I was thinking about my 6 year old son. He gets scared when the light in the room is off, he's scared of darkness.

We all fear the dark because of what darkness represents. I decided I would sleep with the curtains open in order to see what happens outside my house when I sleep.

I woke-up at about 2.00 am, looked out the window and felt a strange feeling. I thought about the "what if" someone was standing outside, in front of my window with a torch, I then thought, when we close our doors and curtains we're getting into a box where we feel secure, however, wouldn't we rather see who's wondering outside our rooms instead of waiting for the person to enter into our rooms? See, when it's daytime we're confident and fearless but our surroundings don't change whether it's day or night.

I know that the less I know about things, the more I fear and the more I know about things, the less I fear.

Let me give you an example:

For many years I felt I couldn't raise my children on my own, this fear allowed me to tolerate abuse from "the partner", however, I decided it was time to confront this fear and began the new journey.

I have managed to overcome the things I fear the most by confronting the matter and I found that the fear was stopping me because of the great ignorance I had on the matter.

What a great post! Welcome Cyberpearl. It's nice to have such a thoughtful person join in and start a topic.

It is interesting our fear of the dark. My son is afraid of the dark and strangely enough likes to have the curtains open when he sleeps. But I think it is because the when the drapes billow in the breeze they appear to be a figure to him. Still, it is interesting to think that maybe he'd rather have a clear view of outside.

I love your analogy of looking and "seeing" what is there despite the discomfort of darkness, not hiding in the box (closing the curtains), and by seeing you gain knowledge and by gaining knowledge you overcome fear. I can see how this way of thinking freed you from a bondage to a partner that was keeping you down. Inspirational.

Thank Goodness for you Alisa, you understand where I'm coming from and what I'm trying to say. You are a great person, I can tell!!

Thanks, CyberPearl.

So do you sleep with the curtains open?

lol, Alisa, I do. I don't enjoy what I see because it hurts, but I refuse to be in the dark, boxed up, however, I still fear....

I love your honesty. It is like cool clear water to me, poetically speaking -- crisp, refreshing and pure.

It makes total sense and I feel just the same way. I refuse to keep my eyes closed, to hide from truth no matter how much it hurts. And yes it is hard, and I also still feel fear, but my desire to overcome it is greater. And the rewards are so...neato.

I'm not so sure if fear is ignorance. Although, one of the things I have learnt on my spiritual quests, is that words are meaningless. Only the connection behind them matters, and this can change from person to person, so I suppose it depends on what ignorance means to you;

But reguardless, fear is the natural, mental cautiousness of things we either do not know, or know to be harmful. Are you being ignorant if you fear being hit by a car? Or do you wilfully stand infront of moving, road-going objects to prove you lack ignorance?

The generalization of the word 'fear' is too played upon these days, as are many words, I find. Gone are the days when you said what you meant and nothing more, and we have regretfully welcomed the days with open arms, when people forget the raw power of words and choice.

True ignorance comes in the form of forgetting the power you hold, or turning a blind eye to the things in life that matter. Humans have become a class act in this, strutting around day to day as if they answer to nobody.

But I digest. To find fear as a form of ignorance is to say that all uncertainty is a form of ignorance and stupidity. No; fear is a type of precaution. A precaution easily over-ruled with the right spiritual knowledge and reassurance I agree, but an ignorance it is not.

Good point, Jim. Fear is not ignorance.

Is fear the opposite of love? Is fear something to be overcome? Or does it serve us? Will we always want to have a certain amount of fear or is the goal to become fearless?

Well, love is the unquestioned caring of something, or someone, so I suppose the opposite of love would be a questioned - or chosen - hate, or distrust for something, or someone.

And I am quite sure fear serves us. To overcome fear would be to exclude the very tool - the very sense - that allows you to sustain a sense, and a physical feeling, of carefulness, deliberance and common sense.

I think that, narrowing the things you're scared of - such as, narrowing, or removing, irrational, and illogical fears - would be the best goal, if you wish to walk the path to become fearless, for we must always retain a sense of fear. After all, fear for rational things is the embodiment of common sense, the drive of self-presorvation.

I agree with OMJ.

In my opinion Fear is a survival instinct. It's like A red flag to allow us to proceed with caution until we feel that the situation is safe or not.

I think young children fearing the dark is a different issue. I think they are in tuned to things that we as adults either ignore or flat out rarely experience.

I think it's healthier for a parent to leave the curtains open or a night light on. I think it's so important to listen to our children.

I'm not sure about the facing fear thing... if you're dealing with breaking free of a toxic or negative relationship it makes sense,
but if it's a child who's afraid then I think the situation should be handled with the utmost care.
There really are monsters in the closet and around corners, but sometimes they may be based on everyday life encounters or struggles the child has to face.

Everyone has expressed great thoughts on the fear factor.
I thought I'd put my 2 cents worth in.

These are just my opinions and I mean no offense to anyone.


~runs for cover~

Wow, you guys are just making my day! Excellent, eloquent, and rational!

OMJ, your philosophies are becoming even sharper! And everything you said, Dawn, made total sense!

I agree that fear is necessary. It helps us stay in the game of life (don't step off into that gorge!! ) And IMO it is the resistance that helps build up the muscles of mastery. Like Jaime has said, "It isn't brave if you aren't afraid." Bravery is probably more the goal than eradication of fear. Or like you said, OMJ, narrowing or removing irrational fears.

When I think of my life, I feel happier when I have been brave and faced my fears. I feel freer. And that's another important thing, I think...freedom from fear. Like dark and light, fear will always exist perhaps, it just won't be given reign.

Yes, I think that is it (for me right now anyway), that fear cannot be eradicated and should not be. It must be lived with but cannot be allowed to rule. Kinda like germs. They have always existed and will always (they are the micro in our world as we are the micro in something else's world I reckon). We have to live in harmony with them, not eradicate them and not let them reign. Balance.

Do you fear germs? Anyone?