Don’t Feed the Fears
How to Stop Being Manipulated by Fear
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
~ Nelson Mandela
Once relegated to election season, fear mongering has become a daily occurrence among the worst politicians. They endlessly stoke fear and anger to keep their supporters upset, so they show up on election day. Fear is being fueled in political speeches, social media memes, Twitter posts, highly partisan media outlets masquerading as news, and campaign ads.
We are supposed to fear those protesting for equal protection and their right to exist. They want us to be terrified of an invasion at our southern border and think they are the only ones who can save us. The opposition party and its supporters are portrayed as enemies who want to destroy the country.
They are making us afraid and then using that fear to make us hate each other. Politicians are conditioning us to fear the change that is coming in this country, not because this change is bad or isn’t needed, but in an effort to hold on to power.
The History of Fear in Politics
While the use of fear is blatant in current American politics, it is not new. Demagogues and oppressors throughout history have used fear to manipulate the masses and sway public opinion. Leaders in ancient Athens conditioned their people to fear Sparta, which launched a legendary war that still captivates students of literature and history.
The Nazi Party in Germany used fear to justify a holocaust and launch a massive war that engulfed the world. In more recent history, the fear people felt after the attacks on September 11, 2001, was used to justify and manipulate political support for two wars that further destabilized the Middle East and led to the rise of ISIS.
The former occupant of the White House has shown himself to be a master of stoking fear and hatred. He made fear the cornerstone of his campaign in 2016 by branding Mexicans as rapists, Muslims and terrorists, and immigrants as “bad hombres” to gain support for his bid for the White House. That has not stopped. He continued using fear to keep his base stirred up, from painting a false picture of suburbs “under siege” from protestors and low income housing to his lies about the 2020 election.
Fear is dangerous. Whether making decisions about your career, a relationship, or choosing a leader for the country, acting from a place of fear is never conducive to good decision making. We all know from our own personal experience that making decisions from a place of fear is never the answer. So why should we think that it would work on a larger scale? Our nation’s many real problems will never be solved through fear.
Recognizing & Overcoming Fear
Mindful awareness is the path to overcoming fear. Mindfulness and awareness of the present moment provides the clarity needed to recognize when fear is being used to sway public opinion, get you to vote for a particular candidate, or to maintain the status quo at a time when change is desperately needed.
Once you recognize the pattern that is used to create fear, it is easy to see when it is being used. When you can see that you are being manipulated, it becomes easier to evaluate the claims and see through the attempts to make you afraid. This allows you to evaluate current social problems and situations with greater clarity to find real solutions to real problems.
Purposely stoking fear is a dirty trick, but it works on many people. The best way to counter this is by becoming aware that fear is being used and recognizing attempts to scare you. Once you can see the problem clearly, decisions can made from a place of clarity and compassion, which always leads to a better outcome.
