear As A Special Kind Of Expectation

Video: Fear As A Special Kind Of Expectation

Video: Fear As A Special Kind Of Expectation
Video: Fear & Expectations 2024, March
Fear As A Special Kind Of Expectation
Fear As A Special Kind Of Expectation
Anonim

Fear is a mental shock caused by the expectation of trouble - the words of Plato. A person is afraid when something can harm or does harm to him. It does not matter whether it is physical or mental, material or other. This is something a person is afraid of.

Thus, fear (as well as anticipation) is the anticipation of some situation that can lead to harm, suffering and self-pity. This is personal fear.

It is necessary to distinguish between two main types of fear (personal and natural) - both fears give a rendering to the other, but they represent this other in fundamentally different ways. For "fear-expectation" something else is inappropriate to expectations, while for "natural fear" it is inappropriate.

Expectations are equalizing something and our idea of it. We thus say to this something: "You must correspond to my idea of you." Being attached to this idea, a person ceases to see reality.

The real function of natural fear is an indication of the inappropriate to the known - a warning about the unknown and about the possibility of harm. Fear is born at the junction of two functions of a living being. This is the function of expanding the scope of activity (hence the indicator of encounter with the unknown) and the function of self-preservation (hence the warning of the possibility of damage).

Fear-expectation differs from natural fear in both the quality of the experience and the consequences for the activity. Fear-anticipation is demoralizing and makes it impossible to act quickly and accurately. On the contrary, natural fear, as an indicator of a meeting with the unknown, sharpens the senses, fills the muscles with tone, clarifies the mind, attuning to actions in extraordinary conditions, with possible risk. As can be seen from the description of the consequences, it is the fear of expectations that interferes with life. The fewer expectations in a person's life, the less fears of this kind will be. Working with expectations helps a person overcome their self-centeredness.

At the heart of working with fear-expectation is the same principle of translating expectation into desire, that is, the transition from a passive life position to an active one. The following method of dealing with fear-anticipation is not suitable for dealing with phobias and intense fears. In such cases, you need to contact a psychotherapist.

To get rid of the fear of waiting it is necessary:

1. To realize the presence of fear through the question - what unpleasant am I expecting?

2. Focus on the image of what is expected, which can cause harm or suffering. This negative image needs to be clarified.

3. Accept the fact of your attachment to this image, as if this anticipated result is bound to happen;

4. Assess the actual likelihood of the threat;

5. Make a decision - what to do to minimize the consequences if the likelihood is high and the consequences are significant.

6. Focus on the image of what needs to be done.

7. Start doing it.

The article appeared thanks to the works of Vadim Levkin and Nossrat Pezeshkian.

Dmitry Dudalov

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