--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may believe that anxiety and fear…" description: "\"“We may believe that anxiety and fear don't concern us because we avoid experiencing them. We may keep the scope of our lives narrow and familiar, opti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_we-may-believe-that-anxiety-and-fear-don_1887019.jpg" --- # We may believe that anxiety and fear don't concern us… ![“We may believe that anxiety and fear don't concern us because we avoid experiencing them. We may keep the scope of our lives narrow and familiar, opting for sameness and safety. We may not even know that we are scared of success, failure, rejection, criticism, conflict, competition, intimacy, or…” quote by Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_we-may-believe-that-anxiety-and-fear-don_1887019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_we-may-believe-that-anxiety-and-fear-don_1887019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/harriet-lerner-4248_anxiety_we-may-believe-that-anxiety-and-fear-don_1887019.jpg) > ““We may believe that anxiety and fear don't concern us because we avoid experiencing them. We may keep the scope of our lives narrow and familiar, opting for sameness and safety. We may not even know that we are scared of success, failure, rejection, criticism, conflict, competition, intimacy, or adventure, because we rarely test the limits of our competence and creativity. We avoid anxiety by avoiding risk and change. Our challenge: To be willing to become more anxious, via embracing new situations and stepping more fully into our lives.”” [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often hide from anxiety by staying in familiar, safe routines, missing that fear can be about success, failure, intimacy, or adventure, and avoiding risk limits growth. **In simple terms:** Avoiding anxiety keeps us stuck in safety, preventing growth. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to expand potential. Themes fear growth comfort zones risk self-awareness Mood anxious reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career change - starting a new project - entering a new relationship - public speaking - creative endeavors Key Concepts psychology self-development emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What fears are you avoiding? - How could embracing anxiety unlock new opportunities? A Different Perspective Comfort can become a trap that hinders true progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety and fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-and-fear/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-improvement/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [Throughout evolutionary history, anxiety and fear have helped every species to be wary and to survive. Fear can signal us to act, or, alternatively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/throughout-evolutionary-history-anxiety-and-fear-have-helped-every/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Anxiety and fear produce energy. Where we focus that energy noticeably affects the quality of our lives: focus on the solution, not the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anxiety-and-fear-produce-energy-where-we-focus-that-energy-noticeably/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Imagination overcomes anxiety and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/imagination-overcomes-anxiety-and-fear/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [To think that I know what's best for anyone else is to be out of my business. Even in the name of love, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/to-think-that-i-know-what-s-best-for-anyone-else-is-to-be-out-of-my/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Anxiety and fear are cousins but not twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/anxiety-and-fear-are-cousins-but-not-twins-fear-sees-a-threat-anxiety/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you are not highly educated, you will need to abandon your anxiety and fear of reading and doing research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/if-you-are-not-highly-educated-you-will-need-to-abandon-your-anxiety/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > [“The fact is that when we are filled with anxiety and fear, this affects both mental and physical functioning and reduces our capacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-fact-is-that-when-we-are-filled-with-anxiety-and-fear-this/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“chest felt equally tight with anxiety and fear and a twisting, bitter sense of jealousy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/chest-felt-equally-tight-with-anxiety-and-fear-and-a-twisting-bitter/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“In California we believe that most anxiety can be traced to a purely physical cause. Which can be traced to a purely mental cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-geary/in-california-we-believe-that-most-anxiety-can-be-traced-to-a-purely/) [Patricia Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-geary/) > [Sometimes we think we're a little too gifted to show up, yo uknow. But none of us truly is...By avoiding risk we really risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/sometimes-we-think-we-re-a-little-too-gifted-to-show-up-yo-uknow-but/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [Avoiding risk is not much of a goal...whether you crawl into a hole or walk a high wire, nobody gets out of here alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-callahan/avoiding-risk-is-not-much-of-a-goal-whether-you-crawl-into-a-hole-or/) [Steven Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-callahan/) > [Singing when tensed helps you avoid anxiety and depression. I believe LOL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie/singing-when-tensed-helps-you-avoid-anxiety-and-depression-i-believe/) [Nikkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie/) > [“If you experience feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, your poor self-image may keep you from exploring your social self and getting to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/if-you-experience-feelings-of-inadequacy-and-low-self-esteem-your/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More by Harriet Lerner > [“Letting go of anger and hate requires us to give up the hope for a different past, along with the hope of a fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/letting-go-of-anger-and-hate-requires-us-to-give-up-the-hope-for-a/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“There’s a widespread belief that if you have solid self-esteem you don’t need outside affirmation and praise. This is patently untrue, by the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-s-a-widespread-belief-that-if-you-have-solid-self-esteem-you/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [It is an act of courage to acknowledge our own uncertainty and sit with it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/it-is-an-act-of-courage-to-acknowledge-our-own-uncertainty-and-sit/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Silence can pose a greater threat than the difficult truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/silence-can-pose-a-greater-threat-than-the-difficult-truth/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-other-person-will-get-it-or/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Kids want nothing more than for all the important adults in their life to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/kids-want-nothing-more-than-for-all-the-important-adults-in-their/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Being able to make a sincere apology - one that says, "Yes, I get it; I screwed up. Your feelings make sense, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/being-able-to-make-a-sincere-apology-one-that-says-yes-i-get-it-i/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [The bolder and more courageous you are, the more you will learn about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/the-bolder-and-more-courageous-you-are-the-more-you-will-learn-about/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Underground issues from one relationship or context invariably fuel our fires in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/underground-issues-from-one-relationship-or-context-invariably-fuel/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [There are some things for which there is no apology, and on the question of slavery, there is no adequate apology for ripping people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-is-no-apology-and-on-the/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Don't count on the power of your love or your nagging to create something that wasn't there to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/don-t-count-on-the-power-of-your-love-or-your-nagging-to-create/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) [Explore all 113 Harriet Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We may believe that anxiety and fear don't concern us because we avoid experiencing them. 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