As a pessimist and a coward, I do what the doctors tell me to do. In consequence, my weight is down, my blood sugar levels are down, and if these trends continue, I might have to bring my medication down. Gosh!
All of these changes were motivated by fear, which has gained a bad reputation despite its benefits. Yes, fear can make us hate people who are almost but not quite like us; fear can make us retreat from the often wonderful chaos of life. In that sense, fear is harmful, but a reasonable fear, balanced with a sense of perspective and proportion, can guide us to places where we need to go.
So toss away that blinding optimism! Fear can be a patient's friend.
