and caution.
These two feelings control a lot of our lives - not allowing us to pursue our dreams or achieve what we long for. Wrongfully believing these two feelings to be the same, we pass up many opportunities and chances.
We needn't. We need to understand the difference between these two forces that try to vie for first place.
Fear is an unpleasant and disturbing feeling. It causes actual changes in our physiology and psyche. Both body and mind undergo changes making us feel ill or disturbed. Sometimes, we unthinkingly allow our fears to occupy our whole body and mind. When we start feeling fear, instead of questioning it, we give in to it since it seems so big and threatening. We are afraid we don't look good, we are afraid we will lose our job if we speak up, we are afraid of being ill, we are afraid we will lose our money, we are afraid of...... a hundred thousand things. Actually, if we don't do something about our fears, then they will creep in and occupy our whole persona so that finally we exist in a permanent state of fearfulness. Paralyzed, we would have put to sleep our ability to question, reason and think.
Caution, on the other hand, is a state of being careful. We are restrained and guarded about our responses, we are careful about our handling of situations. We are vigilant of the way incidents unfold and are circumspect in our behavior carefully weighing all our options.
Fear is negative. Its very nature is to make us afraid, anxious and panic-stricken at the slightest thing. It paralyzes us.
Caution is not negative. It makes us watchful so that all our senses are primed up for a response or action. We only need to make sure that we don't get trapped in weighing all our options so many times that we lose the chances that present themselves.
Once again, I will connect this to our personal space. When something comes our way that starts the alarm bells clanging, it is best to force ourselves into our personal space and figure it out. As Desiderata (by Max Ehrmann) says, 'Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.' So if our fears are because of physical tiredness or a feeling of alone-ness, it would be best to ride them out. If they are for real, then at least we would have given ourself the time to work out something to counter the fear or at least be prepared for the worst.
On the other hand, when something new and daring and different comes our way, we need to be cautious in our approach - that is, we need to get as much information as we can before taking a step. Remember, there is no guarantee that if we tread cautiously everything will work out fine. NO. Robert Burns in 'To a Mouse' says, 'The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.' (The most carefully prepared plans may go wrong). But at least we would have the satisfaction of having tried!
We must just don't let fear paralyze us or too much caution prevent us from getting to where we want to go.