Fear proneness !

The behaviour of the squirrel at the feeding station appeared to be fretful. The presence of the Myna in the bush next to the feeding table might have been one factor. 

The squirrels are used to feeding alone in the feeding table. 

A few days ago, I found two squirrels and a Jungle Babbler sharing their meal at the feeding table. 

Did the squirrels feel comfortable because they were together with each other or were they able to overcome fear of birds!

Fear is an emotion. Familiarity brings the level of anxiety or stress to a low level! Knowing and becoming familiar is one way we help children to escape from the trap of fear!

A two year old child with his parents used to visit us. We had to restrain Dulcie, our dog, during the visits. Following a few visits, the child was ready to go near the dog and stroke her. Knowing and feeling comfortable eased the anxiety of the cild. The message that a dog barks and bites is lot more spoken to them rather than the message that a dog is a pet and friendly animal. This one sided information creates fear of the dogs in the minds of toddlers. 

I do not know whether fear can be fully overcome! It may not be necessary to be fear free as fear too has its positive messages to us. While visiting a mountain cliff, I noticed how the area was barricaded to prevent accidents and yet allowing the full view of the panaroma of the valley! Fear in that sense generates a protective action from danger.

The inhibitory effects of fear are too many that some people feel constrained in life in taking healthy risks and moving on to attempt to subdue fear. 

Darkness makes some pre-school children fearful. When a light is provided to lit the environment, the level of fear drops. We feel less fearful when we can see, hear, feel and know. It is when we know that there is no harm in sight, we feel safe and fear gets subsumed!

For senior citizens,  the fear of illness leading to sickness is a real cause of concern. That can generate fear.  But doing all that is good to remain healthy reduces the risk and can ally fear! Fear makes us weak psychologically, behaviourally and socially. 

One way to stay enlightened within is live contently and restfully knowing that, 'it is in God we live, move and have our being' !

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)