只有放鬆心靈，我們才能敏銳地感知外界。然而，每當困難或危險出現，恐懼常常會封閉我們的心靈，使我們焦慮、緊張、脆弱、沒有安全感，無法面對現實。在這種不健康的狀態下，我們對新事物失去了興趣，也逐漸對別人和世界失去了信任。如果一個人因為害怕失敗而拒絕嘗試新事物，他不僅會錯過成長的機會，而且很可能會加深對未來的焦慮。
事實上，帶著恐懼行事會讓我們更容易犯錯。例如，一個學生可能因為擔心考試不及格而過度緊張，這會導致他注意力不集中並影響他的成績。在現代社會中，恐懼對我們最大的影響就是讓我們逃避現實，把我們推入情緒的漩渦。面對環境的變化，我們最需要的不是恐懼，而是健康的身體和清醒的頭腦。
有時我們將恐懼視為必須打敗的敵人，這會增強它的力量。但如果將恐懼視為生命固有的智慧，我們就可以將其轉化為意識和創造力。例如，藝術家因為擔心作品不被接受而變得更加細緻；運動員在賽前的緊張可以轉化為專注，發揮最佳水準。恐懼是一種訊號，而不是障礙。
逃避或壓抑恐懼，意味著過度專注於恐懼本身，而不是它帶來的訊息，這會阻止我們真正專注於自己的生活，導致更深的焦慮，甚至內心崩潰。即使我們壓抑對社交場合的恐懼，強迫自己參與社交活動，最終仍可能因為孤獨而失去對情緒的控制。然而，只有正確解讀恐懼帶來的訊息，並專注於應對外在世界的變化，我們的生活才能變得更加舒適和安全。
恐懼也可以看作是自我懷疑所導致的自卑的表現。每當我們懷疑自己的能力時，就很難面對無常的現實。我們把死亡視為最終的失敗，因此對它懷有深深的恐懼。然而，在恐懼的驅使下，我們常常以情緒取代理性，一旦遭遇挫折，就會如蝸牛般退縮。如果創業者在遇到失敗時就放棄，那麼也會失去成功的機會。這種退縮不僅會阻礙意識的成長，也會讓我們忽略自身的潛力。
當我們長期陷入恐懼之中時，我們往往會變得固執，並對外界產生偏見。固執是一種無意識的自我防禦，會導致人們忽略自己的身心健康。我們或許因為害怕改變而堅持不健康的飲食習慣，又或許在經濟低迷時期固執地選擇規避風險，錯失新的投資機會。這一切的根源，都在於對未知的恐懼。最終，固執會讓我們失去與他人連結的能力，變得孤立，進而產生更多的恐懼。
恐懼會滋生偏執，偏執又會滋長更多的恐懼。自我接受是打破這個惡性循環的關鍵。當我們接受自己的不完美，並對自己的生命充滿同情，我們就更有能力和勇氣去面對挑戰。研究表明，自我同情有助於減少對失敗的恐懼，並鼓勵人們更積極地嘗試。設定小的、可實現的目標，例如從小組討論開始，逐漸適應公開演講，也有助於建立穩定的信心。
然而，我們必須打破慣性思維，才能踏上克服恐懼的旅程。只有當我們的思想和行動變得積極起來，我們才能擺脫習慣性的逃避模式。積極面對恐懼的對象，逐漸建立勇氣，會帶來真正的效果。例如，患有畏高症的人可以透過分階段接觸高處來成功克服恐懼。此外，訓練專注力也能讓我們在恐懼出現時保持冷靜，避免情緒失控。
建立相互支持的關係也同樣重要。在攀高活動中，隊友的鼓勵可以減少墜落的恐懼；在職場中，資深員工的指導也能幫助新人應付挑戰。親友的陪伴可以提供我們情感上的支持，減少我們在搬家、換工作等重大變化時的焦慮。
透過觀察情緒和表達感受，我們可以辨識和理解自己的恐懼。無論是寫日記，或是接受心理諮詢，都可以幫助探索恐懼的根源。同時，學習新的知識和技能有助於增強自信心，將對未知的恐懼轉化為探索的動力。從掌握急救知識、參與文化交流、到參與國際志工活動，我們可以逐漸打破偏見，開拓視野。
當恐懼不再主宰我們的思維，我們的整體世界觀就會改變。我們將不再那麼執著，而更願意接受自身和外在的變化和不確定。閱讀歷史可以讓我們了解社會變遷，增強我們面對未來的心理韌性。隨著意識的成熟，我們的心態和情緒也會變得更加積極和穩定。這時，我們也會有靈活的智慧和勇氣，去面對生活中的各種考驗和挑戰，不斷成長。
圖片取自網絡
The path to Tranquility (13)
Turning fear into awareness
Only when we relax our minds can we perceive the outside world keenly. However, whenever difficulties or dangers arise, fear often closes our minds, making us anxious, nervous, vulnerable, insecure, and unable to face reality. In this unhealthy state, we lose interest in new things and gradually lose trust in others and the world. If a person refuses to try new things because of fear of failure, he will not only miss the opportunity to grow, but will also likely deepen his anxiety about the future.
In fact, acting with fear makes us more likely to make mistakes. For example, a student may be overly nervous because he is worried about failing an exam, which will cause him to lose concentration and affect his grades. In modern society, the biggest impact of fear on us is that it makes us escape from reality and pushes us into an emotional whirlpool. In the face of changes in the environment, what we need most is not fear, but a healthy body and a clear mind.
If we trace the root of fear, we will find that fear often comes from the perception of death, which in turn comes from the existence of the body. Our fear of the unknown and loss of control is an extension of this deep fear. For example, some people are afraid of flying, not only because they are worried about death, but also because they feel anxious about the unfamiliarity and loss of control during the flight; some people are afraid of public speaking, which is actually a fear of being unable to control the judgment of others. These examples show that understanding the root of fear can help us adjust our mentality and behavior more effectively.
Sometimes we view fear as an enemy that must be defeated, which strengthens its power. But if we view fear as the inherent wisdom of life, we can transform it into awareness and creativity. For example, an artist may become more meticulous because of the fear that his work will not be accepted; an athlete's nervousness before a game can be transformed into focus and performance. Fear is a signal, not an obstacle.
Avoiding or suppressing fear means focusing too much on the fear itself rather than the message it brings, which prevents us from truly focusing on our own lives, leading to deeper anxiety and even inner collapse. Even if we suppress our fear of social situations and force ourselves to participate in social activities, we may still eventually lose control of our emotions due to loneliness. However, only by correctly interpreting the message brought by fear and focusing on coping with changes in the outside world can our lives become more comfortable and safe.
Fear can also be seen as a manifestation of low self-esteem caused by self-doubt. Whenever we doubt our own abilities, it is difficult to face the reality of impermanence. We regard death as the ultimate failure, so we have a deep fear of it. However, driven by fear, we often replace rationality with emotion, and once we encounter setbacks, we will retreat like a snail. If entrepreneurs give up when they encounter failure, they will also lose the opportunity to succeed. This retreat will not only hinder the growth of consciousness, but also make us ignore our own potential.
When we are trapped in fear for a long time, we tend to become stubborn and prejudiced against the outside world. Stubbornness is an unconscious self-defense that causes people to neglect their physical and mental health. We may stick to unhealthy eating habits because we are afraid of change, or we may stubbornly choose to avoid risks during economic downturns and miss new investment opportunities. The root of all this lies in the fear of the unknown. Ultimately, stubbornness will make us lose the ability to connect with others and become isolated.
Fear breeds paranoia, which breeds more fear. Self-acceptance is key to breaking this vicious cycle. When we accept our imperfections and have compassion for our own lives, we are more empowered and courageous to face challenges. Research shows that self-compassion helps reduce fear of failure and encourages people to try more aggressively. Setting small, achievable goals, such as starting with group discussions and gradually adapting to public speaking, can also help build stable confidence.
However, we must break the inertial thinking before we can embark on the journey of overcoming fear. Only when our thoughts and actions become positive can we break free from the habitual escape mode. Positively facing the object of fear and gradually building up courage will bring real results. For example, people with acrophobia can successfully overcome their fear by contacting heights in stages. In addition, training concentration can also keep us calm when fear arises and avoid losing control of our emotions.
It is equally important to build mutually supportive relationships. In climbing activities, the encouragement of teammates can reduce the fear of falling; in the workplace, the guidance of senior employees can also help newcomers cope with challenges. The company of relatives and friends can provide us with emotional support and reduce our anxiety during major changes such as moving and changing jobs.
By observing emotions and expressing feelings, we can identify and understand our fears. Whether it is writing a diary or receiving psychological counseling, it can help explore the root of fear. At the same time, learning new knowledge and skills can help enhance self-confidence and turn fear of the unknown into motivation for exploration. From mastering first aid knowledge, participating in cultural exchanges, to participating in international volunteer activities, we can gradually break down prejudices and broaden our horizons.
When fear no longer dominates our thinking, our overall worldview will change. We will be less clingy and more willing to accept changes and uncertainties in ourselves and the outside world. Reading history can help us understand social changes and enhance our psychological resilience to face the future. As consciousness matures, our mentality and emotions will become more positive and stable. At this time, we will also have flexible wisdom and courage to face various tests and challenges in life and continue to grow.
On May 13, 2023
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