What’s your biggest fear? 🤔
Dr Karl Abrecht did some research (Practical Intelligence: the Art and Science of Common Sense) and found that there are 5 fears that we fundamentally share. Awareness is everything, so once you know what your genuine fear is – you begin to gain some understanding of your actions and needs.
1) Extinction – the ceasing to exist
2) Mutilation – having your body maimed
3) Loss of Autonomy – claustrophobia physically and socially
4)Separation – the fear of abandonment, rejection, and loss of connectedness
5) Ego-death – being scared of humiliation or profound self-disapproval
Many of the fears that we have all originated from one of these primary fears. Understanding what our biggest primary fear can give us more understanding and mental clarity about why we make decisions and why we feel certain things. Unfortunately, it doesn’t reduce the fear or alter it in any way, but it can really help clear up some confusion if we understand our drive. For me – separation is by far my biggest fear. I can understand that a lot of my decisions are in an attempt to get people to like me. For you – I have no idea. But give some thought to it. It will usually be pretty clear, you would’ve read one of those 5, and it would’ve resonated with you. With your thought time, think of past experiences and try and see how those actions apply to your fears. Read this link if you want some more explanation