What is Fear? The Invisible Dream-Killer

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Bene Gesserit Litany against fear: Frank Herbert’s Dune

Frank Herbert’s Dune, published in 1965, is a science fiction novel that follows the life of young Paul Atreides (Muad’dib) and his rise to power as ‘the chosen one’ on the desert planet Arrakis. Paul was born into the noble family Atreides on the water planet, Caladan. His father, Duke Leto, was the twenty-sixth generation ruler of Caladan. He and the Atreides family were sent to rule Arrakis due to the Duke’s popularity and the emperor’s insecurities that the people liked him better. Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica, was a Bene Gesserit, a religious sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds to obtain supernatural powers. She taught him the way of the Bene Gesserit, which was uncommon to teach male children. However, she and the reverend mother believed that Paul would become the Kwisatch Haderach, a savior who could see all.

This is a strange and fascinating story full of drama, betrayal, and bizarre sandworms that people ride upon and collect a mélange drug ‘spice’ from. Throughout the story, Paul is faced with many scenarios that would scare a normal person half to death. However, this Litany against fear was one of the many sayings he memorized in his Bene Gesserit training. It is a meditative chant or mantra used to steady oneself in times of stress or anxiety in order to have a clear mind. Each challenge he was faced with he would always clear his mind and tell himself, “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.”

What is fear? In technical terms, fear can be defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception that something or someone will cause pain or a threat to life. This can be an innate response, ( a survival mechanism that has stuck with humans through evolution.) Innate fears include phobias such as arachnophobia, fear of snakes, or a fear of heights. These fears can be easy to adapt to and overcome. But what about the others?

Fear of failure is one of the biggest circumstances that holds us back in life. It keeps us from trying new things due to the possibility of embarrassment. These are perfectly normal scenarios to have anxiety for. By nature, humans love routines and are attracted to patterns. Especially, if those routines/patterns benefit them. It is normal to be afraid of taking risks and trying new things out of the fear of losing everything.

Many of us ask ourselves, “What if it doesn’t work? What if it goes wrong and I fail/lose everything?”. Next time you find yourself asking this, try telling yourself instead, “What if it does work and it actually turns out well? What if it changes my life for the better?”

Fear can get in the way of many important avenues of our lives. Sometimes, to the point where it consumes us. We stop taking risks, we settle and accept monotonous or ‘good-enough’ lives. Sometimes, we live unsatisfactory lives out of fear for something worse. Fear keeps us from applying to jobs, moving out of our hometowns/states, persuing relationships, or ending them all due to a factor of uncertainty. The outcome is unknown and that just flat out disturbs us.

One of the most important things to remember is that fear is not only the mind-killer like Paul recites in the Bene Gesserit Litany against fear, but it is also the dream-killer. It keeps us from pursuing better lives for ourselves and others and this is not good. We are not sessile like trees, with roots planted deep within the ground. We are free spirits meant to live our lives to the fullest no matter what. We only get one life. One shot. None of us knows which day will be our last.

So, next time you find yourself faced with a tough decision, all of the pros outweigh the cons and the only thing holding you back is fear, you look that big old fear monster right in its ugly eyes and tell it what old Jack Burton always says, “Give me your best shot. I can take it, because the check is in the mail.”

Now, go out and live your lives to the fullest. Don’t be afraid, because fear is the mind-killer. And remember, stay curious, and never, ever, stop exploring.