^{Photo by Melanie Wasser on Unsplash}

The opposite of fear isn’t always courage. Often, it’s embodied when people choose a calm life, one where they can pause and examine if they can overcome their fears.

Opportunity seldom upsurges with blood pressure.

As humorous as this sentiment sounds, it’s true. People receive the most benefit and wisdom from situations that stress people out. These challenge their comfort zones, pushing them beyond their limitations, thus developing their capabilities and maturity. Think of it as the storm before the serene calm and awe-striking rainbows, similar to treasure hunting, where the most traps and obstacles often surround the most valuable chest.

However, regardless of how tempting the trade-off is, wherever fear is present, people avoid it.

In any situation that triggers their fight or flight, the most instinctive response is the latter. After all, it’s easier to flee than to tirelessly fight and cope with the possible consequences and results. Despite the motivational quotes and the light within its possibilities, fear causes great suffering before it provides rewards. Unfortunately, people can’t look past this distress to endure it.

Change the Narrative, Flip Your Perspective

In Cynthia Giachino’s autobiographical novel about fear, readers are taken along the process people undergo whenever they’re overwhelmed with fear. They witness how powerful this emotion can be when mismanaged, observing the dip one experiences along with this distress.

Fear is a human emotion.

Although it doesn’t exist as a vacuum, it can be considered ever-present in everyone’s mind, waiting for the right opportunity to pounce and cloud judgment. It’s waiting for the situation to trigger everyone’s fight or flight. Fear is an ever-present biological switch in everyone. It’s a bodily response that isn’t optional, but people can control how they perceive it and react.

Fear isn’t the enemy.

What pulls people away from actualizing their potential is their response to it.

In a time when stress is rewarded, and people are constantly drowning in anxiety, it’s time to change the narrative and choose a calm life. When fear can pounce at any time, people should take the time to pull back from the situation, a time to remain calm and examine the conditions of where they stand. Instead of being reactive to fear and jumping on an impulsive decision, situations improve when people choose a calm life. When they find the tranquility weaved within their hectic lives, only then will they better appreciate the beauty of life.

Instead of riding on stressful and busy days, people can consciously slow down and assess their lives. James Allen once said, “The more tranquil a man is, the greater his success becomes.” By choosing to look at fear and forego reacting out of stress and panic, people can slow down and appreciate the little things in life.

Acknowledge the Chaos but Choose a Calm Life

Chaos, the common source of people’s fear, is part of life. Nobody can avoid experiencing a chaotic situation, but whether they’ll overcome it is entirely up to how they react. Accepting that life can be a combination of tumultuous events is the first step toward living the opposite of fear. This will help people feel more in control of their lives, not surrendering them over the uncertainties.

When people choose a calm life, they also accept the chaos that comes with it. This allows them to take setbacks and overcome challenges with a better perspective. Reality can’t exist without chaos, and people must choose to acknowledge and live with it.

The opposite of fear isn’t always courage.

Often, it’s as simple as having faith that things happen for a reason and chaos will have ways to unravel and resolve itself.

People can choose a calm life instead of letting fear and stress take over. This way, they may also benefit from the resiliency and strength of quiet and serenity. When people forego constantly surviving on drive and adrenaline, they can look at life a lot clearer. They can better respond to situations when they’ve paused and given time to think things through instead of rushing for an answer.