What is opposite of fear?

What is opposite of fear?

Way back in 2013, I initiated conversation with select few friends by abruptly asking this question.

This question evoked a range of responses - from a mild surprise to being concerned about my emotional wellbeing.  One of my friend, who is a mental health professional, bombarded me with questions convinced that I was going through some kind of emotional trauma.  It took me some time to assure her that I was perfectly alright.

I rephrased my question:

What is the word that is opposite of the word "Fear"?

Then they started responding.

Some said "Fearless".

I asked them whether this word means anything at all.  I mean, opposite of fear is... fearless? Oh, come on.

Then they offered brave, courage, dare and similar meaning words.

I responded by saying, "The word opposite to the word "fear" should mean "no fear" or "absence of fear".  Do any of these words - brave, courage, dare and so on, mean "absence of fear" or "in spite of fear?"

Some were not sure.  Some said that they mean "in spite of fear".

Then I asked them whether they can come up with a word which means "absence of fear".

Some gave up.

That's when I volunteered to help them arrive at the word.

We do quite a few things in life out of fear of losing something or someone:

  • We work hard to overcome the fear of losing our job.
  • We serve our customers well to overcome the fear of losing their business.
  • We take care of our family to overcome the fear of losing their affection.
Now, if there was absolutely no fear of losing something or someone, why would we still do those things?

Some of them said, "Because we love doing those things."

Exactly.  Because we love doing those things.  So, when there is no fear, what is?

Love.

Some people were still dazed.

Now, let's extend this realization to other emotions - hate, jealousy, worry, anger and so on, and see where we reach when we look at absence of them.

We always reach love.

All along, we were told that love is an emotion.  Through this 'profound' exercise, we have realized that love is not an emotion.  Absence of all emotions is love.  

Love is our state of being.

Anbe Sivam.

Comments

  1. Guru20 December 2020 at 12:27

    Excellent, Deep, Novel and Profound !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown20 December 2020 at 13:12

    Well said sir..
    When I started reading this...i too thought of the same answers like...fearless..brave ..courage..atleast realized...it's absence of fear.
    Great sir

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sangeetha JPrakash20 December 2020 at 13:22

    Reading this post takes myself to the instances when you were sharing this insight with different groups and proudly could recollect that I have been part of them. Thank you for make things alive once more.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sheela20 December 2020 at 18:27

    Nostalgic

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rathi22 December 2020 at 22:13

    I remember this conversation sir

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown27 December 2020 at 12:33

    Very beautifully articulated! Glad that you are penning your thoughts and sharing it with a larger audience Murali.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Priya12 November 2024 at 19:47

    Beautiful

    ReplyDelete

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