A Reminder From Nature That Fear Is Learned

As my children and I were heading out to the garden, we saw a startled deer out of our living room window. And when my son opened the patio door, it was no surprise that the deer sprinted away.

As I walked out to my garden, I spotted another deer on the other side of our house. He looked at me, and I looked at him. I gestured for the deer to go away. Instead, the deer started coming towards me. Then, I gestured for the deer to stay. I alerted my children that another deer was on the other side of the house. And, like all curious children, they wanted to see the deer. 

So, I let the children peek around the corner of our house, and to my surprise, the deer stayed. Then, I threw a small rock several feet away from the deer to get him to go away. But, the deer moved towards the rock instead of away from it. Then, a thought hit me. Fear is learned. Unlike the other deer we saw, this deer kept eating and walking in the grass despite hearing and seeing us. I assumed that either the deer hadn’t had the same experience as the other deer, or he didn’t let a “bad” experience shape his view of every human interaction. Of course, I like to believe the latter part of the previous statement. The deer was on a mission and didn’t let human sighting deter him. So, we left the deer alone (no opposition to its goals), and my children and I continued plucking weeds and sewing seeds.  Eventually, the deer left.

Today, nature confirmed that fear is learned. Often, my mother told us that we didn’t have to act the same way others do. We choose our actions. 

We can permit fearful thoughts to deter us from our life’s mission or continue to move forward, not bothered by the naysayers and others who criticize and laugh at us. Bible Scripture reminds us not to be fearful. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind” (King James Version, 2 Timothy 1:7)

Which do you choose?

Thanks for reading!

Make this life great!

Timika Chambers

MSN BSN RN, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, ACE Fitness Instructor, CDCES

P.S. I would love for you to join my community of being bent on using our experiences as stepping stones to our divine purpose, healing from the inside out, and achieving and sustaining optimal health. Subscribe to @timikaschambers.com by clicking the link below.