I think the fear of criticism is a valid fear. People kill people over what they believe. Even in our society that doesn't necessarily behead you for believing the wrong thing, you can lose your employment, spouse, family, friends and so much more if you believe the wrong thing. It can be a serious thing and is worth learning to navigate successfully.

I don't think it's possible to eliminate many of those fears. However, it might be possible to proceed in spite of those fears. Sometimes life put you in a situation where you must do something in spite of your fears. But genuine fears can't Simply Be cast aside.

It looks like fear is the problem.

I read the Dune series back in my early teens and it took me another decade before I truly understood this quote. By then I had experienced all of these fears and passed through them, life is better without fear but a little fear can be a good thing and curb impulses that land you on the horns of a dilemma.

I have only one fear in life... Only one! Bees, specifically yellow jackets, hornets and wasps. I will wrestle a bear in the woods but if a hornet shows up... I need to be armed with a gallon of bee killing spray. Honey bees, of course, are my buds and are completely different. As to the others....

• Fear of criticism - I look forward to hearing it as that is just one way I learn and grow!
• Fear of poverty - I grew up lower to mid middle class but have been poor on my own earlier in life. I have had times, years ago, where I didn't know where my next meal would come from and at other times given away my last dime to someone who needed it more.
• Fear of old age - Yeah... Starting to deal with that now at age 58 and having some health issues. Though I am not afraid of death itself... I don't want to die a painful, prolonged death of any sort.
• Fear of failure - Shiiiiiit! THIS IS WHERE EXPERIENCE COMES FROM! (As long as you learn from it!) I have always told every employer on interviews that I will make every mistake there is and sometimes twice... If I ever make it a third time... Fire me! I freakin LOVE failure!
• Fear of offending others - NEVER have I had this gene. Fuck others... I have always done what I want as long as I don't hurt someone else. I respect the setting and what goes on within the setting. But I really don't give a shit what others think!
• Fear of looking foolish - I USED to have a fear of this... It was the mid 80's and I wore my new boots to the cool little bar that just opened. I was decked out and lookin good. It was a Friday night and all the hot women were there! I strutted in and all eyes were on me... I stepped down into the sunken bar area where they served peanuts and you throw the shells on the floor. I slipped and went down in spectacular fashion. I twisted my ankle and several of the waitresses came to my aid. The only thing that saved me was the guy just coming out of the bathroom with about 10 feet of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. I limped out of there under cover of their laughter of him. I never wore the boots again!
• Fear of success - Never had it.. I have been a success and a failure at different times. Right now it is leaning more toward the success side. But then that has always meant different things to different people.

I love and live by the saying... "I never lose! I either win or I learn!"

I would love to overcome my fears, especially of what others think, offending others, fear of criticism, failure, or looking foolish. I tend to think that one may never be able to entirely eliminate such fears, but I am hopeful that I can push myself to stand up to my own fears more in the near future.

If only!!!

Fears can cripple humans.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

And many more.

some of it is true as is life itself but personally I mostly don't give a shit what people think. I'm not scared of getting old or being dead but I fear the way I may die. ive always been true to my own moral code and been as real as possible but I guess that's why I'm not a businessman. I got way too much love in me than to be one and that's the truth.

Nice, apparently I’m fearless, I’m like a pilot in a failing aircraft, but I accept it and I’ll party till I make contact with the ground.

Don't forget: Fear of God, and Fear of Hellfire and damnation... They shouldn't be a problem for this group, but that's the point, these are as imaginary as the others. And yet, we allow ourselves to succumb.