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We all have our own private fears, but Freedom from fear begins with the courage to admit to fear - and then work to overcome it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pannoniusrex/13540819134
We all have our own private fears, but Freedom from fear begins with the courage to admit to fear – and then work to overcome it.
We’ve devoted the month of August to freedom through the FreedomIs # campaign. To read more about the campaign, and see all the selfies contributed, click here. (And send yours too, so we can include it!)
It felt amazing to learn about the varied perspectives on freedom, by women all across India. It was interesting to know that freedom means different things to different people. Indeed, Freedom is such an important word that without it, we can never be completely happy. Countries have waged wars for freedom because it’s such an invaluable feeling and it’s one of the most important fundamental rights too. After all, would anyone be truly happy confined ?
It was difficult to write on any one aspect of freedom because it has different forms and all are equally significant to me. I ultimately decided to write about Freedom from fear because fear is the common stumbling block that we deal with on a daily basis.
We are all born free and gradually as the years pass by, our lives get entwined with fears and insecurities every step of the way. Leading a fear-filled life can be overwhelming and can have life changing effects. It is the situations and circumstances in our lives that create it and in turn, it has an effect on our psyche and our behaviour as well. Every individual has fears and insecurities and sometimes we begin to feel threatened by situations that cause fear.
Some common fears that women go through are the fear of venturing out alone, especially at late hours of the night, fear of losing a loved one, fear of not being able to help a loved in need, fear of becoming a victim to a deadly disease, fear of not keeping in good health, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of loneliness, fearing the safety of her family and kids, fear of terrorism, fear of violence and fear of survival.
These are common concerns that most of us have and it takes courage to admit it. In our right minds, we tend to not give into them, but these thoughts are always lurking somewhere in our minds. Sometimes, these feelings may overtake our lives, making us crippled and paralyzed. When we free ourselves from the chains of fear, it is only then that we would win the battle of freedom from fear. Some are successful in doing so and some are not. The successful ones move on to lead a happier, authentic and a more meaningful life. They are also successful in realizing and achieving their dreams.
It would truly be a heavenly feeling when we get rid of our fears. But is that really possible ? I think it is. It’s not completely possible to eliminate situations in our lives that we feel threatened by, but it’s up to us to get rid of our own fears and phobias by dealing with them in a positive way. Most often the fear ceases to take hold of our lives, when we confront it head on.
We can fight fear by making ourselves mentally strong , by gaining knowledge and education on subjects that are the cause of our fear, by learning from others, by seeking help from counsellors and therapists, by gaining emotional support from our own kin, friends and teachers, by becoming more spiritual and at peace with ourselves. The final decision to change, rests on our own shoulders. So, let’s hope that we all attain freedom from our inner demons and not get consumed by it. I’d like to conclude with these beautiful quotes on freedom from fear.
Diana has worked as an Editor/Writer and Content Manager for various digital platforms and hopes that each word written in this space supports, motivates and inspires her readers in India or across seas. Besides read more...
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If her home and family seem to be impacted by her career then we expect her to prioritize her ‘responsibilities at home as a woman’ and leave her job.
The entrenched patriarchal norms have always perpetuated certain roles and responsibilities as falling specifically in the domain of either men or women. Traditionally, women have been associated with the domestic sphere while men have been considered the bread winner of the household. This division of roles has become so ingrained in our lives that we seldom come to question it. However, while not being questioned does give the system a certain level of legitimacy, it in no way proves its veracity.
This systematic division has resulted in a widely accepted notion whereby the public sphere is demarcated as a men’s zone and the private sphere as belonging to women. Consequently, women are expected to stay at home and manage the household chores while men are supposed to go out and make a living with no interest whatsoever in the running of the household.
This divide is said to be grounded in the intrinsic nature of men and women. Women are believed to be compassionate, affectionate and loving and these supposedly ‘feminine’ qualities make them the right fit for caring roles. Men, on the other hand are allegedly more sturdy, strong and bold and hence, the ones to deal with the ordeals of the outside world.
Investing in women means many things beyond the obvious meaning of this IWD2024 theme, as the many orgs doing stellar work can show us.
What does it mean to invest in women?
Telling the women in our lives how great we think they are? That we value the sacrifices they have made? (Usually though not necessarily only – a sacrifice of their aspirations, careers and earning potential in order to focus on family).
No, thank you. Just talk is no longer going to cut it. Roses and compliments are great, but it’s time people, leaders, organizations put their money, capital, resources on track instead.
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