I’m a cautious driver and prefer to drive to the conditions, fully aware of what is happening around me rather than distracted by music or talkback on the radio. Recently I wrote about the built-in conscience in my new car. Irritating though it is to have a voice break through the quiet, it is also helpful to be warned when I am inadvertently going too fast so that I can make good decisions about how to safely act in the circumstances. So in the end it is something I appreciate.
But what happens when the voice of caution goes too far? One little glitch with the speed alert in the car is that it can occasionally take the idea of a speed limit too far. Sometimes it thinks that a parking lot is where I am to park and nothing else, so as soon as I start the car it begins its screeching: ‘you are over the speed limit’. Well, actually I’m not. It is still safe and reasonable and responsible to drive slowly within a parking lot, and it is here that the guidance system in the vehicle has slipped over the line of caution and definitely entered the realms of fear.
Caution becomes fear when it causes us to become too scared to act – we become frozen by anxiety or indecision, overcome by imagined problems and frightening consequences that don’t actually exist. When faced with this fearful message I have a choice about what I do next.
If I take notice of the message from my car I will become ‘stuck’, completely immobilised, and afraid to leave the confines of the airport carpark. I will then be unable to participate in all that my life has to offer me. Or I can weigh up the situation and draw on my experience of parking lots and other road journeys to make an informed decision that it is safe to move on.
The wisest course is to listen to the voice of caution but not to give in to the steely voice of fear. It’s all a matter of balance.
How do you tell the difference between caution and fear?
What works best for you when deciding which course of action to follow?
How do you overcome fear and decide to move on in your life?
Comments
It is important to know when to have the courage to conquer our fears and step into our destiny. Caution also teaches us to be aware of possible dangers and do what we can to avoid or overcome them. Finding the balance stops us from becoming too afraid to take action or too foolhardy to take precautions.
I am simply flattered with your wonderful master piece. I am absolutely impressed by your blog. To me, fear is the greatest killer of destiny. Those who say they are cautious may after all be afraid of taking the giant leap that may take them to their destination in life.
Fear can certainly get int he way of us achieving what we want. Sometimes we fear failing and sometimes it is succeeding that is fearful for us. We can also fear that we aren't quite up to the task or dislike the idea of the effort that might be invovled. Sometimes out fears are purely irrational - based on a whole lot of improbable'what ifs'that usually never come about.
Caution, on the other hand allows us to weigh up likely outcomes and our resources and make sensible decisions confidently.
As you say, it is good to have soemthing to easure your fears against to see if they are real, exaggerated, or imagined.
~Marian~
Fear-is a paralyzing feeling and should be certainly be avoided I find that matching up what I fear with what the Bible says about fear and use this to give me peace to distinguish fear vs legitimate caution.
the90thatmatters.blogspot.com/
Fear-is a paralyzing feeling and I continually ask myself "What I am most concerned about with a matter" Once I conclude what the worst alternative is the fear of doing thing may go away completely or surface as a real caution.
In either case operating in fear of a thing, could prevent me from achieving what I want.
~ Marian ~
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