fear survey results

Some time ago I published a hub on this issue. I gave several options to choose from. If you haven't read it, you can check it out FEAR. When I started, I had no preconceived outcomes. So, the results were altogether unpredicted. I suppose that the order of most, to least could be expected, to some extent, I was not going to presume anything.

Anyhow, the results showed the following four top votes. Fear of

1. DEATH ---25%
2. LOSS OF LOVED ONES ---22%
3. OTHER ---15%
4. FAILURE ---11%....also SICKNESS & DISEASE --11%

These were the results at 100 votes.

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Now that we are at almost 150 votes, there has been a slight shift.

Number two has risen to first place. Number one has dropped to second place.

1. LOSS OF LOVED ONES----26%
2. DEATH----20%

The rest haven't hardly changed.

FEAR OF LOOSING A LOVED ONE.

It appears that more people fear this than death itself. I guess it highlights the reality that we do care deeply about people close to us. 1 in 4 of us feel it's the worst thing that could happen to us. We so value them in our lives. I didn't differentiate between friends and family here, but I guess they are equally loved, or valued.

There are those who would rather not have certain people as family, and value friends more. I guess there is a choice with friends, and not with relatives. In any case, my remedy would be to maximise your relationship with those closest to you. Live life to the fullest in every sense of the word. Include them in everything you can. Let them know how much you value them. Give of yourself as much as you can.

The reason is that you will live a life that is fulfilling to both yourself and them. Everyone wats to live a good life. Full of good things. We each want our lives to be celebrated, and not mourned. For that reason, when the inevitable coes, we will not have missed any opportunities. Regret is sometimes worse than loss. Nobody wants regrets in life. So, eliminate the possibility of regret by giving life all you've got. Include those you were thinking you would so miss if they died. This way, you will not have loss and regret to live with.

Death is inevitable, and loss goes hand in hand. One dies, another is left behind who experiences the loss. But loss with regret is way more difficult to live with. I want to encourage you to live life to the full, and prepare yourself fo the inevitable. The other side of the coin is, should you be the one to die, you will not leave a legacy of regret behind, but one of joy and celebration. Yes, you will be missed, but the pain will be less.

Well, that's my philosophy on the issue.

For the believer, there is great news, that sadly is missing for the atheist, and the like. that news is that though we are separated from our loved ones, it is not permanent. We shall be reunited again. We will, again, continue the relationship, just on another level. A better level. certainly one where we will never be separated again.

FEAR OF DEATH

1 in 5 people listed this as their greatest fear.

I don't know whether that's a fear of the unknown regarding what is waiting for them after they die. or;

if it's a fear of the actual event of dying or;

the (possible) suffering before death.

Remedy

The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear. Perfect does not imply a love that only an elite group can attain, but rather an MATURE love. One that has gone through the various stages of a babe in Christ, to a mature son. Once you know the power of God's love in your life, all fear disappears.

Whether its a fear of the death event, or the suffering that may or may not precede it, LOVE will dispel both. Concerning the "what about the afterlife"?It's fear of the unknown. But it doesn't have to be UNKNOWN. As a child of God, you can KNOW what's waiting for you. Not every detail, but more than enough to not fear going there. Well, not as a child of God. If you deny Him, I guess you have lots. to fear. (but that's another subject). I wrote a hub on assurance. I wrote another one on how to MEET GOD if you don't know Him, or want to know Him.