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Primal fear
That rustling in the bushes? It might be a lion. That storm brewing? Get inside. Not have enough food for the winter? Get ready now.
Lions and storms and lack of food were very real fears for our ancestors. These fears were the difference between life and death. Take this point to its logical conclusion, go back far enough, and these fears were life. Our life.
It’s thanks to our ancestors taking precautions to these fears that we are here right now. These fears meant our ancestors took action. But do these fears exist in the modern world? To a certain extent, yes. Humans still live out in the savanna, humans still have to deal with storms, humans still have to eat. But, in our modern lives these primal fears are all but taken care of.
The modern equivalent is the fear of failure. This is a real fear. Real in the sense that it’s enough to stop people from speaking in public, it’s enough to stop people from trying new ideas, and it’s enough to stop people from living.
But does it really exist? Should we give it the time of day?
Primal fears caused people to take action. Modern fears cause people to cease up.
Why?
What’s going to happen to you if you speak out in public? What’s going to happen to you if you test a new idea? What’s going to happen to you if you stop living?
Surely it can’t be worse than being mauled to death by a lion, dying due to exposure out in the elements, or starving to death in the cold.
If that fear causes you to take action, you should be thankful. Take that fear and use it as a weapon. I’m willing to bet it won’t kill you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I’m Tim Bunting AKA the Kiwi Yamabushi, a New Zealander who became a Yamabushi Ascetic in the Dewa Sanzan mountains of north Japan. I’m part of the Yamabushido team, and we host life-altering Yamabushi training on the Dewa Sanzan (website link). People come to us for the ultimate mindfulness experience, to reach the next level, or simply connect with nature and themselves.
I’m on a mission to summit all 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata Prefecture to spread the splendour of this fabulous location, and in dedication to all those who lost their lives out in nature, including my father.
On my daily blog I post thoughts of a practicing Yamabushi that I hope people can use to better themselves and live as fulfilling a life as possible.
Sign up to the weekly Mountains of Wisdom newsletter, follow me on social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Clubhouse, all @kiwiyamabushi), or send me an email via the link below to stay in touch.
Tim.
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