The word FEAR or the feeling of FEAR strikes people every day of their lives. It is the most crippling word in the English Language. It is a physical word which causes heart palpitations, racing pulse, sweaty palms, headaches and sometimes even death. FEAR makes the mind do insane things to the psychic. It creates a reality that is not always true. Finally, it cripples the mind and body to the point that a rational solution cannot be found.

To understand the word, we must first define it. Webster defines the word as an adjective: an often unpleasant, strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Anxious or concern, reason for alarm.

Now that we have defined the word, let’s look at the word as an anagram.

F - False

E - Evidence that

A -Appears

R - Real

Often, in our daily lives, we see evidence of things that appear real. One example, a child falls down and cuts the forehead, it bleeds like an artery has been opened and the child is crying like he or she is dying. The false evidence is that the cut is worse than it really is. Our heart pounds, our pulse races and our minds believe what our lying eyes are telling us. At first, we are paralyzed. We cannot move, then we may yell at the child because we really believe the child is dying. Then we yell at anyone close by like it is their fault.

Once we calm down, wipe away the blood and understand that the cut is minor, we put a band aid on it, kiss the child and apologize for being so foolish. In the meantime, we have shortened our life span because we created the rush of unnecessary adrenaline through our body like a tsunami. Once we have calmed down, we wonder why we are so tired. The answer is easy, the FEAR we perpetrated put stress on our heart, mind and other organs causing them to move into flight-or-fight mode. Once the perceived danger has dissipated, the extra neurons return to the brain, creating a void in our system, which in turn slows down the heart, pulse and mind. We become exhausted and have a need to rest.

Due to this false evidence that appeared real, we have put undue stress on our bodies, whereas if we had slowed down, assessed the situation and understood there was a solution, there would have been no need for the FEAR.

For every problem, there is a solution. We must train our minds and bodies to act, instead of reacting to False Evidence that Appears Real. This requires discipline, and it takes time and the ability to understand that we should stop to think before we believe what we think we see or hear.

You can train yourself to stop, think, assess, then act, not the other way around. You will be healthier and happier for it.