Fear is the Mind-killer
On the dangers of our misguided obsession safety makes us less Human
I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. ~ Mark Twain
Jim Morrison, lead singers of the 60’s rock group the Doors, once said, when he was doing something dangerous but that he really enjoyed replied: “You do know that nobody gets out of here alive?”
Today’s we’ll explore how our current cultures permanent state of Fear and our well meaning but misguided obsession with safety are destroying us all but most especially our children. Of course, as always, we’ll connect this with our failed efforts to find a sustainable way to live WITH the Earth. Let’s get started!
Let’s start with how this topic hopped into my mind. I was XC skiing in Ottawa at a park called Mooney’s Bay which is on the Rideau River, close to a home our family lived in when our kids were young. During the winter we went tobogganing there often as there is [was] a perfect tobogganing hill there. No more. A child of a family who had never experienced winter and sent their children to toboggan without adult supervision was killed on the hill last year. Yes, this is very sad. But as this was the first death ever, was that a good enough reason to punish the thousands of other kids who can only enjoy this kind of outdoor, free activity? Is it safer to keep them locked up at home playing computer games or being on Facebook? Is it safer to keep them afraid?
We talk a lot about resilience – without practicing it. Rather than prepare our kids for life – which ALWAYS has its dangers – we make life “safe” for them… and then when they are unprepared for an experience that is really dangerous they are totally unprepared and freak out. Understandably. The problem seems to be that we look at safety the wrong way. Safety is more of an internal issue than an external one. Mountain climbers go up vertical cliffs without rope – and yet there are few of them who die. What makes this “safer” than getting into the bathtub? The climbers prepare for years knowing that only their focus, skills and training will keep them safe. There are no ropes. There is no 2nd chance. So they are truly awake and thus truly alive. They are human because they have conquered fear. Their lower brain stem is no longer in charge. Unlike the person who non chalantly slips on a bar of soap as they get into the bathtub – thinking they are in a totally safe place and blissfully unaware and not paying attention to what is around them… that is danger. Danger is being unaware. It is also being afraid when you should not be afraid and not being afraid when you should be… but only if that fear spurs you on to DO SOMETHING about it to make it safe – thru knowledge and training.
If you are a Sci-Fi fan you know that the quote from the title is from Frank Herbert’s novel DUNE. Here is a more detailed elaboration of what the quote is saying to us:
Fear is the mind killer. This is the striking first line in the Bene Gesserit litany against fear. Dune fans have long been entranced by the litany’s power, and many of them have even tried to use it. In fact, Stephen Colbert shared that he was influenced by the litany himself after reading the book when he was 19 years old. “The book combed into my view of the world,” he said in his interview with Dune’s director. He’s hardly alone, prominent author Michael Chabon recently tweeted: Dune’s litany against fear may come from a work of fiction published in 1965, but it happens to be shockingly solid psychological advice. Repeated many times in the book, the litany is at the core of the Bene Gesserit order’s powers. It is also how Dune’s main character is tested: Paul Atreides’ relationship with his own fear and his success in using the litany is how the Bene Gesserit define him as a “human” instead of an animal. [1]
Let’s now connect our examinations of Fear has us created misguided safety rules to our so far failed efforts to stop destroying our Biosphere. Here is a simplified formula of how we can quantify human impact on the Earth:
Destruction = Population X Consumption
As we all know we focus on consumption while doing our best to not admit that over population is as much a cause of biosphere destruction – ask the Gorillas in the jungles of Africa whose safe area to live shrinks every year. In a similar way risks in our life have 2 dimensions:
Risk = knowledge/training/attitude/focus x external danger
We focus on the external danger. But this is not the most important part of the equation. Knowledge & training & focus are what make us truly safe. So, in my humble opinion, all good intentions to make our society safer are doing the exact opposite because we are making people less prepared to cope with danger by emphasising the fact that they should be afraid as we make external issues “safer” – like shutting down the toboggan hill… which probably results in more teenagers doing drugs and alcohol.
The psychological damage from Fear and it’s companion worry and anxiety have been well known from Ancient Times and are a key part of all world religions. For example, here are a few quotes from Christianity, Stoicism, Buddhism & Sikhism – notice how they all say the same thing – Worrying only makes things worse!
If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry, and if it can’t be solved, worry is of no use.
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
He, who is pure of heart, Is devoid of all fear.
90% of the things you worry about are out of your control so it’s not helpful to worry. The other 10% you can control so do something about it instead of worrying.
So what can You Do?
I will face my fear. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
Few themes in modern psychology and neuroscience over the last decade have been more prominent than this: that avoiding negative emotions tends to make them stronger. This is particularly true with anxiety and fear, where several important therapies are based around helping people tolerate exposure to their fear in order to gradually lessen it. In fact, research in positive psychology and the science of happiness find that sitting with our negative emotions tends to lessen them. And that actually makes us happier. Facing our fear is the way to go, but not if it floods us and triggers the “mind-killer” response. That’s why permitting fear to pass over us and through us is key. This mindfulness based action reminds us that we are separate from our fear: we can observe our fear and let is pass us by. We can experience it without being damaged by it. (Please note: this is not good advice for processing traumatic memories, which are experienced differently. Please work on trauma based fears with your therapist. [1] note: I recommend the full article which is listed in the References.
In conclusion – want a better life? Stop worrying and DO SOMETHING! Any positive action will not only help “the Earth” but just as importantly it will HELP YOU! We can stop the destruction of our biosphere. We can stop the worst effects of climate change – but ONLY IF we are unafraid. If we have the courage to change. If we do what we know will bring life to all beings on this beautiful planet. So, stop being afraid of being “weird” and “abnormal” non-consumer and just do it! Then, and only then, can you claim to have taken the first step to being fully human.
The Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
References
https://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/08/buddhist-rule-re-worrying/
Leave a Reply