Question

“All we have to fear is fear itself”. Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome? Share your experience with your partner.

Answer 1

Roosevelt has appropriately said ‘‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’’ These words have a deeper meaning for all of us. It implies that we are scared of fear itself. Those who have undergone this experience of fear, they can only appreciate its worth. William O. Douglas had faced it twice in life. He had a terrible fear of water. He could not go for swimming, canoeing, boating and rafting . He realized that it would ruin his career since it was following and haunting him wherever he went.So he took training in swimming and got rid of the fear of water.
Like Douglas. I too had a terrible experience in my life. A small tributary flows near our village. During the summer vacation, we used to go there for swimming and bathing. Very often, we were made cautious by the villagers not to bathe in it since there is a deeper hole inside the stream. But we never bothered . One day we took out our clothes and plunged into it. By chance, the water was overflowing the bank and the current was fast. While diving, two among us got stuck into the hole. We cried out for help. We were going deeper and deeper. We thought that it was the end of our life. However, one of the boys was able to come on the surface of the water and was seen by the villagers. They came and helped us to come out of the water. But this enabled us to challenge the fears of life and we felt armed against all the mishaps.

Answer 2

Roosevelt has appropriately said, 'All we have to fear is fear itself. ' These words have a deeper meaning for all of us. It implies that we fear from fear. Those who have undergone this experience of fear can only appreciate its worth.

Just like William Douglas, who developed a fear during his childhood, I developed a fear of heights after falling down the stairs at a relative’s house. I remember always holding my mother’s hand whenever I went to a new place. I love visiting mountains, but because of this accident, I couldn't look down from the top. Over time, my fear lessened, but looking down from high places is still hard for me. Overcoming a fear and starting anew is very challenging. You can only conquer your fear with consistent effort and the determination to try again.

Answer 3

This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt encapsulates the power of fear—it often holds us back more than the actual threat itself. Personally, I've faced fears that seemed daunting at first but were later overcome.

One fear I had was speaking in public. The idea of standing in front of an audience, knowing all eyes would be on me, made me nervous and anxious. I feared forgetting my words or making a mistake. It was a fear that built up in my mind, even before the actual moment arrived.

The first few times I had to speak, my heart raced, and my palms would sweat. However, over time, I realized that the fear was worse than the reality. I started practicing more, speaking in front of smaller groups, and reminding myself that mistakes were okay—what mattered was sharing the message and connecting with people. Gradually, I became more comfortable.

Eventually, I gave a talk in front of a large group, and while I still felt the usual nerves, I found that I could manage them better. I came to understand that fear is a part of growth, and overcoming it wasn't about eliminating it but about not letting it control me.

So, in a way, I had to face the fear head-on and see that the worst-case scenario rarely happens. Now, I enjoy speaking in front of others, and I know that fear can be a temporary obstacle. What I’ve learned is that once you face a fear, it loses much of its power over you.