Fear

[RO1234]

What is it? Why do we get it? And specifically, when it comes to intimidation from one person to another, how can a Jedi remain calm and collected while both: not appearing arrogant or disrespectful, and also getting whatever message our body is trying to give to us by feeling fear? (Say the manager of another department where you work is getting on your case for talking to your friend in the break room before lunch time and your intimidated by him because you know he can make things very difficult for you if he wanted to. How do you control the extent to which you physiologically react to his intimidation but still appear respectful and pacify his concern.)

What do you think? I haven't been studying fear that much yet.


I'll ask about life threats later:)

[jdmcowan]

I am reminded of one of the great and classic stories. I've heard a couple of different versions. Here's one I found in a search...

"The story took place during Alexander the Great's reign over the Asian Empire. The lieutenants of Alexander's army had scoured the countryside requiring all the religious factions to pledge their allegiance to the empire. Upon their return the lieutenants reported to their general that everyone had pledged allegiance except for one little monk who lived high in a mountain village.

"Enraged, the general donned his armour and rode his horse at top speed to the village, where he found the little monk meditating under a tree.

"He jumped off his horse, clambered over to the monk, and looked down at him, 'Do you realize *who I am?* Do you know that I could draw my sword and cut off your head without blinking my eye!'

"The little monk looked up at the general with compassion and said, 'And do you realize who I am? Do you know that I could let you draw your sword and cut off my head without blinking *my* eye?'"

Fear is a natural human emotion. The most basic instinct of all animals is preservation of life. But fear is a sign of attachment. You fear death because you don't want to let go of life. You fear your managers because you don't want to let go of your job. In some way these are reasonable things to want and thus the fears seem reasonable. But by attaching yourself to these things you give up some ability to flow with either your own desires or the will of the Force.

When you are feeling fearful and intimidated. Force yourself to smile and breath slowly and deeply. Decide what is most important at this moment, your job, your dignity, your need to be right, etc. Remember, too, that the person intimidating you is probably reacting out of a similar fear - perhaps they are worried about their job and want to make sure everyone is helping them, not hurting them. If you can be calm and honest with them, you might be able to help both of you at the same time.

That's my take, anyway.

Jeremy

[RO1234]

I really like that story! Especially about how it brings up attachment. I think that's an important point to think about, especially for Jedi. I'll have to try that 'taking of a conscious breath' next time I notice fear coming about. Also, I think you might have been right about the intimidator in my example acting out of fear himself. Even though, I'm also thinking that part of it was still just out of pompous. "Attachments" would that fall under "there is no passion, there is serenity."?

Peace out,
~RO

[Charles]

I'll take a moment and give my thoughts on fear.

Fear is a funny thing, it's both a useful and terribly physical reaction. I say physical reaction because, while it is stimulated by mental stimuli, it takes place in a lot of ways in the body.

Fear is one of the first stages often in the "Fight or Flight" reaction system. In that sense it is a good thing, it makes you sharp, in small doses, and keeps you focused. So fear in some situations can be a tool, in the very much right amounts.

Likewise fear can be a paralyzing drug also. When one is too afraid their body will become unfocused and their attention diffused. If this was a combat situation sufficient fear that it paralyzes you is useless and will make you completely inefficient.

However, in the situation you listed, your manager is not an 800lb Gorilla about to peel you like a Banana. Running in terror at your fastest speed, or hitting him with all you got probably aren't your best first recourse's, probably not even the second or third best haha, so your in a situation where the fear reaction while existent is unneeded.

It may help then for you to remember that the feeling of fear is a physical reaction to the emotional situation. If you can quiet the emotion or put yourself outside of yourself momentarily the fear should subside.

However if your manager is an 800lb Gorilla and I am incorrect in my assessment and he does in fact intend to peel you like a banana then maybe a little fear is warranted (hope that lightened things up for you haha).

[RO1234]

So if fear is a natural reaction to my mental state (which as you mentioned could be from my bodies desire to survive, but also emotional condition) than in some ways, my body is reacting to fluctuations in the force. So does that mean your body is trying to override your mind? The breathing technique along with mental techniques are intended to maintain mental control over our reactions. But I'm wondering, would maintaining mental control speed up or slow down reactions? Should we consider life threatening situations separate from uncomfortable but non-life threatening situations? (remind me to ask about public speaking nervousness later:)

I guess this is an new subject for me to study so I have a lot of questions. Because to some extent I know natural reactions are good but at the same time we have things like higher selves and consciences that guide us as well. However, it seems as if my research into human psychic skills is turning interesting. Should I talk about it here or somewhere else?

PEACE OUT,
~RO

[Charles]

So if fear is a natural reaction to my mental state (which as you mentioned could be from my bodies desire to survive, but also emotional condition) than in some ways, my body is reacting to fluctuations in the force.


That is somewhat debatable. I'd say fear is a reaction to your mental/emotional state. But it's a physical reaction just like depression, anxiety, happiness, arousal, joy, laughter or any other physical reaction based on emotional conditions.

So does that mean your body is trying to override your mind? The breathing technique along with mental techniques are intended to maintain mental control over our reactions. But I'm wondering, would maintaining mental control speed up or slow down reactions? Should we consider life threatening situations separate from uncomfortable but non-life threatening situations? (remind me to ask about public speaking nervousness later:)

Yes it is basically trying to over-ride the minds control. That is, the mind is sending a signal to the body saying "I'm anxious where we are, lets do something about it" and the body is responding in turn with "Ok, well lets kick those flight or fight chemicals into high gear". The breathing exercises actually work in the opposite fashion. By forcing the body into a rhythm we generate the chemicals necessary to slow the body down and there by counteract and remove the chemicals being produced by the fear response. That is we are over-riding the body first on something we can control easily (breathing) to then over-ride the body and remove the "Spiral" we have entered into. That is to say, initially your a little afraid so your productions of chemicals used for survival actions spikes. Then as a result you of course become more anxious, afraid, jittery, causing you to blow whatever the problem is out of proportion causing more spikes in those chemicals. By regulating air intake, which regulates heart rate, we then one step at a time regulate the chemical production and stop the spiral we entered into.


I guess this is an new subject for me to study so I have a lot of questions. Because to some extent I know natural reactions are good but at the same time we have things like higher selves and consciences that guide us as well. However, it seems as if my research into human psychic skills is turning interesting. Should I talk about it here or somewhere else?

PEACE OUT,
~RO


This seems like a good place to talk about it as any. Yes we do have fight or flight instincts for a reason. Generally though we need a tight reign on them to function in society.

This is also easier said than done.

[Master Alex Winward]

I agree mostly with Jedi jdmcowan, bout how fear can make us act outta a instinctive emotional self-perservation, actions that could be considered rash, hot-headed, etc, etc. As Jedi, we're trained ta learn ta act positively from our emotions, even ones such as fear. In situations that produce feelin's o fear, one should mediatate on the problem, if not possible, then as Qui-Gon Jinn said, "Feel, don't think. Use your instincts"

[Ninja Boi]

Fear is a path to the Dark Side... When faced with a situation that may conclude in you losing something like your job, exactly what some of the other Jedi said, control your emotions. Give your manager the upmost respect, yes sir/no sir (mam), and no excuses. Give him/her respect not only verbally but mentally as well. Send him/her calming thoughts and good feelings.

When faced with a threat... Calm yourself and let the adrenalin take over. You will still need to stay conscious with your decisions so you are not labeled as the one main idiot that f***s everything up in the horror movie. They annoy me... hahaha...

Well thats my 2 cents worth...

[RyuJin]

interesting topic...until i got to the end of the first story i had completely forgotten how and when i lost my fear. then afterwards it came back to me. 10 years ago i took my girlfriend and a few of her friends to a music festival. while there one of her friends stole something and put it in my car while i was away. when the owner confronted him he said i did it and he ran off.
the owner went crazy, broke a bottle and put it to my throat just as i was waking up. i remember that as i looked into his eyes i wasn't afraid...i was in fact struggling to suppress the rage that was building over the fact that he thought so little of life.
after a few minutes of just staring into each others eyes he let go and turned away, i took my girlfriend home and told her to let her friend know i never wanted to see him again.
since then i haven't been afraid of anything, i also discovered a level of control i previously didn't know for certain that i had.

[Ninja Boi]

interesting topic...until i got to the end of the first story i had completely forgotten how and when i lost my fear. then afterwards it came back to me. 10 years ago i took my girlfriend and a few of her friends to a music festival. while there one of her friends stole something and put it in my car while i was away. when the owner confronted him he said i did it and he ran off.
the owner went crazy, broke a bottle and put it to my throat just as i was waking up. i remember that as i looked into his eyes i wasn't afraid...i was in fact struggling to suppress the rage that was building over the fact that he thought so little of life.
after a few minutes of just staring into each others eyes he let go and turned away, i took my girlfriend home and told her to let her friend know i never wanted to see him again.
since then i haven't been afraid of anything, i also discovered a level of control i previously didn't know for certain that i had.

You won that battle. You know that right?

[RyuJin]

in more ways then one