The Unknown

[Weliddryn]

Why do people fear what they do not know?

Is it that they fear that the unknown is "bad"?
If so, why?

Is it because they have no room for it in their lives?

Tell me what you think.

 

[Ermine]

I think people fear the unknown because there is no way to prepare or defend oneself against it. I'd say that's why we're so intent on gathering knowledge. Then there are a lot less unknowns.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

Agrees^^ I think for us INTPs, the fear is jumping "head first" into the unknown but not in studying it.

 

[sagewolf]

*Agrees with everything IB and Ermine said* Part of our fear of the unknown may stem from the fact that the more you find out about the Unknown, the more you realise there is. The amount to be understood doesn't shrink like other, normal, things you gather information about. It just keeps growing and growing into an insurmountable barrier to Knowledge itself.

Ignorance is ignorance of ignorance, then. And knowledge is only knowledge of ignorance.

 

[Ermine]

But can you know more about the unknown? It is, by definition, not known. Therefore, it would have to gradually shrink, unless truth is retrogressing back into the unknown, which is totally realistic the way things are currently going.

Part of knowing is knowing you don't know everything, but does that really add to what is unknown?

 

[sagewolf]

Hmmm. Perhaps I misworded myself: the Unknown seems to grow, because our perception of it grows as we gain enough knowledge of any given subject to grasp its scope. Obviously it really shrinks, but here it's our view and perception of it that matters, so that's what I was referring to. Completely my fault.

An example: I do not study Physics in any way. I know, therefore, that there is a big hole of Physics Ignorance in my experience of the world. However, my perception of this hole is somewhat medium-ish. I realise that Physics is the science of understanding how everything in the world works, but I do not realise how much of that there really is.

I begin studying Physics. I learn plenty of things I knew I didn't know and learn plenty of things I didn't know I didn't know. As I continue learning, the amount of the latter slowly increases in proportion to the former. These unknown unknowns keep appearing and appearing. It is therefore logical to assume that there are more of them.

My knowledge of the subject has increased greatly, but my ignorance of it has not appeared to decrease. This is what I mean. No matter what we do, we cannot dispel the perception of ourselves as ignorant. The Unknown will not vanish or shrink.

 

[Ermine]

understood.

 

[grey matters]

Fear of the unknown is increased by low self esteem. If we don't have the confidence to face what might be then it is all the more a dreaded thing.

 

[sagewolf]

A lack of confidence?.... When we see nothing, as in the unknown, our imagination takes over, right?

He [the INTP] rarely fears any factual thing in the outside world, at least not things that will be encountered in normal day-to-day living. Logic stipulates that external objects or people which threaten can always potentially be dealt with by instigating an active defence strategy [...] However, the greatest fears of an INTP are usually ideas generated within his own mind.

Of course, your statement applies equally to what we know to be in fact, doesn't it?

 

[Da Blob]

Why do people fear what they do not know?

Is it that they fear that the unknown is "bad"?
If so, why?

Is it because they have no room for it in their lives?

Tell me what you think.

Perhaps the key to the answer lies not in examining the Known-Unknown continuum,
but rather embedded in the Concept of Fear...
My simply definition of Fear is the anticipation of Pain. Where does That Pain exist but in the Future? What is the great Unknown, but that which lies in the future...

In relationship to Knowledge, I think that some are driven to explore the Unknown, in a somewhat futile effort to avoid Pain inherent in the Unknown (future). Others just go to Horror movies in a somewhat futile effort to try to believe that Fear never bears Fruit... (the monsters they feared didn't hurt them)

 

[echoplex]

Why do people fear what they do not know?

Evolution.

What has assisted our survival also stunts our intelligence.

 

[Weliddryn]

What happens when one finds a mystery that defies explanation? What happens when the more one learns about the mystery, the more they are left confused? It is the process that counts... but, what happens when the process leads to continous cycles?

The unknown is feared by many, but... for some, it is insatiably intriguing.

When is the unknown feared and when is it intriguing? (Questions for thought, they are not meant to be specific).

 

[Ermine]

If you have a clue about the unknown, it's always more intriguing, in a good or bad way. For example, picture a fish at the ocean floor that sees a light. It doesn't know if the light is from a scuba diver, submarine, anglerfish, or harmless glowing bacteria. Regardless, it's still intriguing because the fish does know that it is a light, and where there's light, there's the ability to see.

 

[saffyangelis]

People fear the unknown, precisely because it is unknown.

They don't know what to expect, so they fear it. If you know about something, then you can prepare yourself, physically and mentally if you need to, but if it is unknown, there is no other options other than fight it unprepared, or go with the flow.

People are afraid of going with the flow, because they don't know where it will take them, i.e. more of the unknown, and afraid of fighting because they are more likely to lose if they don't know what they're fighting against.

(sorry if this is obvious/has been said before)

 

[Wisp]

Are you suggesting J types are J because they fear the unknown? They fear not knowing where they are going? I think it works in reverse, that people who love to control things hate the unknown, by comparison. As for me, I have a healthy respect for the unknown, but I make a conscious effort to not let it paralyze me. It's a human tendency, like the fear of the dark (related) and the fear of falling backwards. Most people have or have had these, to some degree or other.

Some people fear the unknown more than others. I just wanted to assert that fear of the unknown does not help make one J, but that it can be an effect of being a J.

 

[Da Blob]

Actually that is an interesting thought.
It made me wonder, "How much of our personality
is formed in reaction to our fears?",
and if we outgrow a particular fear,
what effect might it have on our personality?
I think, that the various fears connected
with others might actually be a major factor
in the formation of our personality....

but that is just conjecture.

 

[FF]

I'm not afraid of the unknown. I find it to be interesting.

Besides, what we don't know now, we'll eventually know later.

Rather, the human race will know later. Not necessarily in our generation.

 

[Madoness]

Actually that is an interesting thought.
It made me wonder, "How much of our personality
is formed in reaction to our fears?",
and if we outgrow a particular fear,
what effect might it have on our personality?
I think, that the various fears connected
with others might actually be a major factor
in the formation of our personality....

but that is just conjecture.

If we are talking about pure unknown, we can fear only when the unknown is about to happen. Therefore is cannot form our personality in any way as we do not know our fears of certain kinds before they happen.
The unknown we know a little about or have some ideas about, adventurous types would find intriguing.
But still how do we solve them can form a lot of our fears. Just as we do not know whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and what is he going to do in near future. We can easily be manipulated in that way, later our actions may seem to be irrational as there is no certain way to conquer these kinds on unknowns, the solution may be a lot easier as we can oversee later or we may start on the wrong path and increase our fears towards parania too much.

I'm not afraid of the unknown. I find it to be interesting.

Besides, what we don't know now, we'll eventually know later.

Rather, the human race will know later. Not necessarily in our generation.

It purely depends on what kind of unknown you are looking at. Only people who have lost their will to live maybe do not fear, or people in some hypnotic states, but surely most people fear the unknown.
I mean, if you look at the wildlife, there are many species that have no self-awareness (only 5 have?), they still have instincts to fear the unknown, it lets them get by somewhat easier.

 

[LucasM]

You can not fear what you know nothing about. If the world ended tomorrow, and we knew nothing about it, why would we be afraid?

But you can not not learn. And the more you learn, the more you learn there is to be afraid of. And the more you learn, the more you learn of ways you can bypass that fear. It is when you know something, have an inkling of a thought, and you go off on tangents, extrapolating, projecting, hypothesizing, that you start to fear the unknown. Who knows what horrors may lie within? But when the horror is fully realized, fully known, when it is unavoidable, then the unknown is a sanctuary, an escape. Perhaps they may find the cure for cancer one day. Perhaps.

Fear is an emotional response that pushes us.
Hope is an emotional response that draws us.

 

[Mud~Eye]

You can not fear what you know nothing about. If the world ended tomorrow, and we knew nothing about it, why would we be afraid?

Yes, Lucas. Why would people fear what is entirely unknown? Seems to me that what we may really fear is what we suspect will happen. When a baby is learning to walk, if the parents are positive and show encouragement, then the baby excitedly attempts the first steps. But, once the toddler toddles, and the possibility of falling, a sensation baby is already familiar with, becomes a real possibility, then fear of "pain", even if its assumed, must be overcome. (As DB mentioned). I don't know that we would even suspect pain if we weren't already projecting, hypothesizing, extrapolating, and what have you, as Lucas mentioned. Seems we may not fear the unknown, but more the possibilities based on the known or learned. How we handle that information (Madoness) may determine the fear factor. Our attitude or perception of past personal and known experiences that may apply to the current or future situation/circumstance might be directly related to the amount of fear we have toward a particular unknown. Obviously, I'm just summarizing what has been said already. But, the baby example kind of tied in together, for me. I find brand new learning and facing the unknown to be well represented in a simplistic way by young life, in a physical sense. On that note, if the parents or instructors show fear themselves, then this can effect baby's own confidence. We already know that fear can be "contageous", and that, too, can lead to unreasonable fear of the unknown.

From a personal standpoint: This could be useful to take a personal inventory, of sorts.

Who said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". I'm gonna have to google that.
Edit: "All we have to fear is fear itself" FDR

 

[Madoness]

Lets say I'm in the forest at the night time with almost no light to see, if I do hear strong unknown voices of some animals behind me, my first instinct would be to run away from the unknown. It has little to do with the inormation I could put together to make sense how to react. Some reactions are products of our evolution. It is something that can protect us from getting killed. We do not jump to situations head first, at least without thinking possible results through.

 

[Da Blob]

I know I am repeating myself.
However, i do not believe i have
brought this up on this thread.

Unknown = Change
Change > Threat
Threats > Reactions (Freeze, Flee or Fight)

OR

Unknown = Change
Change > Opportunity
Opportunity > Growth

 

[Madoness]

I know I am repeating myself.
However, i do not believe i have
brought this up on this thread.

Unknown = Change
Change > Threat
Threats > Reactions (Freeze, Flee or Fight)

OR

Unknown = Change
Change > Opportunity
Opportunity > Growth

Unknown cannot equal change. It can only if we choose to know the unknown or we are forced to know. There is still possibility for the unknown left to be unknown, therefore it does not equal change.

 

[Da Blob]

Unknown cannot equal change. It can only if we choose to know the unknown or we are forced to know. There is still possibility for the unknown left to be unknown, therefore it does not equal change.

Agreed that is why some choose to remain ignorant. That way they do not have to deal with threats, but can pretend to "Unknow" something...

 

[Mud~Eye]

I stand by the idea that we may not necessarily fear what is unknown, only what we suspect might be true, either consciously or subconciously. This theory doesn't negate instinct, but it might throw some things about instinct into question. I have not studied instincts in any depth. I think its likely that if we fear the unknown, it is a learned response, not innate. A child that does not know better will reach for something hot again and again unless it learns to fear the inevitable consequence.

@Madoness
Being afraid enough to flee a situation because unknowns exist, like whatever creature is responsible for the strong unfamiliar noises in the dark woods, could be instinctual, but not neccessarily because the sound is unknown. Perhaps the fact that it is strong is an influencing factor, and whatever we associate with that kind of sound. Perhaps, because the woods are dark and the person prefers light. I know I would run, too! But, there are alot of variables in the "woods" scenario in and of itself. A trained hunter in the woods for the purpose of hunting game may not fearfully flee from an unfamiliar sound, instead he/she might just sieze the opportunity to bring home a new prize. Who knows? A seasoned hunter, I guess.

DBs formula does highlight that one's attitude toward the unknown could make a difference in how one experiences that, emotionally or spiritually. And, that seems to be true whether unknown = change or not.

Expoloration of the unknown seems to me to be as natural, if not more so, than fear response to it. I would go so far as to say fearless exploration of the unknown seems more natural. How can one really be afraid of what is unknown, unless they suspect something to be afraid of. How one gathers and processes information and experiences, associates and assimilates that data, as well as whatever else our brains do all comes into play consciously and, I would suppose, subconcsioulsy when we seek to know possibilities and potential outcomes.


There's got to be some existing theories out there already on this. Fear response, cultivation of fear, etc...

 

[Da Blob]

Well the unknown is the primary source of fear, but it is also the primary source of Hope. I was trying to imply that one's attitude can really prejudice one to either hope for an 'unknown' opportunity or fear an unknown 'threat'...

 

[Mud~Eye]

Well the unknown is the primary source of fear, but it is also the primary source of Hope. I was trying to imply that one's attitude can really prejudice one to either hope for an 'unknown' opportunity or fear an unknown 'threat'...

I think I understand what you mean about one's attitude prejudicing one toward hope or fear. I can go with that. But, what do you mean by the unknown being the primary source of fear?

 

[Mud~Eye]

What happens when one finds a mystery that defies explanation? What happens when the more one learns about the mystery, the more they are left confused? It is the process that counts... but, what happens when the process leads to continous cycles?

Perhaps a continuous cycle is an indication that the person is not asking the right questions? I mean, often answers to questions lead to more questions. Searching the unknown only leads one to realise that there is just more that they don't know. As, someone already mentioned with an example of studying physics (sorry, don't recall who, and I'm not sure how to go back and check from here). Is that the continuous cycle that you are referring to? It didn't seem that's what you meant by "continuous cycle", because you mentioned confusion. Confusion, to me, is an indication that more learning is needed, that some part of the puzzle is missing. Sometimes, you can look and look for that piece and not find it, until you've finally decided to put the damn thing away without it. Then, like magic, there's that stupid piece on the floor where you thought you'd looked a hundred times before. And, you always know it's that piece, because by the time you've decided to put it away, you knew what that piece would look like if you ever did find it.

 

[Da Blob]

I think I understand what you mean about one's attitude prejudicing one toward hope or fear. I can go with that. But, what do you mean by the unknown being the primary source of fear?

I define fear as the pain of the future or the anticipated pain of the future. The Future is the greatest Unknown...

 

[Mud~Eye]

I define fear as the pain of the future or the anticipated pain of the future. The Future is the greatest Unknown...

so the unknown is like the catalyst (only not-because the future doesn't necessarily remain unchanged)? I'm having a hard time accepting "source". Because, I agree with fear being a result of anticipated pain and/or death. But, in that case the "source" of the fear is the anticipated pain, right. Maybe its just symantics? But, it doesn't seem like it. I am not afraid of the unknown, I am afraid of the pain I anticipate. Do you see that there is a difference, or am I just missing something?

 

[Da Blob]

so the unknown is like the catalyst (only not-because the future doesn't necessarily remain unchanged)? I'm having a hard time accepting "source". Because, I agree with fear being a result of anticipated pain and/or death. But, in that case the "source" of the fear is the anticipated pain, right. Maybe its just symantics? But, it doesn't seem like it. I am not afraid of the unknown, I am afraid of the pain I anticipate. Do you see that there is a difference, or am I just missing something?

It is most likely just semantics, Off hand I do not know of a better word than source, the word, cause, would not be appropriate either. I might suggest that a different POV might see the anticipation or anxiety as the source of fear except those words can be seen as synonymous with the word fear in the first place. It may just be impossible to say some things in English...

(one hopes that you do not anticipate too much pain in the future, but rather they come unanticipated... I mean it would not be a very fun life if you had to experience each pain three different 'Times" and three different ways.Tomorrow you could hate the pain - you feel Today and Worried about Yesterday...!)

 

[Mud~Eye]

It is most likely just semantics, Off hand I do not know of a better word than source, the word, cause, would not be appropriate either. I might suggest that a different POV might see the anticipation or anxiety as the source of fear except those words can be seen as synonymous with the word fear in the first place. It may just be impossible to say some things in English...

(one hopes that you do not anticipate too much pain in the future, but rather they come unanticipated... I mean it would not be a very fun life if you had to experience each pain three different 'Times" and three different ways.Tomorrow you could hate the pain - you feel Today and Worried about Yesterday...!)

Oh, I was using "I" proverbial, to clarify the point. Although, I admit to experiencing that. And, right on. Who wants to experience the pain three times. Certainly not I. hehe.

What do you mean it many be impossible to say some things in English. I mean, I know how it can be meant, but what do you mean? Is english not your native tongue, or are you just pointing out the limitations of the english language in general?

 

[Da Blob]

Perhaps a continuous cycle is an indication that the person is not asking the right questions? I mean, often answers to questions lead to more questions. Searching the unknown only leads one to realise that there is just more that they don't know. As, someone already mentioned with an example of studying physics (sorry, don't recall who, and I'm not sure how to go back and check from here). Is that the continuous cycle that you are referring to? It didn't seem that's what you meant by "continuous cycle", because you mentioned confusion. Confusion, to me, is an indication that more learning is needed, that some part of the puzzle is missing. Sometimes, you can look and look for that piece and not find it, until you've finally decided to put the damn thing away without it. Then, like magic, there's that stupid piece on the floor where you thought you'd looked a hundred times before. And, you always know it's that piece, because by the time you've decided to put it away, you knew what that piece would look like if you ever did find it.

There really are such things as vicious cycles. i addressed the issue of confusion only tangentially in the thread named such. It a severely debilitating mental condition for many people. They just become easily confused.

It is perhaps illuminating to offer the analogy of satellites in orbit. sooner or later the orbit decays, so what appears to be circular is actually an inward spiral of decay of an orbit. That's the problem with human cycles as well, most of them are actually not cycles but indication of inwardly spirally, decaying lives quite often made even more difficult by confusion and chaos...

 

[Mud~Eye]

"I might suggest that a different POV might see the anticipation or anxiety as the source of fear except those words can be seen as synonymous with the word fear in the first place." DaBlob

Also, DB anticipation, from my POV, is simply forethought, not anxiety.[/The forethought can result in anxiey (fear) or hope or whatever, depending upon the thoughts that ensue. Forethought itself, from my POV, being benign. So, it doesn't equate to the fear itself.

 

[Mud~Eye]

There really are such things as vicious cycles. i addressed the issue of confusion only tangentially in the thread named such. It a severely debilitating mental condition for many people. They just become easily confused.

It is perhaps illuminating to offer the analogy of satellites in orbit. sooner or later the orbit decays, so what appears to be circular is actually an inward spiral of decay of an orbit. That's the problem with human cycles as well, most of them are actually not cycles but indication of inwardly spirally, decaying lives quite often made even more difficult by confusion and chaos...

Do you think that is what the person meant who posed the question? BTW, that's very interesting.

 

[Da Blob]

"I might suggest that a different POV might see the anticipation or anxiety as the source of fear except those words can be seen as synonymous with the word fear in the first place." DaBlob

Also, DB anticipation, from my POV, is simply forethought, not anxiety.[/The forethought can result in anxiey (fear) or hope or whatever, depending upon the thoughts that ensue. Forethought itself, from my POV, being benign. So, it doesn't equate to the fear itself.

Hmmm there is a saying about the benefits of foresight as opposed to hindsight, but I do not recall what it is. Yes, fore sight is valuable and I truly appreciate any pre-cognitive experience.

 

[Madoness]

@Madoness
Being afraid enough to flee a situation because unknowns exist, like whatever creature is responsible for the strong unfamiliar noises in the dark woods, could be instinctual, but not neccessarily because the sound is unknown. Perhaps the fact that it is strong is an influencing factor, and whatever we associate with that kind of sound. Perhaps, because the woods are dark and the person prefers light. I know I would run, too! But, there are alot of variables in the "woods" scenario in and of itself. A trained hunter in the woods for the purpose of hunting game may not fearfully flee from an unfamiliar sound, instead he/she might just sieze the opportunity to bring home a new prize. Who knows? A seasoned hunter, I guess.

Ok, so... it would not be fear of the unknown? The fact that hunter would not flee does not change that other would out of fear because he/she does not know what he/she is up against. If the one in the woods does not recognizethe sound and does not see who makes the sound, fear of the situation would be perfectly normal. The animal/creature/whatever he/she is up against, is unknown to him/her, therefore he/she would be fearing the unknown, even if his/her fears are because of past experiences does not change the fact that this situation is unknown to him/her and he/she is fearing it.

I was not trying to say, that we do fear the unknown in most cases, there are just some situations when we do. It was what I was trying to say.

 

[Mud~Eye]

"I was not trying to say, that we do fear the unknown in most cases, there are just some situations when we do. It was what I was trying to say." Madoness

I understand. I don't think I can argue against your POV without learning more about instincts, but it might be interesting to pinpoint concrete examples where the presence of fear can be measured within a scenario that eliminates so many variables. Or, a scenario that at least leaves some room for doubt that the fear is actually a result of some other cognitive or natural process or learned response. Degree of fear is interesting here, because the existence of a spectrum of fear from the instinctual, perhaps, to the dillusionally paranoid might be able to reveal the varied coginitve processes that individuals have. (My terminology is not what it should be for this discussion). Anyway, like you said, the possibility that people often fear what they suspect might happen does not negate the possiblity that sometimes people fear the unknown, just because it is unknown. I have my doubts, though, obviously.

 

[Gorgrim]

Hope vs fear. they are combatting eachother, hope against the fear, fear against hope.

if we know nothing about anything fear and hope are 0, if we know that we are fighting a tiger, due to it beeing a tiger, i may hope it's cuddly, and that it likes me, but is hope not really positive variables, and fear negative? If the tiger would kill me, i'll just fear it instead.

It is useless to hope without any information. It is useless to fear without any information. i find it hard to have either feeling without some information to base it on. If the dark is dangerous, it is because darkness gives matter the ability to hide from the senses. What can u fear that is not based on anything?

if the tiger was cuddly, it was more likely to be positive to meet the tiger. So i hope it's welcoming, because hope still has fear to fight.

in a case of a small child, that might not have any information yet, it does not fear what we fear, but it doesn't hope what we hope for. the child 'thought it could fly'

Fear and Hope is a repetitive circle, and as you find a problem, fear peaks. As you figure it out, it goes down. you find another, and you're back to the start. During this, more problems may come as you fix them, and depending how they affect your existance they may increase your fear.

If you think of fear as negative information about your existance ( because humans do care what happens to themselves )... then isnt hope about taking positive information?

what if the positive information are unlikely, if a person is likely to die.... but you hope they arent. are you not basing it on the information that there's a chance?.

if there is zero chance, what does one do? fear? if theres 100% fear and 0% hope, maybe one constructs positive information, or goes to another state of mind, that isnt fear. Either like reincarnation, or maybe acceptance, where the unknown is going to happen, and all you can do is surrender yourself to it, there is no longer need for fear, or hope. ( acceptance ? )


Fear = A feeling towards a product of negativity... ( like a broken pen) It could be an imagined state of product in the future. based on data...

Hope = A feeling towards products of positivity ( like a bank cheque, positive qualities, like beeing able to buy things) or a future positive product, like beating a disease, or beating obstacles.

Unknown : unable to distinquish what value (positive or negative) something has.

'irrational fear' creates situations where theres alot of negative, and nothing positive.
Change evokes negative and not so much positive. Because adjusting is never helpful untill you adapt in the future. And alot could go wrong before you get there. Change is difficult to figure out for me.... hard to deal with it.

Change = while something can change that is not important, like which glass your drinking of, change usually affects the different positive and negative information/variables available.

I don't know why change is so negative with me, but I just see alot of negative qualities in changing. and i can't really stop it from happening

 

[Da Blob]

There is a hard-wired part of the brain in the primitive part of the human brain known as the reptilian brain. This Hard-wired reflex is know as the Startle reflex, the response to threat, the Response to Stress or the Freeze, Flee or Fight response. It is the source for a great deal of the psychological problems encountered by people across a very wide range of scenarios.

It could be said that this currently troublesome, formerly very valuable, aspect of our Selves is caused by the Unknown - threats both real and imagined...

Oddly enough there does not seem to be much published on the matter that has been written for the average reader to utilize, mostly just articles from professional journals or books. I will start a thread, once I find some appropriate material (i might have to write it myself as there does not seem to be anything that could be "Cut and Pasted"....(?)

Anyway, I think that everyone could benefit from a bit of independent web-browsing on the topic.
I did find a good site, although, targeted at people trying to overcome stuttering it had a lot of information with generic applications...


www.neurosemantics.com/Stuttering/stress_pattern.htm ()

 

[Mud~Eye]

"It is useless to fear without any information. i find it hard to have either feeling without some information to base it on. If the dark is dangerous, it is because darkness gives matter the ability to hide from the senses. What can u fear that is not based on anything?"

in a case of a small child, that might not have any information yet, it does not fear what we fear, but it doesn't hope what we hope for. the child 'thought it could fly'...

...as you find a problem, fear peaks. As you figure it out, it goes down. you find another, and you're back to the start. During this, more problems may come as you fix them, and depending how they affect your existance they may increase your fear...

If you think of fear as negative information about your existance ( because humans do care what happens to themselves )... then isnt hope about taking positive information?...

Fear = A feeling towards a product of negativity... ( like a broken pen) It could be an imagined state of product in the future. based on data...

Unknown : unable to distinquish what value (positive or negative) something has.

I think you and I see eye to eye on this. You've really brought home the point about the child, in my opinion.

You bring up an interesting point about hope. I'll have to give that some thought.

There is paranoia and false hope, which seem to both have a mixture of rational and irrational information. Imagination gone wild, so to speak.

As far as change goes, the first thing that comes to my mind is the difference between pessimism and optimism. Which could be viewed in the same light as fearfulness and hopefulness, except that pessimism does not always result in fear. Sometimes a pessimistic view can result in bitterness, which perhaps, ultimately, is because of fear. (Thinking out loud, again).

Acceptance definately plays a role. And, as hesitant as I am to even make any statement that says "definately", I am going to take a chance on that one. Mostly, because I have been relieved of anxiety and other fear based negative feelings through acceptance. It is widely recommended by many self-help sources to seek a state of acceptance if one is able to first seek to know when it is necessary.

Also, if fear does mount whenever change is inevitable, acceptance of the truth that change is inevitable can help. This is more about being open minded, instead of rigidly thinking that things must stay the same or within our control or comfort in order for us to continue to have positive experiences. This, as I understand it, is a destructive belief in and of itself. When action or inaction is decided upon a destructive belief, often, destruction happens. The very thing we fear out of that belief becomes tangible. We refuse to accept change and let go of control, thus missing the opportunity to experience the positve effects of the change, and eventual pain of some kind ensues for having lacked an open mind and acceptance.

The above has been my experience and the experience of others I know. Just some food for thought, in case you had not considered this. BTW, I am not immune to destructive beliefs, pessimism, and the like. I just work a little more today with that understanding, and seek to discover if my own false premises are at work on me. Sometimes, I have to bounce my thinking off of someone else in order to discover that. And, I don't always need their input when I do that.