What's Wrong With Us?

As I may have mentioned before, my "office" is generally at my local Starbucks. I pop in in the morning, grab a coffee, sit down to my laptop, and work away. This location is next to a Chapters/Indigo store as well so often I take a few minutes to browse titles and see what's new. Today when I came in, one book flew off the shelf and practically hit me between the eyes! It's title, "Fear the Worst". What the *^%?/&@#($&!

As someone who strives to make the world a better place and share inspiration and motivation with people, stuff like this absolutely drives me nuts! What possesses someone to decide that the message that everyone needs to hear, especially right now, is "Fear the Worst"? To my mind, this is exactly what is wrong with our world. SO, for this and the next few blog entries, I'd like to give you my discourse on 'fear' and why it sucks!

I would argue that we live in a culture based largely on fear. Our government, news media, and to some extent even religious institutions, use fear as a means of influencing (some would even go as far as to say, controlling) us. Far too many of us are coming from a place of fear in our decision making:

• We save for a "rainy day" (in case of disaster) rather than as a means to achieving a goal (financial independence)
• We exercise, eat right etc (at least some of us do) to avoid illness, rather than to ensure quality of life and enjoying an active lifestyle
• We work hard, less because of a pride in our work and a desire to serve well, and more to ensure that we meet assigned standards and don't lose our jobs

I could go on, but you get the point. In fact, it starts at a very early age. Many if not most parents and teachers, use threats, consequences and punishments as a means to motivate children rather than using positive reenforcement, reward and recognition to instill a desire to do what is right.

So, I guess, when I see a title like "Fear the Worst" I shouldn't be surprised. But what does it say about the way we approach living? Is it any wonder that anxiety and stress are the number one "mental health issue" in North America? We've been programmed to feel a sense of impending doom at all times. When the economy isn't crashing and terrorism threats are under control, then there is a meth amphetamine crisis, or an H1N1 epidemic to keep us on edge. It's crazy.

I couldn't believe when H1N1 hit the papers. This bug was talked about like it was the next black plague and would surely wipe out tens of thousands of us instantly. Schools are talking about closing, airlines refusing passengers and we all begin to feel like we should hide in basement fir a few years until it's safe to come outside again. Here are a few of the headlines from papers in the last few months:

• Swine Flu has killed over 700 WHO says
• Mexico may see 1 million swine flu cases
  
• Swine Flu could kill 90,000 in the US

Read these, and you'd think the end of the world is around the corner. But once you got below the headline and read the articles, or do a little research, you begin to realize how much the story has been blown out of proportion...

"Swine flu has killed 700 WHO says" is an alarming headline and certainly the 90,000 prospective deaths (where that number comes from one might wonder) is even scarier. But if you do a little research, you learn that on AVERAGE 30,000-40,000 people die in the US EACH YEAR of "the flu". They don't tell you that in the headline. The headline doesn't read, average number of people die this year from a new strain of the flu. If that's the case, then why the sudden panic over this particular strain? I would suggest that mostly, it's to sell newspapers and make us watch the news.

I now that was quite a tangent and please don't think that I'm suggesting that this is not an important and news-worthy issue. I, of all people, understand the potential danger of these kinds of viruses. With a suppressed immune system, I am among those most at risk of serious and even fatal complications of contracting H1N1. However, my question is, does that necessarily mean that it demands our FEAR?

Fear is, with the exception maybe of anger, our most destructive and obstructive emotion. It makes us do things we wouldn't otherwise do and keep us from doing things we normally would consider valuable. That's why I work hard to keep it at bay and as much as possible, eliminate from my life. If I can't control it, I don't fear it, I let it go. Easier said than done to be sure, but it CAN be done.

SO, today I challenge us all to follow the words of the wisest man ever to walk this earth, "Be not afraid". Yes be conscientious, yes be proactive, but do it from a positive, confident place rather than one of fear. Fearing the worst will not prevent the worst from happening, it will just cause you to suffer that consequences wether it actually happens or not.

So yes, prepare for potential problems: save money, get vaccinated, wash your hands and wear your seat belt, but PLEASE stop worrying. Make a commitment to yourself and those around you to LIVE fully, without fear. It's the surest path to a successful and meaningful life.