Fear

I can only talk of fear in terms I can associate with. There are the different kinds of fear. There are the "-phobias". If you watch Fear Factor, you know that fear is not a factor. There is fear when you realise a mistake you make could have dastardly consequences. There is fear from parents/authorities. And there is of course fear from death if I point a gun at you. Many of our fears are irrational.

It is the fear from failure that propels me. Fear that if I fail, the world will become cold and empty. Ms Ng said before that it's good to have a healthy sense of fear so you won't be too complacent. Sometimes though, this fear takes on a life of its own and paralyses you.

Fear can be overcome with confidence. But I still quake when I go into the ring. I freeze up and I underperform. We fear that we don't do a good job when it's an important piece of work. When everything goes on too smoothly for you, won't you fear too?

I don't know about the "healthy sense of fear". I only know that it is fear: fear from setback, fear from disappointment, fear from losing that I thrive in.