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We live in a world plagued by fear.

Stoicism and CBT link fear to perception, not situations.

Failure and regret are linked to missed opportunities, not attempts.

Today we find ourselves living in a world where our lives are virtually shaped by fear. It’s been said that we live in a virtual culture of fear where social and economic fearmongering combines with cyber bullying to create an often toxic environment. So threatening is our world that psychiatric epidemiologists estimate that over one third of people will suffer diagnosable fear-related problems during their lifetime, making fear-related disorders the most prevalent of all mental disorders. Other than the most prevalent phobias (irrational fears), this article identifies four of the most pervasive and crippling fears and how to move past them using wisdom from the past and the science of cognitive behavioral therapies.

Four Fears That Can Shape Your Life

Fear may be defined as a primitive, survival-oriented emotion triggered by the perception of threat. Fear is associated with the “fight or flight” stress response. Fear is designed to assist you in avoiding things that can harm you. So, in that sense fear can be a good thing. But sometimes rather than support you and keep you safe, fear can take on a life of it’s own and cripple you, holding you back from living the life you really want.

There are likely four significant fears that not only affect you on a daily basis, but may over time serve to........

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