Today was a hot summer day, much like the entire week and the weeks that preceded it. I decided on a change of scenery, packed my laptop, and went to work in the public library. I spent several productive hours there, and on my way out, I decided to make a short bathroom stop. I dropped my backpack on a table that displayed books for sale in the hallway and went inside. On my way out of the bathroom, I passed a mother and child going in, who were carrying their belongings. I picked up my backpack and continued my way out; a thought crossed my mind: what gave me the comfort to leave my bag out like that, with my laptop, wallet, and other valuables in it? I have done things like that before; many of us have. Leaving our phone at a restaurant table while going to the bathroom or leaving a car unlocked when entering a store? Are we optimists who prefer to see the good in people, or irresponsible, gullible fools itching to be hurt?
The degree to which we may feel safe in any situation depends on several factors: experience, awareness, reason, and fear. A bad experience, be it personal or something we heard about, will likely taint our sense of security regarding a place or a situation. We may hesitate to go to the movies if we know about a recent violent incident in a theatre. An accumulation of bad experiences will erode our confidence and make us suspicious about engaging in certain activities. Trust is earned over time but can be quickly lost when conditions change. Anxiety will cause us to install a security system after a break-in, walk fast when we deem a street dangerous, or buy a firearm when we fear for our personal safety. These measures are physical solutions to an emotional problem – the threat we perceive.
The first element, experience, includes education; things we learned at home, school, TV, or anywhere else we consume information. Something, or someone, only needs to appear dangerous to us to be perceived as a threat. This is how racism and antisemitism are bred, and wars of all types break out. Those other people appear to pose a threat to us, so the only solution is to destroy them.
Awareness, the second element, is the product of education and training. The third element, reason, depends on momentary motivation in a given situation. Fear, the last one, is an emotional level product of the first three.
Brain chemistry and social and moral values, most of which are instilled in us during our formative years, command the implementation of these elements. A great effort may be required to overcome these values once they are introduced. When we make the effort and are successful in changing those elements, our lives can become easier, happier, and in many ways, safer. That effort can only be made within oneself. We cannot change society, but when we make the change internally, society itself changes. When we reject fear, and by extension hate, from controlling us, we improve our wellbeing. Danger may still lurk out there, but the way to confront it is with foresight and discipline rather than suspicion and trepidation.