<p>The feeling of fear is rather a common phenomenon in many living species. In fact, it’s an integral part among the variegated human emotions. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However the ‘imaginary fear’ is something that is specific to human beings. And, as human race, the more we are progressing in life’s every arena; it looks like the more we are being plagued by these imaginary fears. Interestingly, right from our younger days, these ‘what-if’ fears start germinating, from the seeds of life’s incertitude. During school days, we are bombarded by “What if, by stroke of bad luck, I’m unable to pass my board exams with thumping success”? “And, owing to that, what if I don’t bag a plum place in a good educational institute”? “And, due to my attempts having turned out super-dud, what if my parents don’t buy me that tantalizing vehicle/gizmo, for which I’ve been hankering for”? <br /><br /> Now, as we grow up, the number and intensity of these fears too grow along with us! Especially, if one happens to be an irredeemable pessimist, the chances of being buffeted by these imaginary fears are all the more. “What if, despite toiling inordinately hard at workplace, still I get ousted”? “What if my conniving colleague, wheedles the boss in wangling out the promotion, for which I’m rightfully entitled to”? “What if while strolling on some sidewalk, I suddenly stumble down, to get smashed by a speeding vehicle”? “What my children leave me in lurch in old age, to shift for myself”? <br /><br /> Well, here is an apocryphal story, which can help in keeping these ‘what-if’ fears at bay. It seems, once a man, residing at one side of the river bank, decides to call on his friend, staying at the other side. While he’d be nearing the bridge, connecting the two banks, he recalls how wobbly its wooden slats were, when he had gone visiting his friend the previous time. Pondering over this, he gets inundated by a deluge of imaginary fears. <br /><br /> He starts cudgeling his brains imagining what would happen to his family, in case he gets drowned in the deep water. Without any bread-winner at home, what if his family get hurled in the impecunious state? As a result, what if all his family members end their lives, en mass? Even worse, what if he loses his limb, with his daily activities getting paralyzed? Feeling agitated by avalanche of these thoughts, as he ambles near the bridge, to his amazement, he notices a sturdy concrete bridge, built in place of the earlier rickety one. Slowly, he realizes how he had frittered away those precious moments of his life, being persecuted by pointless fears; instead of having enjoyed the panoramic scenic beauty around.<br /><br /> Well, the subtext of the story is that whatever is destined, it’d happen and it is unalterable, regardless of whether we worry over it or not. So, instead of letting the mind being scourged by torrents of fears, it’s good to take the life as it comes. And even better would be – “to not trouble the trouble, until trouble troubles us”!</p>
<p>The feeling of fear is rather a common phenomenon in many living species. In fact, it’s an integral part among the variegated human emotions. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However the ‘imaginary fear’ is something that is specific to human beings. And, as human race, the more we are progressing in life’s every arena; it looks like the more we are being plagued by these imaginary fears. Interestingly, right from our younger days, these ‘what-if’ fears start germinating, from the seeds of life’s incertitude. During school days, we are bombarded by “What if, by stroke of bad luck, I’m unable to pass my board exams with thumping success”? “And, owing to that, what if I don’t bag a plum place in a good educational institute”? “And, due to my attempts having turned out super-dud, what if my parents don’t buy me that tantalizing vehicle/gizmo, for which I’ve been hankering for”? <br /><br /> Now, as we grow up, the number and intensity of these fears too grow along with us! Especially, if one happens to be an irredeemable pessimist, the chances of being buffeted by these imaginary fears are all the more. “What if, despite toiling inordinately hard at workplace, still I get ousted”? “What if my conniving colleague, wheedles the boss in wangling out the promotion, for which I’m rightfully entitled to”? “What if while strolling on some sidewalk, I suddenly stumble down, to get smashed by a speeding vehicle”? “What my children leave me in lurch in old age, to shift for myself”? <br /><br /> Well, here is an apocryphal story, which can help in keeping these ‘what-if’ fears at bay. It seems, once a man, residing at one side of the river bank, decides to call on his friend, staying at the other side. While he’d be nearing the bridge, connecting the two banks, he recalls how wobbly its wooden slats were, when he had gone visiting his friend the previous time. Pondering over this, he gets inundated by a deluge of imaginary fears. <br /><br /> He starts cudgeling his brains imagining what would happen to his family, in case he gets drowned in the deep water. Without any bread-winner at home, what if his family get hurled in the impecunious state? As a result, what if all his family members end their lives, en mass? Even worse, what if he loses his limb, with his daily activities getting paralyzed? Feeling agitated by avalanche of these thoughts, as he ambles near the bridge, to his amazement, he notices a sturdy concrete bridge, built in place of the earlier rickety one. Slowly, he realizes how he had frittered away those precious moments of his life, being persecuted by pointless fears; instead of having enjoyed the panoramic scenic beauty around.<br /><br /> Well, the subtext of the story is that whatever is destined, it’d happen and it is unalterable, regardless of whether we worry over it or not. So, instead of letting the mind being scourged by torrents of fears, it’s good to take the life as it comes. And even better would be – “to not trouble the trouble, until trouble troubles us”!</p>
