Fright can undermine much of our well-being, especially if it is left unchecked and permitted to grow. We can be fearful of some uncertainty or situation and conjure up anxious outcomes. But are our fearful thoughts warranted or were we just caught off-balance? Fright is akin to being momentarily scared, but does that mean things are really dangerous or life threatening?
Historically, having a cautious nature was essential to one’s survival and safety, as danger was everywhere and medical treatment was practically non-existent. A broken leg or open wound was very life threatening. The average life span until the start of the twentieth century was between 30 and 40 years, whereas now it is 80 or over for those living in the West. Have we re-wired our thinking to today’s world? Or are we living in some media invented other reality? The media is constantly telling us that we are at serious risk from too much fat in our diets, or criminality, or airplane crashes or threats from terrorism– and all of these can make us overly anxious. Remember, good news does not sell, as it is too boring.
Frightening things are about perceived (or imagined) risks, whereas dangerous things are about real risks. Between innovations, regulations, standards, medical advances and education, the world has never been as safe as it is now. Being frightened is largely an emotional, not a rational reaction. Put very bluntly, if you were to die only because of unnatural or dangerous events (that is, other than age related illnesses and circumstances), on average you would live to be 2,800 years old. Based on this simple but valid statistic our world is EXTREMELY safe and secure.
Getting to grips with your anxiety will help you sleep better. Please consider investigating the FACTFULNESS* book noted below, it provides the data and research to support a less dangerous view of our reality. It is a fascinating and reassuring read.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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*: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund