We have the word “fear” in the English language. It’s both a verb and a noun. It seems like a simple word, and yet it encompasses many different emotions with many different nuances. Today, I’d like to pick it apart a bit and remark on some of these different manifestations of fear, with both examples and countermeasures.

Terror

Terror is probably the most raw, powerful version of fear. This is what sends people into mindless panics. Often, this occurs when in danger of immediate death, like perhaps if you were caught in a burning building.

We must fight to hold on to our wits, even as terror assaults us. Keeping our wits about us is what can keep us alive. Going back to the burning building example, panicking leads to certain death. If we stay smart, we might carefully crawl under the smoke and find our way to an exit.

Fear

In this case, I refer to fear in a narrower, perhaps more concrete sense. This could be the kind of fear that prevents us from living our lives to the fullest. For example, consider a phobia like the fear of spiders, or of dogs.

There’s a lot to be said for facing our fears and conquering them, or dealing with the source. Most of these fears are simply irrational. Going back to the spider example, most spiders want nothing to do with people. They’re not out to bite you. Maybe you could fight the fear by going to the zoo’s bug section and watching the spiders. Or with the dog example, maybe visit the animal shelter and meet a few, especially puppies!

Dread

Dread is fear in a broad, foreboding guise. It hangs around us, almost like a wicked fog, slowly sapping our strength with worry. It concerns some future occurrence. Sometimes our dread is about something inevitable, sometimes not. Sometimes we have control, sometimes we don’t.

For the case of something we have some control over, consider the case of an examination. A big one. Like the bar exam, or maybe a university entrance exam. Something where failure will constitute a serious setback in our life. I would say, whether you pass is very much in your hands. Study hard and leave no room for regrets. Any time spent dreading is time that could be spent further solidifying your grasp of the material. Also, keep it in perspective. Failure is always possible. Develop contingencies for if it should come to pass.

As far as the inevitable goes, lets go all “Memento mori” and ponder death, mankind’s most notorious inevitability. Unless you’re one of those lucky immortal Taoist sages that ride atop clouds, you’re going to have to die. Perhaps the very first step is to cast off the dread, realizing that it’s a pointless emotion. How you feel will not affect the outcome in the slightest. After that, why not live in a way preparing for death? Have a will. Depending on your religious disposition, keep your life in order in consultation with your spiritual advisor. Don’t wait for death, be ready for it!

Hesitation

This is a funny one. A lot of people wouldn’t even call it a fear, but I think it counts. In a way, it’s like “little dread”. It’s not strong enough to cause angst. It’s often not intense enough to stop us from doing something. But it is capable of slowing us down and causing us to miss opportunities we should have seized.

Consider seeing an eligible single at a party. Maybe a friend even tells you that they’re on the hunt and you’re their type. You could go talk to them, but you can’t work yourself up to it right away. That, right there, is hesitation. Maybe while you’re trying to build your courage, somebody else goes to chat with them and they hit it off, leaving you out in the cold. That’s how hesitation can cost you.

How do you fight hesitation? Be bold! Not reckless, but bold. Give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? Maybe they tell you they don’t like you and your suit is tacky? Sure, that’d sting, but at least you’d know you tried!