--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fears that assault us are mostly…" description: "\"The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. We need not give e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-rohr-618_acronyms_the-fears-that-assault-us-are-mostly-sim_221126.png" --- # The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties… ![“The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. We need not give emotional food or charge to these fears or become attached to them. We don’t even have to shame ourselves for having these fears. Simply ask your…” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-rohr-618_acronyms_the-fears-that-assault-us-are-mostly-sim_221126.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-rohr-618_acronyms_the-fears-that-assault-us-are-mostly-sim_221126.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-rohr-618_acronyms_the-fears-that-assault-us-are-mostly-sim_221126.png) > “The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. We need not give emotional food or charge to these fears or become attached to them. We don’t even have to shame ourselves for having these fears. Simply ask your fears, “What are you trying to teach me?” Some say that FEAR is merely an acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” From Everything Belongs, p. 143” [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fears are often simple anxieties about social and intimate situations; we can observe them without feeding them, learning from what they try to teach. **In simple terms:** Fears are simple anxieties we can learn from. Key Takeaway Observe fears, ask what they teach. Themes fear self‑awareness growth Mood thoughtful introspective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - dating - work presentations - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology spirituality self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What lesson might your fear be trying to convey? - How can you detach from fear without shame? A Different Perspective Fears can be overwhelming and may persist despite rational analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acronyms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acronyms/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-skills/) ## Related quotes > [Do not ask for fears to be removed; ask for courage equal to the fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/do-not-ask-for-fears-to-be-removed-ask-for-courage-equal-to-the-fears/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [I think fearless is having fears but jumping anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-think-fearless-is-having-fears-but-jumping-anyway/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > ['Dream' is about having fears and doing your best to embrace them no matter how strenuous the grip is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-briggs/dream-is-about-having-fears-and-doing-your-best-to-embrace-them-no/) [Bishop Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop-briggs/) > [Having fears is like being in prison, you have no way out, only to face them..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trilla/having-fears-is-like-being-in-prison-you-have-no-way-out-only-to-face/) [Trilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trilla/) > [There are only 17,000 three-letter acronyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boutin/there-are-only-17-000-three-letter-acronyms/) Paul Boutin > [GIFTS is an acronym for Gratitude, Intention, Forgiveness, Triumphs, and Self-love. I believe that those are the principles we need to explore in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-coles/gifts-is-an-acronym-for-gratitude-intention-forgiveness-triumphs-and/) [Kim Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-coles/) > [I think for a while now people have been scared to be out of TMT the commonly used acronym for technology-media-telecom stocks, which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-oppenheimer/i-think-for-a-while-now-people-have-been-scared-to-be-out-of-tmt-the/) Peter Oppenheimer > [I may have grown up in the Age of Aquarius, but I'm growing old in the Age of the Acronym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-peter-clark/i-may-have-grown-up-in-the-age-of-aquarius-but-i-m-growing-old-in-the/) [Roy Peter Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-peter-clark/) > [FEAR is an acronym in the English language for 'False Evidence Appearing Real'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-is-an-acronym-in-the-english-language-for-false-evidence/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“rolf! what? are you really rolling on the floor laughing? well, please stay down there for a sec while I KICK YOUR ASS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/rolf-what-are-you-really-rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-well-please/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Brazil has no parties, only acronyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/brazil-has-no-parties-only-acronyms/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [“I love acronyms, don’t you? They are quick and easy tools for remembering important lessons that are too good to forget. The PEACE acronym…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/i-love-acronyms-don-t-you-they-are-quick-and-easy-tools-for/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Unbelievable," I heard Christian mutter behind me. "She toops them both?" I head Drustan ask. "And they permit it?" Dageus sounded baffled. I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/unbelievable-i-heard-christian-mutter-behind-me-she-toops-them-both-i/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Don't use the word gay unless it's an acronym for GAY (Got Aids Yet?) .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dornan/don-t-use-the-word-gay-unless-it-s-an-acronym-for-gay-got-aids-yet/) Bob Dornan > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) ## More by Richard Rohr > [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-we-do-not-transform-our-pain-we-will-most-assuredly-transmit-it/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“In the end, we do not so much reclaim what we have lost as discover a significantly new self in and through the process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-end-we-do-not-so-much-reclaim-what-we-have-lost-as-discover-a/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/nature-is-the-one-song-of-praise-that-never-stops-singing/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-believe-contemplation-shows-us-that-nothing-inside-us-is-as-bad-as/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If you do not transform your wounds you will transmit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-you-do-not-transform-your-wounds-you-will-transmit-them/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) [Explore all 443 Richard Rohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## More Acronyms quotes > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Don't use the word gay unless it's an acronym for GAY (Got Aids Yet?) .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dornan/don-t-use-the-word-gay-unless-it-s-an-acronym-for-gay-got-aids-yet/) Bob Dornan > [Unbelievable," I heard Christian mutter behind me. "She toops them both?" I head Drustan ask. "And they permit it?" Dageus sounded baffled. I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/unbelievable-i-heard-christian-mutter-behind-me-she-toops-them-both-i/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I love acronyms, don’t you? They are quick and easy tools for remembering important lessons that are too good to forget. The PEACE acronym…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/i-love-acronyms-don-t-you-they-are-quick-and-easy-tools-for/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Brazil has no parties, only acronyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-temer/brazil-has-no-parties-only-acronyms/) [Michel Temer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-temer/) > [“rolf! what? are you really rolling on the floor laughing? well, please stay down there for a sec while I KICK YOUR ASS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/rolf-what-are-you-really-rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-well-please/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [FEAR is an acronym in the English language for 'False Evidence Appearing Real'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-is-an-acronym-in-the-english-language-for-false-evidence/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [I may have grown up in the Age of Aquarius, but I'm growing old in the Age of the Acronym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-peter-clark/i-may-have-grown-up-in-the-age-of-aquarius-but-i-m-growing-old-in-the/) [Roy Peter Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-peter-clark/) > [I think for a while now people have been scared to be out of TMT the commonly used acronym for technology-media-telecom stocks, which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-oppenheimer/i-think-for-a-while-now-people-have-been-scared-to-be-out-of-tmt-the/) Peter Oppenheimer > [GIFTS is an acronym for Gratitude, Intention, Forgiveness, Triumphs, and Self-love. I believe that those are the principles we need to explore in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-coles/gifts-is-an-acronym-for-gratitude-intention-forgiveness-triumphs-and/) [Kim Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-coles/) > [There are only 17,000 three-letter acronyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boutin/there-are-only-17-000-three-letter-acronyms/) Paul Boutin > [TV can be an acronym for television or transvestite. I prefer using it to describe the the latter. The former is strange and undignified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/tv-can-be-an-acronym-for-television-or-transvestite-i-prefer-using-it/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [Pick at random any three letters from the alphabet, put them in any order, and you will have an acronym designating a federal agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/pick-at-random-any-three-letters-from-the-alphabet-put-them-in-any/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Being obscure in acronyms is great. I think I'll start making up my own... INYM - I'm Not Your Momma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-vixie/being-obscure-in-acronyms-is-great-i-think-i-ll-start-making-up-my/) [Paul Vixie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-vixie/) > [SABLE- A common knitting acronym that stands for Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/sable-a-common-knitting-acronym-that-stands-for-stash-acquisition/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) [Browse all 30 Acronyms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acronyms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. We need not give emotional food or charge to these fears or become attached to them. We don’t even have to shame ourselves for having these fears. 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