Fears are a real thing, a few years ago I was asked by my professor to write about “micro fears” and their impact on us, at that time I must admit I was too naive to realize how micro fears as tiny as they are have the power and impact like mountains to paralyze human being, there are many amongst us who keep going through pain and misery because they’re are too scared to walk away, the fears of unknown are too strong, the tiny steps immobilize us, we have to calm ourselves with the hopes and delusions, like patting a baby that everything, otherwise our stomach reminds us we are unable to handle the pressure. Can I do this? Am I able to face it? Will I be able to survive? And for how long?….
Reminds me of Sidney Sheldon’s two novels, with titles “Are You Afraid of the Dark “and the other one was “Tell me your dreams “after reading both of them I used to combined their names and started to say it like Are You Afraid of the Dark? tell me your dreams…. like it’s one thing because it was making complete sense, we do not ask us questions, why we are feeling these fears, and we do not talk and let out our fears, and it's not our fault, we are simply unable to do that in those circumstances, putting words together, making sense of everything is not that plain sailing, so we paralyze ourselves in situations & people because we are too afraid to Begin Again.
Allow me to introduce my spiritual side I would not like to be labeled religious, in fact, I am proudly spiritual, religion is just a path, guidance helps your soul to find its way assist you to come over the hurdles and fright we feel. It's similar to going for therapy or talking to someone wise, who knows how to respond with wisdom. In my case, I choose the Quran, I have come to discover it as an enlightened and knowledgeable source, my own personal experience is, I have never been disappointed in my queries and quests, my confused and lost ducks get in a row once I ponder on the intellectual answers in that book, let me share something when I feel my fears of disappointment and sadness takes over me, or I have the numbing feeling akin to anxiety attacks, and I’m unable to get a hold on those micro fears, I remind myself an answer from the Quran, that this life is a temporary abode, these tests and trials are not forever, have patience and hold on to your faith, لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا “Allah will not burden a soul with more than what they can handle” (2:286), and most importantly this reminder is like cold water dropped on burning wounds that we will only be tested within our capacity, it will never be beyond our level of patience. That calms the jittery nerves and those micro fears that bubble up and begin to simmer again, for them:
”Verily, those who have attained to faith and do good works, and are constant in prayer, and dispense charity – they shall have their reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.”
_( _Al Baqarah – 2:277) , life will never be a smooth sail, verily if it was, we humans would have been irked and jaded, learn to sail your ship with faith and the storms of fears will calm down….
I must add for those who choose to be neither religious nor spiritual, ponder on these answers for a few seconds, you’ll see the wisdom behind it, this reminder is universal, for believers and nonbelievers, as fears and their crippling effects are part of our human character and nature.
By Khush
Editor-at-large
WEDA