Fear Is Not Always Bad: 8 Ways Your Fear Has Benefitted You

Many people do not like to identify with being afraid, perhaps because society has made fear a dirty word. Yet, it makes sense to be afraid, and there are real benefits of fear, eight of which I’ve listed below. However, if you are ready to open a whole new world and chapter of what life could look like without your fear, then thank your fear for these eight benefits that it may have provided you and be prepared to let them go.

(1) Fear is how your body tries to protect you. You are here because your ancestors tuned enough into their fear to avoid being eaten by lions, trampled by elephants, bitten by venomous snakes, or killed by plagues. Their fear responses can be credited for the survival of the human race. It helped them stay alive so you could be born, and now it helps you stay alive to bring about future generations. Your fear has kept you out of many potentially dangerous situations.

(2) Fear gives you consolation that others are afraid. As far as your fear of deep water, you are in good company. In a 1998 Gallup poll of Americans, 46% of adults admitted to being afraid of pool water over their heads, 64% of adults are afraid in deep open water like the ocean, and 39% of adults are afraid to put their heads under water.

(3) Fear can feel good. When you are afraid, the body refocuses your energy and attention to survival in the moment. There is also a release of dopamine⁠—a feel good chemical released in your brain⁠—once the thing you feared does not materialize. This is why the thrills of a horror movie and a roller coaster bring you so much pleasure.

(4) Fear motivates you to be a good person. The bible advocates only one kind of fear: The Fear of God. “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind but fear your God.” (Leviticus 19:14). The Fear of God keeps you a good citizen of the planet.

(5) Fear can be harnessed and channeled to enhance performance. Some have spoken about how to convert fear into productive energy. They tell you to turn the jitters in your stomach to passion in your voice as you give that speech. They tell you to transfer that nervous energy in your legs to a quick spring out of the blocks for your sprint race. This is sound advice for most situations, especially situations that are not as life-threatening as deep water.

(6) Fear has gained you [friends] community. Have you arrived at a pool and exchanged glances with the pretty girls in the cute bikinis who are lounging beside it, but won’t enter because they don’t want to mess up their hair? Maybe they never learned to swim because of the high upkeep of their hair, because of the lack of access to pools growing up, because of generational fear of deep water, or because, as they say, “we don’t do that.” Whatever the reason, you have been able to break the ice easier with those who struggle with the same fear.

(7) Fear has given you the best party story ever. Was it the time you fell off a jet ski and your life flashed before your eyes? Or when your friends convinced you to jump into the deep end and you knew you were going to die? Or when the sharks nibbled on your backside during your Caribbean vacation? Your terror has given you the best party story, that every time you tell it, everyone around you doubles over laughing.

(8) Fear has formed part of your identity and personality. Amongst other ways you describe yourself, you are now that girl who doesn’t do water. Or that guy who doesn’t do those crazy water sports. It may even be one of the most interesting things about you.

Can you relate to any of these benefits? Can you think of other ways that your fear has benefitted you? Get real with yourself. Sometimes, you don’t want to overcome fear because you are afraid to give up the benefits of your fear. Just own it. The fact is, we don’t hold on to things if they don’t benefit us in some kind of way. Fear has benefitted you. So take a moment, then, with an attitude of gratitude, thank your fear for all of its benefits and let them go. A whole new world and chapter of your life awaits you. If you are ready to overcome your fear and start enjoying being in water, then begin your journey now with Five Firm Foundations For Freedom From Fear.