Did you know that we’re actually living in the safest times in human history? At least for First World countries, this is absolutely true. Then why is it that you and many people may feel a subtle unease when living life, a tapping noise of anxieties happening in the background in your day-to-day? It’s almost like our society is scared. It is odd, isn’t it? How is it possible to be living in the safest times in human history yet at the same exact time be so scared?
Barry Glassner, a renowned sociologist and author, quotes that:
“We are living in the most fear-mongering time in human history and the main reason for this is that there’s a lot of power and money available to individuals and organizations who can perpetuate these fears.”
Let us dive deep into this understanding of how society programs us using fear and anxiety against us. These are basically prehistoric emotions that we’ve used for survival for such a long time, and now they’re used in different domains like politics, marketing, and education to get people to act in a certain way.
The human brain remembers and processes pain and fear much better than joy. Fear and anxiety have become tools used against us, manipulating our behaviors in ways that serve others’ interests.
In this blog, we’ll delve into five domains where fear and anxiety are prevalent, explore how our bodies and minds react to fear, and discuss what we can do about it.
The Nature of Fear
From a basic survival standpoint, our minds scan the environment for threats (anything that could potentially harm us). Fear is an emotion designed to alert us to either fight the threat or flee from it. When this happens, our rational thinking shuts down, and the body prioritizes survival. Fear prepares us to react to danger. Once we sense potential danger, our bodies release hormones that sharpen survival functions like eyesight and increase blood flow to muscles, allowing us to run faster. This process can be traced back to our ancestors, for whom responding quickly to threats was a matter of life and death.
When we do this, the thinking mind shuts down and the body prioritizes survival. When you can get people to think less rationally because they’re in fear, you can get them to go with any cause or belief system you want them to. Right? Because you can position your belief system as a way of getting away from what they’re scared of.
So, for example, a politician who wants to get elected isn’t necessarily going to just talk about the things he wants to do for the people that support his party. Sure, that’s nice, but that’s not going to really persuade people at a primal level. What’s going to really persuade you at a primal level is talking about the things you fear most. So, if you fear, for example, people taking your jobs, the politician is going to talk about that a lot. They’re going to say, “They’re going to steal your jobs.” Your brain reacts to that: “Oh, they’re going to steal our jobs. We don’t want that. How do I prevent that? Oh, I just have to make sure this guy’s elected.” This means fear persuades you way better than any positive benefit ever could.
Fear vs. Anxiety
It’s important to distinguish between fear and anxiety. Fear is an immediate response to a present threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. Fear triggers a physical reaction; anxiety lives more in the mind, often without a direct, immediate threat.
Fear in Different Domains of Life
- The News: News outlets prioritize sensational stories to capture attention. Our brains, wired for survival, focus on threats, leading to a worldview that can seem overwhelmingly negative. It’s crucial to distinguish between what truly matters and what is simply sensationalized.
- Politics: Politicians often use fear to gain votes. By highlighting threats—real or imagined—they galvanize support. This tactic taps into our tribal instincts, creating an “us versus them” mentality that can override rational thought.
- Education: Fear around career success is pervasive. We’re told that without certain degrees or credentials, we won’t succeed. However, success is not linear, and there are many paths to achieving it.
- Religion: Fear of the afterlife based on current behavior can significantly influence our actions. It’s essential to question whether these fears serve us or limit us.
- Marketing and Sales: Companies exploit fear of missing out (FOMO), scarcity, and urgency to drive sales. Recognizing these tactics can help us make more rational purchasing decisions.
What Can We Do About It?
Society prioritizes financial gain over your ability to live a healthy or motivated life. They don’t care about that; they care about monetary, tangible things like profit and bigger customer bases. So, the sooner you realize that, the better you will survive. The world is a dangerous place, but we only see it that way because that is what we are watching. If we change our perspective a little, then maybe something can change.
- Watch What You Consume: Be mindful of the media you consume. The subconscious mind absorbs repeated messages, so balance your consumption with positive and enriching content.
- Learn About Psychology: Understanding how your mind works can help you navigate fear and anxiety. Explore higher realms of human potential, including how the body and mind interact.
- Take Responsibility: Own your emotions and actions. While societal factors influence us, we have the power to choose our responses and focus on higher-vibration emotions like joy and gratitude.
- Don’t be a Monkey: Don’t be like a monkey and follow whatever you’re told. Is something holding you back? Are you living a fraction of a life because you have been told to live your life like this?
- Ask Questions: Always question what you’re told. Look at opposing arguments and play devil’s advocate to deepen your understanding and avoid being swayed by fear-based tactics.
Living a better life involves recognizing how fear is used against us and choosing to focus on positive, empowering emotions. By doing so, we can reclaim our sense of safety and create a more fulfilling existence.
