I went to bed last night wondering what is the opposite of FEAR. Nothing came to mind immediately for me, or nothing that seemed exactly right anyway.
This is hardly an original ponderable on my part, but I wanted to research and see what resonated the most for me. You won’t believe how much comes up on a google search on this topic. Here are a few others: hope, love, bravery, courage, faith, trust, fearlessness, gallantry, unconcern, audacity, calm…and many more.
Out of all of the answers I thought and read about, I landed on CURIOSITY. When I feel most fearful, the more I know the less fearful I am. When I thought about the other possibilities, curiosity kept bubbling up again and again.
I’m curious (of course) about what you think is the opposite of FEAR for you?
Please let me know, let’s start a dialogue.
Hi Lisa, this is so timely. Having spent the weekend in DC marching with a million sisters and brothers, I think today the word that feels most right is community.
Community is another good word for the opposite of fear. Thank you.
You are afraid until you’re not. Accept that the Universe will provide. Accept that there are no mistakes in the Universe. Happy New Year, Lisa!
Acceptance is my word. 🤓🤓💡💡
Acceptance is a very good opposite indeed. I could use more of that today. Thank you.
Lisa,
An excellent ponderation, indeed.
I don’t think I can come up with a single, all encompassing word opposite, for Fear. It would be like trying to rope a tornado on the North Dakota plains.
I believe that the reason there are so many possible words that can fit as potential opposites of FEAR is because Fear is not experienced, nor does it occur in a vacuum. It is defined both contextually (situationally) and existentially in real time /space.
For example, perfect love can cast out fear. A healthy and supportive (loving) family or community can drive away fear. Or conversely, cause and create it. (read; dysfunctional family or community)
LOVE is one possible opposite word!
I like you own choice… CURIOSITY. As you stated, when you feel most fearful, the more you know the less fearful you are. New Testament teaching states that God has not given us a spirit of Fear, but of Power and Love and Sound Judgment.
Knowledge is empowering, can fertilize & grow love, and enhances sound judgement, decimating fear.
FAITH is another possible word that came up in your search. Not nebulous, contentless, Kierkegaardian Existential leap of faith. But one based on real verifiable content. The important think about faith is not the amount of faith held, but the object of our faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
ACTIONABLE FAITH is the opposite of fear.
Finally, in some situations, the Opposite of Fear may be COURAGE. John Wayne’s famous quite; Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
Maybe True Grit!
Upon further reflection. If limited to only one possible choice. ASSURANCE would be my opposite word to Fear.
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” This is a gem. Thank you. I love hearing all of the thoughtfulness to the question. Assurance…hummm I need to think more about that one. I first think of assurance as coming from someone or somewhere else, but perhaps I can offer assurance to myself as well.
I agree with your observation regarding assurance. I believe that a lasting and true antidote to our individual and societal fears does reside outside of our finite, temporal selves.
I’ve really given “assurance” some thought. Assurance can also be that steely resolve that we already possess everything we need in order to stay curious about understanding ourselves and our place in the world.
Peace…is the first things that comes to mind for me.
Dee Dee