Blog: The Fear of the Unknown

Fear of the unknown is not a flaw—it is a survival instinct rooted deep within us.

But in a world where change is constant and complexity is increasing, this fear can either become our prison or our passage.

By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden

Living at the Edge of Certainty

From the moment we open our eyes as newborns, we begin a lifelong journey of confronting the unfamiliar. Whether it’s a dark hallway, a new school, a job opportunity abroad, or a shift in national politics, the fear of the unknown remains one of the most primal and persistent human emotions. This fear is not just an individual phenomenon; it echoes through societies, governments, religions, and economies. And yet, it is also the very gateway to growth, innovation, and discovery.

In this article, we explore why humans fear the unknown, how it shapes personal choices and global behavior, and how overcoming this fear—though daunting—can lead to transformation. Through real-life stories, psychological insights, historical examples, and timeless wisdom—including that of the mystic poet Rumi—we attempt to understand what it truly means to face what we do not know.

Understanding the Fear: Evolution and Psychology

At a neurological level, the fear of the unknown activates the same survival circuits as other types of fear. According to research published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, the amygdala—an almond-shaped region in the brain—reacts strongly to ambiguity and uncertainty. This mechanism was essential in the early days of humanity when an unfamiliar sound in the jungle could signal a predator or danger.

However, in modern life, this ancient system often clashes with contemporary challenges. A job interview is not a tiger, but our bodies react similarly. Moving to a new country isn’t war, yet the emotional turmoil can feel just as intense.

This evolutionary mismatch results in excessive caution, avoidance behaviors, and sometimes irrational responses. Fear of the unknown keeps people in toxic relationships, unfulfilling careers, and stagnant environments, simply because “at least it’s familiar.”

Personal Examples: Choosing Safety over Potential

Zoya, a 28-year-old teacher in Karachi, turned down a scholarship opportunity to study in Germany. “I had never left Pakistan. The idea of moving to a new country, learning a new language, and living alone terrified me. Everyone told me it was a golden opportunity, but I just couldn’t do it,” she says.

Years later, Zoya still teaches at the same school, often wondering what could have been. Her story reflects a common theme: many individuals fear the cost of failure more than they desire the potential of growth.

Conversely, Ali Raza, a Lahore-based entrepreneur, embraced uncertainty when he quit his engineering job to start a local organic farming initiative. “Everyone thought I was crazy. But I was more afraid of waking up in 30 years with regrets,” he says. The transition was rough, but today his farm supplies produce to multiple cities and employs over 30 people. Ali’s case shows how moving through fear often leads to empowerment.

Social and Cultural Manifestations

Fear of the unknown isn’t limited to personal choices—it often influences cultural norms and social behavior.

In times of uncertainty, societies become more conservative, nationalistic, or rigid. The rise of populist politics in Europe and the U.S. post-2015 is partly a reflection of the fear of immigration and globalization. Leaders who promise a return to the “known” past often find favor among voters anxious about unfamiliar futures.

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified this trend. Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and xenophobia spiked globally. People feared the virus—but also each other, the changing rules, the vaccines, and even masks. In Pakistan, for instance, some communities refused vaccinations due to conspiracy theories rooted in mistrust and fear of foreign intervention.

Fear of the unknown also plays a role in discrimination. In many cases, it’s not actual knowledge about a group or ideology that drives hatred, but the lack of it. The less we know about people, the more likely we are to dehumanize them.

The Wisdom of Rumi: Walk towards the Darkness

The 13th-century Sufi poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi offered a poetic lens into the experience of uncertainty. One of his most famous quotes speaks directly to the core of this article:

“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you. Don’t worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?”

Rumi’s words invite us not just to accept the unknown but to embrace it with open-hearted surrender. His poetry reminds us that fear often blinds us to the possibility of beauty and transformation on the other side of uncertainty. As he also famously said:

“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”

The unknown, then, becomes not a threat, but the blank page on which to write our own destiny.

The Role of Religion and Philosophy

Religion has historically attempted to make sense of the unknown, especially the ultimate unknown: death. Whether it’s the promise of an afterlife, reincarnation, or spiritual liberation, every faith offers a framework to soften the fear of what lies beyond.

Philosophers, too, have addressed this fear. Existentialists like Søren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre recognized the anxiety that comes with freedom and the unknown. Kierkegaard called it the “dizziness of freedom”—the unsettling realization that we are not only free to choose but also responsible for the consequences of our choices in a world with no clear instructions.

In Eastern thought, particularly in Buddhism, there is an emphasis on accepting uncertainty and impermanence. Instead of resisting the unknown, practitioners are taught to observe it with detachment. This philosophical orientation encourages a life of mindfulness over control.

Technology, Innovation, and Resistance

When the first trains were introduced in the 1800s, some people believed that traveling at high speeds would cause suffocation or bodily harm. Similar fears were seen with electricity, the internet, and now artificial intelligence (AI).

The fear of the unknown often delays the adoption of life-changing technology. Consider the case of Ursula Burns, the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company (Xerox), who once noted that resistance to automation was more psychological than technical. “People didn’t fear the machines; they feared what they didn’t understand and how their roles would change.”

Today, as AI becomes more prevalent, fear resurfaces: Will jobs disappear? Will machines replace human creativity? While these concerns are valid, history shows that those who engage with the unknown, rather than reject it, often shape it for the better.

How to Face the Unknown: Strategies and Stories

How can individuals and societies navigate fear without being paralyzed by it?

1. Exposure and Education: Research shows that repeated exposure to uncertainty reduces its psychological grip. For instance, exchange programs like YES or Erasmus are not just about education—they’re about confronting difference and dismantling fear.
2. Preparation and Imagination: Scenario planning, vision boards, and guided visualizations are ways people prepare mentally for unknown outcomes. Athletes, astronauts, and even military units use such techniques.
3. Faith and Meaning: In difficult transitions, like terminal illness or emigration, many people find strength in belief systems, narratives, or personal missions that transcend fear.
4. Community Support: One of the best buffers against fear is not information, but connection. Support groups for immigrants, therapy groups for grieving individuals, and even local hobby clubs help people face transitions together.

Case Study: The Refugees Who Became Entrepreneurs

In Germany, after the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis, thousands of displaced individuals faced a new land, language, and livelihood. While many feared their integration, research from the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft showed that by 2022, over 10% of Syrian refugees had started small businesses—from restaurants to tech startups. The unknown didn’t disappear—it was transformed through courage, support, and time.

Embracing the Edge

Fear of the unknown is not a flaw—it is a survival instinct rooted deep within us. But in a world where change is constant and complexity is increasing, this fear can either become our prison or our passage.

The stories of Zoya and Ali, the lessons from refugees, the insights from science and philosophy—all point to one truth: growth lives on the other side of uncertainty. As individuals, we must learn to sit with discomfort. As a society, we must resist those who weaponize fear. And as a planet facing collective unknowns—climate change, technological disruption, global pandemics—we must choose not paralysis, but progress.

Rumi’s wisdom rings truer than ever: the life we know may feel safer, but the life that awaits us in the unknown may hold the depth, meaning, and magic we’ve always been seeking.

So when life seems to turn upside down, ask yourself gently: How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?

Read: Owning Nothing, Gaining Everything

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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.