In a short essay, students should discuss the role of fear in their own lives an
ID: 383647 • Letter: I
Question
In a short essay, students should discuss the role of fear in their own lives and in the world.
Our Greatest Fear Is Our Own Power
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves,
who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve
the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't
feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within
us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated
from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
- Marianne Williamson, co-leader of the United States Department of Peace movement
(quote often wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela). A Marianne Williamson was also
executive producer of the long running television series Touched By An Angel, but
I am not certain if the two are the same person.
The fear, if that were what we call it, applies as well to individuals as it does to
peoples (societies).
At an international level, let's consider possibilities. If you are a US citizen,
imagine what it must be like to be from any other country, thinking that the
president of the USA believes that he is powerful beyond all measure, that the US
is the greatest country in the world and that people of other countries are lesser
forms of humanity? Whether or not any of these is true is immaterial, as they are
perceptions held by many non-Americans.
What might you want to do if those arrogant people with their world-shattering weaponry and earth-shaking economic power threatened your way of life? It might explain some behaviors of non-American "terrorists" who want to frighten US citizens and cause them to spend extraordinary amounts of money to counteract perceived threats from "foreigners" they don't know or understand and whom they fear because of their skin color or their form of dress.
Most of us likely know people who undervalue themselves, who could have done more
with their lives but they were afraid to try. We also know of those who believe
that they have superhuman powers to alter the way people conduct their lives. The
latter are not afraid to act powerfully. They are not timid and they often succeed
because no one wants to stand up to them.
Williamson's quote was not intended to apply to everyone. It was intended to speak
to those who underestimate their abilities, who are afraid to be successful
because they are not sure what they would do differently than those celebrities
they read about in tabloids, and those who simply do not understand what would
be available to them and within their grasp if they knew how to proceed and how to
apply themselves to the task of growing into what they aspire to be.
Perhaps the most important sentence is the final one where she says that those
among us who manage to liberate themselves from fear provide role models for
others who would dearly love to try. Oftentimes, all they need is to know that
someone else has done it, especially if that someone is prepared to act as support
for their own attempt to free themselves from fear, to live as they can be.
Those of us who have liberated ourselves from fear should adopt a responsibility
for helping others to do the same. Too many among us lurk in the shadows in fear
that we will be noticed, that a light will be shone upon us and we will be found
wanting. We don't need more lurkers; we need them to become more effective people.
We can help them. That can be our way of making the world a better place.
Explanation / Answer
Fear is a state of mind where we shall not in the position to make a decision. Fear is one of the mindset which prevents us for getting a sound sleep or a well structured personality development. It impacts a student’s around the globe in many ways. These are,
1) We fail to utilize the actual potential we might achieve: For example: If, the basic concepts of maths were not learned then we always set a fear in our mind and we start avoids this subject, which brings many associated ill effects for us.
2) We also don’t have enough confidence to take any independent decisions.
3)We fail to tap more opportunities apart from study like sports participation, or other extracurricular activities.
4)We choose any subjects as per the advice of family or friends.
5)We have a great fear from society; we are not in position to take fresh breath due to pre-conditionings.
6)We have fear to fail and achieve a success with respect to other.
7) We have a fear to lose the relationships with our close friends after course completion.
A student might have much fear like feelings from the other countries conditions. For example: If, an American student get a job in Pakistan then he might have a fear from terrorism or cultural variations. A student might think that his current study will not help him in future success. It is also a possibility that a student will be highly competent but his level of self-confidence will be very low and he might think to left the study and start preparing for a different course. Students always search material benefits at the workplace and they might have a fear that whether their new company will provide the same facility or not. Job security or placement activities might be a situation where they feel insecure to get placement offer etc.