from an evolutinary perspective, fear has contributed to both fostering and limiting change, and to preserving the species. we are programmed to be afraid. it is a surival need, as is stability, which is another force of nature that can limit the capacity to change.
stable patterns are necessary lest we live in chaos: however, they make it difficult to abandon entrenched behaviors, even those that are no longer useful, contructive, or health creating. and fear can keep you from changing when you don't want to risk a step into unknown territory; for example, some peolple choose not to leave an unfulfilling job or a failing relationship because they fea the unknown more than the known. on the other hand, fear can also motivate change in order to avoid something you're afraid of. such as dying young- - - - - - - ------ as one of r parents migh have