"Life Doesn't Frighten Me"

Fear is a natural and fundamental human emotion that arises in the face of real, potential, or imagined danger. It is a natural defense mechanism that prepares a person to either protect themselves from the threat or flee from it. This write up is an opinion based of few poetic works in Urdu including Allama Iqbal's Verses and US Poetess Maya Angelou's Poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me".

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

"Life Doesn't Frighten Me"

This "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" is the title of a poem from famous American Poet Maya Angelou; which is quite a tantilization message for dealing with one of the most dreaded emotion in human life called 'fear'. Let's first know about fear; what is fear?

Fear is a strong, natural emotion caused by the sense of danger, pain, or a threat for all humans living anywhere in the world. Fear- a natural basic human emotion, arises when faced with a potentially real or imagined danger. It is a natural defense system of man that prepares him to protect himself from danger or flee from it.

Fear is a natural living process that can be described by "physical hazards"; [physical fear that arises when facing fire, heights, or something harmful] ... "psychological factors" [fear of the unknown future, failure, or darkness that is formed by our illusions or past experiences] ... and "physical reactions" [fast heartbeat, sweating and muscle tension when afraid].

Why do we feel fear? Fear is a natural and protective feeling of man, which arises due to physical danger, mental reactions and past experiences. The main causes of fear are the "survival system" [the body's natural defense system activates to protect us in times of danger] and its causes are "old experiences" [bad events or painful memories from the past imprint fear in the mind] and then "unknown things" [the illusion of things or places that are not known also creates fear].

It is normally considered that cowardice is not human being's natural born instinct. Scientific and psychological research also confirms this. Humans are born with only two fears (fear of falling from heights and fear of loud noises). All other fears are learned. Fear of the dark, animals, or failure is learned from the environment over the period of time since birth. As we grow up, our experiences teach the brain to be afraid.

In the various stages of life, being afraid intentionally without reasons affects a person's mental, physical and social life. The constant presence of fear in the mind paralyzes a person's ability to think, evaluate and make decisions. Fear keeps a person in mental stress and sadness all the time. And a fearful person loses self-confidence and becomes a victim of inferiority complex. And fear causes a terrible failure in a person's purpose in life; therefore, fear makes a person shy away from making any new beginning or taking some fresh start for moving forward. A timid person is afraid of facing people and remains alone.

Now, we know that fear is an emotion of all humans in all corners of globe; and any person may be afraid of real things or imaginary fantasies built over time, without reason and cause. Such humans normally are unable to live life in the true sense. Writers and poets of all languages have been trying their best through their writings to help overcome fear. And some literary works have been expressed with such a perfection that they actually redeem many humans. In the following, let's read the poem in the title.

Poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" By Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" uses a brave child-like voice, rhythmic repetition, and a metaphorical "magic charm" to teach resilience and show how we can conquer fear through inner strength. The central theme is courage and resilience in the face of fear. The poem, told in the voice of a brave child, conveys how self-confidence, a playful imagination, and a deviant attitude to overcome both childhood fears and real-world dangers. The poet Maya Angelou teaches in this poem that scary things exist; but instead of being afraid of them, they must be faced. The poem shows that true bravery is an active choice to face and reject adversity.

Maya Angelou highlights how the power of a positive mindset can protect us from all kinds of adversity. By making fun of our fears, meeting the “fear-monger” with a smile; she shows that facing scary situations with confidence and playfulness takes away the power of fear and anxiety. To overcome our fears, the poet relies on imagination and an inner “magical attraction.” Let’s read the poem...

Poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" By Maya Angelou

Shadows on the wall

Noises down the hall

Life doesn't frighten me at all

Bad dogs barking loud

Big ghosts in a cloud

Life doesn't frighten me at all

Mean old Mother Goose

Lions on the loose

They don't frighten me at all

Dragons breathing flame

On my counterpane

That doesn't frighten me at all.

I go boo

Make them shoo

I make fun

Way they run

I won't cry

So they fly

I just smile

They go wild

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

Tough guys fight

All alone at night

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

Panthers in the park

Strangers in the dark

No, they don't frighten me at all.

That new classroom where

Boys all pull my hair

(Kissy little girls

With their hair in curls)

They don't frighten me at all.

Don't show me frogs and snakes

And listen for my scream,

If I'm afraid at all

It's only in my dreams.

I've got a magic charm

That I keep up my sleeve

I can walk the ocean floor

And never have to breathe.

Life doesn't frighten me at all

Not at all

Not at all.

Life doesn't frighten me at all.

The Poetic Expressions about Fear In Urdu Language

One of the famous Urdu poet Mr. Mohsin Naqvi has written a poem "I am not Frightened Anymore" (مجھے اب ڈر نہیں لگتا).

Mohsin Naqvi's poem describes this mature state of the heart where a person becomes free from the ups and downs of life, and things like the breakup of relationships and the fear of death become meaningless. The central ideas of this poem include the instability of relationships, experiences of love and the perception of death.

The poet conveys the message that someone drifting away, becoming estranged, or a relationship coming to an end no longer makes any difference to him. The heart no longer frightens at the changing attitudes of people, strangers or loved ones, or cries over losing memorable essentials. The poet has reached a state where he is indifferent to the world and harbors no remaining dread of the death that is destined to come one day.

My Dear Readers, now, let's read the poem and please follow the similarity of the context in the poem wrt Maya Angelou's poem in the above. The difference of mentioned objects is cultural as two poets represent two different regions and civilizations but both have reflected the same human emotion 'fear'.

Mohsin Naqvi's poem "I am not Frightened Anymore"

I am not Frightened Anymore

By someone drifting away,

By a bond being severed,

By someone relenting,

By someone becoming estranged.

I am not Frightened Anymore

Putting someone to the test,

Or being tested by another.

Remembering someone,

Forgetting someone.

I am not Frightened Anymore.

Leaving someone behind,

Being left by someone,

Lighting the candle,

Extinguishing the candle.

I am not Frightened Anymore.

From smiling all alone,

From shedding tears at times,

Not from this whole wide world,

From reality or from a tale.

I am not Frightened Anymore.

Of anyone’s inaccessibility

Of anyone’s piety

Of anyone’s unfaithfulness

Of the depths of any sorrow.

I am not Frightened Anymore.

Neither of dwelling on this side

Nor of dwelling on that side

Nor of my own life

Nor of death’s arrival one day

I am not Frightened Anymore.

Some Other Urdu Poetic Works on Fear

The scorching sun of hardships cannot frighten me;

A tree of hope still lives within me.

The above verse by Nina Sahar shows the power of hope and courage, in which the poet says that the poet says that no matter how difficult the circumstances are, they cannot scare or frighten him. The poet says that no amount of difficulties can defeat him because there is still a tree of hope residing inside him. Here, "sun" refers to the hardships, troubles and sufferings of life.

"Tree" refers to the hope- seeking life from Sun; more the difficulties, more stronger the tree of hope grows. The poet says that the tree of hope inside him is still alive and green. As long as this support of hope is there, a person can face any storm or sun. This poem teaches us that despair is a sin and no matter how big the difficulties are, there is hope in the heart. The candle should be kept lit.

My Nature is Pure and Bright

The essence of the subject is the second line of a famous verse by Allama Muhammad Iqbal; which means that my nature, and my instinct is dipped into purity of truth; and the ability to shine or rise. This line is part of a single quatrain of Allama Muhammad Iqbal's beautiful poem "The Message of the Star", which is included in his book "Bal-e-Jabrail".

The darkness of the space cannot frighten me;

My (Star) nature is pure and bright. (purity and brilliance is natural to me).

So, O traveler of the night! Become your own lamp;

Make your night bright with the Scar on the liver (courageous yearnful love of God).

In the above quatrain, Allama Iqbal has taught us that the darkness (difficulties) of circumstances and times cannot frighten a believing man; a man in love; a free man, because his nature has the ability to be true, pure and bright (honor, dignity and respect in life). Allama Iqbal has expressed that the courage of a determined person is always on rise because self-confidence of a believer is an essential element. And through this, he taught about courage, self-confidence and inner purity.

Iqbal states that the very essence and soul of a true believer are untainted by the darkness of sin. This world is characterized by hardships, forces of falsehood, and an atmosphere of despair. However, just as a star shines brightest in the dark of night, a righteous person shines amidst adversity through the power of his goodness and faith. A true Muslim does not succumb to despair in the face of adverse circumstances; instead, he dispels the darkness with the light of his character.

Iqbal has likened a person in this world to a traveler who is traveling in a dark night (a period of difficulties, misguidance and hopelessness). He says that in this darkness, do not wait for any help or light from outside, but light the candle of faith and action within yourself. Here, the scar of the liver (heart's yearning / love of God) refers to the inner passion of a person, love of God, and the desire to do something. Man can lighten his life and world by eliminating the darkness of circumstances through his determination, hard work and true faith. Instead of relying on others, recognize your own self. Make your own path to your destination and change the course of circumstances with your inner strength.

The Conclusion

Dear readers; By now, the message must have reached you that fear and apprehension are not a suitable action. It is an element contrary to the essence of humanity itself. If fear and apprehension have taken root somewhere due to the irony of circumstances and events, then just ponder upon and see how salvation can be found. Overcoming fear is a gradual process, for which one has to change one's thinking and show courage. So first of all, know the reality of fear, because most fears are imaginary. And decide in your mind that "I can free myself from fear".

Allama Muhammad Iqbal's message is that "The darkness of the world cannot scare me; Purity and brilliance are in the nature of the soul"; that is, just as a shining star is not afraid of the darkness of the night, but shines even more in that darkness, similarly, a person should develop his qualities, instead of being afraid of difficulties. The fear of the environment (the darkness of the atmosphere) is a temporary and external thing, while the brilliance of the human soul (the brilliance of the nature) is its real reality.

Allama Iqbal says that when the light of faith, truth and purity is present within a person, then the "darkness" or fear of external circumstances cannot frighten him. When a person has complete faith in God and his abilities, then all kinds of fear and illusion of the world disappear from his heart.