This phrase will mean different things to each of us, no matter where or how we heard it. Fear can take many forms – for me it can take the shape of worst case scenarios. Only recently I found myself contemplating a new project. I started to think about the possibilities and how I could make it work. Then I found that I was starting to think about all that could go wrong and because I focused on what could go wrong that was all I could see. I was focusing on problems that didn’t even exist. It’s easy to do. We can slip into patterns of thinking that don’t serve us or move us forward.
I listen to music when I work and I’m often sat at my desk in Twickenham with headphones on and as I was thinking up all the ways it wouldn’t be successful a song came on from that day’s playlist. It was Rush’s ‘The Weapon” and the opening line is, ”We’ve got nothing to fear…but fear itself?” I caught myself singing it and then I realised what I was doing. It reminded me that of course we should make plans to minimise possible negative outcomes, but to worry about what hasn’t happened and may never happen isn’t helpful (to say the least).
We learn in Cognitive Hypnotherapy that when we focus on something then we are priming ourselves to find evidence of that thing happening – that’s why when you want to buy a new car for example you’ll see the model of the car you want everywhere. You never noticed it before, but because it’s now on your mind you’re seeing it everywhere. Evidence is important.
So when you focus on the negative your unconscious mind will provide you with the evidence of that negative taking place and will ignore any contradictory evidence. Which is why it’s so important to be solution focused and that we find the evidence to show that we’re moving in the right direction, to where we want to be.
To me, right now, that phrase is a means of encouragement, a reminder that the biggest obstacles I face are those I place in my own way because of my ‘fear’ of an unknown and unknowable future. And I can deal with those because I know they are just thoughts, my thoughts. And if you can’t get past your thoughts then remember that “we have nothing to fear except what we choose to fear.” Choose well.
The Self-Fulfilling Prophesy syndrome.
When I was in my early 30s a fortune teller told me my marriage was going to break up and she described in detail the man I would meet next. Have a guess what happened….????
Fear is false evidence appearing real
Hmm, how Ironic. I sat here this evening and after having listened to a horror story in YouTube, that “fear” part 1(I think)…so many of their lyrics come wafting through the air into my mind, my memory.
Happy to run into another Rush listener‼️ Especially one who knows their lyrics to the point of applying them to their everyday lives.
Thanks for your comment Ina, and it’s always interesting to me what lyrics come to us at particular times. Rush have provided some excellent subjects to think about.
its awesome !! this one helped a lot . Thank u ^_^
Thanks Aleem and I’m glad it helped.