Fear is either one of humanities biggest flaws, or biggest strengths, or honestly, it’s probably both. Fear is a rather unpleasant emotion we feel when we have the belief that something could potentially cause pain or be a threat to us. Fear is something that can simultaneously protect us from danger, but also hold us back from living out a fulfilling life.

Fear, like anything else, needs context. Some fear is good. For example, the basic instinct that pushes us to survive personally and as a species, known as the survival instinct, is a subconscious thought-process that is fueled by several things, but it's main component, believe it or not, is fear. So, what is this fear? In some cases it can be as simple as the fear of death. This single form of fear itself can enable people to push though pain, distress, and uncomfortable situations to come out on the other side alive.

Fear can also be devastating--depending on what your afraid of. It can prevent us from simply living life. Fear prevents people from pursuing what they want and places a burden of hardship and doubt that’s hard to overcome.

One of the amazing things about fear is that it's a universal human characteristic. It is something that everyone feels, whether and whether they admit to it or not, Its hard to be open with others with feelings like fear because a lot of times, we’re not even open with ourselves. It takes a lot of introspection to be able to look at ourselves and realize what's best for us, and what's potentially holding us back.

As long as humanity exists, fear is also going to exist; that's the reality of the situation. It's up to people to be able to realize what fears are real, and what fears are nothing more than overzealous thoughts in our heads that are restraining us from progressing.