“The world can no longer control you because it’s fear that really runs you”– David R Hawkins
There is a lot to unpack in this one sentence but I often feel once you truly understand it you are firmly on the road to enlightenment.
So we have two things going on in the word:
- The obvious – we are constantly told if we do certain things (have a family) or get certain things (a new/bigger car) we will be happy. Our programming and the media are, in other words sowing a consistent feeling of dissatisfaction in us.
- The not so obvious – by telling us what will make us happy they are by definition telling us what would make us unhappy (a divorce, losing that new/bigger car).
So in our subconscious we are unhappy because of all the things we don’t have but also fearful of losing the things we have achieved so far.
Hawkins is arguing that most of the time it is fear that is in control because only occasionally can you get or do the things you are told will make you happy. The vast majority of the time we are simply (usually subconsciously) fearful of losing what we have.
What will people think of me if my wife leaves me? what will people think of me if I have to downgrade to a smaller car or house?
At the same time everyone else is thinking this way so we have a society of fear which keeps everyone in the same place and on the same track.
Of course as soon as you realise those things are not you, only society and your programming have persuaded you that they are, you are free.
If you downgrade your car it doesn’t matter what your neighbours think about you because ‘you’ has not changed. Only their perception of ‘you’ has and they only think that way because they are caught up in the society of fear themselves.
Now you might think I would point to minimalists now as a great example. Well in one sense it is true, many minimalists report a greater sense of happiness because they suddenly realise they don’t need so many of the things society says they must have (or at least strive to try and obtain).
But very often you find they are actually just looking for a way to replace material things with emotional ones – recognition, praise, respect, admiration, etc.
Deep down then they also live in fear that the emotional support could disappear if they are not a “good enough” minimalist or if minimalism goes out of fashion.
I won’t argue that Minimalism is not a great place to start, a good doorway, but only when you can let go of your attachments (or needs) to things – be they material or emotional – can you truly break free of this fear.
When you do then there is nothing the world can throw at you to control you anymore, the levers it had are gone and you can get on and enjoy a fear free life!