The Psychology of Why Americans Are Afraid of Historically Low Crime Levels
When we work to suppress the “Yellow Light” experience of our human uncertainty, anxiety and groundlessness, we fall into the “Red Light” shut-down of paranoia — losing our connection with the actual situations we are in. Even if our goal is to defend ourselves, we are no longer accurate about the threats, aren’t focused on what really is causing harm. We lose our intelligence and our sensitivity, becoming blindfolded and oblivious, shooting into the darkness at imaginary demons.
In the Yellow Light, we also become more gullible. If someone in the Red Light of paranoia suggests they can take our anxious feelings away by battling our imaginary enemies, we’re more prone to follow them. This is why being mindful of the Yellow Light is a radical path to creating a lively, peaceful and more engaged society, better able to protect the vulnerable from the real threats we all face.