Beliefs, fear and anger
Beliefs are not reality. Beliefs are creations of your own mind, and may or may not have any relationship to verifiable reality. Beliefs are expressions of your personal context for living.
Fear is a reaction to some kind of a perceived threat. Absent a high degree of emotional intelligence, fear in turn leads emotional, rather than rational, responses – often including anger.
There is a reason why anger is one of the seven deadly sins – it puts the primitive (animal) brain in control and shuts out the capacity for human rational thought. Passive aggressive forms of anger – resignation and cynicism – can be even more insidious. Making the effort to obtain a better understanding of how the brain processes emotional upset and rational thought can pay big dividends.
Beliefs, fear and anger – destructive elements common to the personal context for living that now guides many individuals.
I believe in the power of knowledge and reason to do good.
I believe in the power of ignorance, misinformation, fear and anger to do great harm.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past . . . Only I will remain.” (1)
- Frank Herbert, Dune