Christine Smith's Blog

Conclusion of “Fear -Enemy of Liberty” with a Film Recommendation: “Tuesdays with Morrie”

Liberty requires relinquishment of fear.

A few questions: Ever asked yourself “What will the neighbors think?” or anything similar in regards to those you associate with?  Do you value “fitting in” or “not making waves” over pursuit of something you wish to do or rather than standing up for the truth? In small or large matters, are your decisions significantly influenced by what you imagine others will say about you?  Are you hesitant to make a change in your life for fear that a family member may disapprove? Do you withhold sharing your thoughts or beliefs for fear of what others might think? If even in small matters you withstand not such pressure, how do you hold up in the most important matters of your life?  How many important choices in your life were governed not by your truest thoughts but from a fear of what others might think or a fear of what you might loose? Fear of loss, be it tangible or emotional, frequently keeps people from fulfilling their potential and thus keeps them from both receiving blessings and being a blessing. Another question, are you someone who fears death?

In my February 16th blog entry, “Fear – Enemy of Liberty,” I examined how easily many people are manipulated by those in positions of power, and even by those with no real “control” over other’s lives but yet whom one willingly gives such power. Liberty and happiness are inseparable; permitting fear to govern any of your actions will result in loss of both.

In that blog entry, I explored how in areas of the great importance to an individual’s life, such as finances/education/healthcare/etc., many people opt to let others do the choosing for them. That piece addressed the political and social issues of our nation and how fear is craftily used to encourage the people to willingly forsake liberty for what they perceive will be security. The points I made there, I will assume have been read (if not, I suggest reading it first), before reading the following, as this is its continuation. That blog entry focused upon current political issues as they related to liberty and its loss; this entry will now explore personal decisions.

Liberty isn’t just a political matter. In fact, it is first a personal matter.

All too often conventional thought is permitted to shape decisions made in life. Few seem to research, think, and ponder for themselves what they truly want in life, and rather choose the easy route of simply doing what their particular peers or family expect of them instead of following their heart and mind.

Libertarians recognize how fear has been used effectively well to dupe the American people into seeking assistance from the government from cradle to grave, and how that weakness has twisted this nation’s government into an enormous power-hungry entity far from what it was constitutionally intended to be. While most libertarians readily identify such fear tactics used by the government, do they ever stop to examine their own personal lives to see if anyone else is using the tactic of fear to assume a control over their life? Have all your choices really been your own, or have you at times succumbed to a decision, choice, or behavior simply because it was easier to conform than make your own unique way? Ever acquiesce to another simply to keep their approval?

Fear isn’t just used by politicians to manipulate citizens, in fact, it is most commonly used by those closest to one who sadly feel a need to control what another individual does in his or her life.

Children are brought up to be fear being without things and people. Once they accept such a false premise, they learn early to use whatever tactic (even if unethical) to have those things and people. They feel “less” as a person unless they “measure up” to others in their peer group. They later become adults desperately seeking security and approval, rather than pursuing their own desires whether it be in career, avocations, the place they live, their beliefs, or the persons they choose to have in their life.

Many decide it’s “safer” to listen to their fears rather than possibly subjecting oneself to rejection, ridicule, failure or loss. In doing so, they never experience the blessings and miracles of life. Their personal lives, as well as often their professional lives, remain unenlightened and thus unfulfilled. They manipulate others to alleviate their own fears, and are subject to the manipulation of others. (This same mindset, obviously, is what makes them vulnerable to the politicians who paint fearful scenarios of worsening crises in order to exploit them.)

To maintain liberty, one must guard against all fear thoughts.

Common as it is, the experience and manipulative use of fear is something one must be on guard against at all times – both in it being used against oneself and in making sure one does not lapse into using it against others.

Far to often, fear governs people’s personal relationships with family and friends. Even what should be the closest of relationships are most often a fear-based joining of two incomplete persons seeking to take from the other. In fear, people come together to gain some sort of “security” in life, but it is both meaningless and transient. To base any close relationship on what you may receive from another is false (and headed for disaster). Fear of being single, fear of not having a family or home, fear of what family members and friends think, fear of being alone…all these lead people to involve themselves in relationships they call “love.” But it’s anything but love. Being alone is far better than being in such false relationships. Good relationships are based on the strength of the truth of love; false relationships on the weakness of fear.   In fact, anything attained based on fear is void of love (be it a relationship or anything else), and thereby keeps true joy from you.

Fear can actually prevent, harm and destroy what would be good in your life. It causes one to compromise, thereby allowing that which is false to enter one’s life in the guise of offering some benefit, comfort, or advantage. 

In fear, people lie and deceive. Again we easily identify how lies and deception are used in government to the people’s detriment, but do we carefully examine our lives and purge those who use such deceptive practices against us? Do we refrain from lies? One who repeatedly lies to those they say they love, no matter the length of said relationship (even if a parent, a sibling, or other close relationship), shall prove a curse in your life.

Fear also leads people to not communicate with another. It promises a lack of vulnerability. But fear is no defense against being hurt. Instead, it blocks out that which could bring joy and fulfillment. To trust, to share, and to simply want to joyfully share with any other person in life, family or friend, requires casting aside all fear.

True love from one’s family or friends will always respect your individuality. It seeks not to control. Even when your choices disappoint or perhaps go against another’s opinion of what they thought best, the non-judgment, support, and respect should lovingly remain at all times. If it doesn’t, then it’s not “love” the other has for you, but a distorted emotional attachment with a facade of caring cultivated to keep you confused and ensnared under their control. Many a life has been spent fulfilling someone else’s idea of what one should be, rather than becoming whom one was intended to be.

Fear also leads one to judge and condemn. It is an emotion responsible for all the destructive feelings such as anger, vindictiveness, jealousy, and all manner of other forms of hatred. Fear precedes every act of unjustified immoral violence and persecution whether perpetrated by an individual against another individual or a group against another. Fearing those who differ, all manner of evil becomes possible.

Where fear reigns, truth is not valued, and all suffer. Again, just as this is what is taking place in our nation politically, it takes place in millions of lives daily.

Fear is always overcome with love.

Love of oneself and love of others respects individual liberty. It looks not for anyone else or anything to take care of you. Love is bold and courageous. It requires, indeed it always seeks, personal responsibility.

Those in government, who use current difficulties to their own advantage in the guise of “alleviating” struggles and “advancing” your dreams, are just people using fear to gain further power. Likewise, those in your life who would use the giving or withholding of their approval, acceptance, or assistance to you based on whether you pursue the path they want for you are no different. They are both scoundrels. The seeking to control another’s life, in any form, is morally reprehensible. Love never seeks to force others to behave in any manner, it respects their free will to choose.

Choosing love will always bring the greater reward because it is true. Fear based decisions, being false, ultimately lead to sadness because fear mistakenly leads you to neglect or reject those things which would truly manifest joy in your life.

Get rid of fear and you take away the mask, the facade, the role playing. You then allow your business/professional life, as well as your personal, to grow and flourish.

 “Tuesdays with Morrie”

Recently, I watched the film, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” based on Mitch Albom’s nonfiction bestseller.

I highly recommend this beautiful, poignant and powerful film. Repeatedly, this commitment to love versus fear is illustrated and shared.

I think the film well captured the fear which keeps people from experiencing all manner of joy in their life. If you haven’t seen it, and if you can appreciate the difference between merely existing before you die and really living before your physical death, you will appreciate this film.

In every area of life, I endeavor to reject fear as the basis for any decision I make. I love myself which means I trust myself, celebrate freedom, experience much happiness, and live with the consequences, whatever they may be, of my decisions. I try to never let any fear thought get my priorities out of order. I love myself, as I endeavor to express love to others. Once fear is gone, truth can be expressed and listened to. It creates a refuge where happiness and sadness can be shared. Tender understanding occurs. Fear doesn’t get in the way.

I experience a loving relationship first with God, and it enables me to then endeavor to understand what is most loving to do in relation to all other matters and persons in my life. Receiving the ultimate love as God has for me and for each of us, enables me to be stronger in rejecting fear as I choose to be an expression of His love in all I do. And His love is stronger than any fear this world poses. In it is true liberty, even as to death. Fear never (knowingly) plays a part in the decisions I make; if I recognize something as a fear thought keeping me from doing something, I quickly reject it and proceed, in faith, in love, with the task at hand.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18, KJV.

Choose again. Let every area of your living be decided upon from the strength of love. Identifying the fears in your life and rejecting them is the first step to breaking free…living…and liberty!