Why does fear hold you back from making positive changes in life?

Question

Hammond_egor: I do not mean me. It's not a personal question. Just a 'lil philosophical pondering is all =).

Sorry Hammond_eggor, typed your name incorrectly above =).

Inquiring after fear in other people in general, but also all of you. Personalize it if you want. It's all interesting.

LynnO, Michelle, Coconutmonkeybank answers in combo seem to say that what underlies fear of change is more change, that is, in routine or through effort, or emotional discomfort. So, fear of change is really associated with the anticipation of change which may involve more fear (i.e., more emotional effort or discomfort)?...I think that is what you are all saying =).

Hi Bernie M!! Thanx for the different spin =).

Cheng: Thank-you for your detailed explanation =)

Hi Psychic Cat!! Thanx for answering!! Believe it or not, this is almost synonymous with my own contention. I wanted to see what others thought; if most people recognize that fear underlies the problem, but also what underlies the fear =).

Answer 1

People are uncomfortable with the unknown. If they keep screwing up in life, then that's familiar to them and that's what they know and are comfortable with. Success becomes the unknown. Even though they would prefer that, it's a risk. They know what to expect when they screw up, they know what's going to happen and how. They don't know what will happen when the do things right. They have no idea what comes next. And then the ultimate fear: What if they fail at doing the right thing? So they play it safe and screw up. That's the main reason substance abusers relapse. They know what happens and why. They don't know what to expect from sobriety.

Answer 2

Fear is source of many defeats in our lives. Actually, we are born winners as living person. The frameworks of cleverness and free-will have inspired efforts beyond imaginary; the growth and modernity that make us stand high as human beings. However, we have a dark side that impedes our objectives. We are builders and losers as well. All depending on the exacerbation from fear, alone which often has been a hindrance toward our success story. In an undeserving consideration, as person so powerful in mind and body, seems unrealistic succumbing so easily to fear alone. We are pathetic.

Fear is demanding from inner self, rather than ordinary fear that overcome by sheer endurance or standoff against impending problem. It is right in the mind, so to speak, creating the imaginary fear that sap our strength or resolves away. The hollow in us become a contender of hopelessness or even evasion from the problem altogether. Life is less a concern even knowing for sure the chance of living can amount to nothing. A person so engrossed in fear would rather die than face the problem outright.

Lack of confidence, repeated failures, and rejections from whatever are foundations of fear. Not to mention the antisocial behavior that associate with fear having a setback on moral responsibility. A pertinent question can anything be done ridding fear altogether. Besides hypnotism, the closest yet most realistic has to come from you alone. Standing to fear is the only solution. Ridding the fear we are revealing, beside a new self, improvement in work and social relations, we are in fact carving a good future as well.

Answer 3

I've found that fear of the "unknown," rather than procrastination or failure, is what stifles people from making changes. For some, no matter how miserable they are, they are "familiar" with the misery, they can't imagine coping with the unknown, or that it just might bring them freedom & happiness. It's really a sort of dichotomy in human nature. People like this lock themselves into discontent, for fear of unknown risks--yet have chosen the "terminal" risk. This is one of the most difficult things to "change" in therapy.

Answer 4

Change screws up a routine. What if you have a great life but think a change would be possitive... turns up that change wasn't exactly what you expected it to be.... some people think that if I am comfortable where I am at and things are working now then maybe a change is not the way to go.
Change is good at times but a person has to be ready for the change and anything that goes with it. A positive change for one is not a positive change for all.... th person has to want it for their own.

Answer 5

Because it's easier to be afraid than it is to actually overcome your fear, put a great deal of effort into something, and wind up failing anyway.

Answer 6

Are you talking about yourself or other people? Fear doesn't hold me back. People can only excell by overcoming fear or using it to their advantage (the challenge of overcoming it). Learn from your mistakes and you will not be fearful anymore.

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear. Not the absence of fear." Mark Twain

Answer 7

Fear holds us back form all change.

Answer 8

Because it sees them as negative changes.

Answer 9

It's not generally fear--it's more like procrastination...

Answer 10

fear is what keeps us safe and as humans we fear change