By Parambrahma Tripathy Once upon a time on the emerald island of Guam birds sang like they owned the skies. A US territory in the western Pacific Guam was a paradisemdashlush green and predator-free. Then World War II happened and with it came an uninvited guest the brown tree snake hitching a ride on military cargo. One snake turned into thousands and those beautiful birds? They didnrsquot stand a chance. Ten out of twelve native species vanished wiped out by a slithering menace they never saw coming. Why? They lacked the instinct to fear. No defense no fightmdashjust easy pickings. Itrsquos a gut-punch of a story but itrsquos more than an ecological tragedy. Itrsquos a wake-up call for us humans a lesson in why threat perception isnrsquot just a buzzwordmdashitrsquos a lifeline. Guamrsquos birds didnrsquot know fear and it cost them everything. Now letrsquos flip the script what if theyrsquod had that gut feeling that little voice saying ldquoHey that snake looks shadyrdquo? Maybe theyrsquod still be singing today. Fear isnrsquot the villain we make it out to bemdashitrsquos a survival instinct hardwired into us since the days we were dodging saber-toothed cats. Itrsquos the rustle in the bushes that made our ancestors grab a spear the whiff of smoke that screamed ldquorun!rdquo Fear kept us alive and it still does. So why do we treat it like a dirty secret? Instinct to pause to question? Itrsquos gold! Think about a kid scared of a barking dog at the village fair. Parents might sigh ldquoOh hersquos just being silly.rdquo But is he? That fear isnrsquot nonsensemdashitrsquos primal a whisper from his caveman brain saying ldquoSharp teeth danger!rdquo Over time he might learn the dog is harmless maybe even pet it at the next fair. But that instinct to pause to question? Itrsquos gold. Itrsquos what keeps him from running into real danger like chasing a stray into traffic. Instead of brushing off his fear what if we taught him to listen to it to understand it? Thatrsquos how you build a kid whorsquos cautious but brave not reckless or paralyzed. Adults arenrsquot much differentmdashwe just hide it better. Ever felt that knot in your stomach before a big move like shifting to Bhubaneswar for a new job? Thatrsquos fear waving a red flag ldquoHey this is big letrsquos think it through!rdquo Ignore it and you might rush in unpreparedmdashmaybe yoursquoll miss a better gig or forget to budget for the cityrsquos crazy rents. But listen to it and yoursquoll plan better scout the job market save a little extra maybe even find a roommate. Fear isnrsquot here to stop you itrsquos here to make you smarter. Itrsquos a compass not a cage. Now letrsquos zoom out. Threat perception isnrsquot just personalmdashitrsquos collective. Take the monsoons in Odisha. Every year we know the floods are coming but how many of us prepare? Recognizing the threatmdashrising waters ruined cropsmdashpushes us to act stock up on food build better drainage or join the village committee to plan evacuations. On a bigger scale itrsquos why we care about climate change or economic dips. Spot the danger and you can fight it. Ignore it and yoursquore Guamrsquos birdsmdashsinging until the snakes show up. Fearrsquos not the enemy The flip side? Fear canrsquot run the show. Let it paralyze you and yoursquore stuckmdashno growth no progress. Thatrsquos where the magic lies turning fear into action. Back in my village I knew a guy terrified of starting a small kirana shop. ldquoWhat if it fails?rdquo hersquod moan. But that fear made him meticulousmdashhe studied the market saved every paisa started small with just rice and dal. Today his shop is the go-to spot for half the village. Fear didnrsquot stop him it fueled him. Itrsquos like using a chili in your currymdashtoo much and yoursquore crying just right and itrsquos a flavor bomb. Guamrsquos silent skies teach us a hard truth without threat perception yoursquore a sitting duck. But with it yoursquore a survivor. Teach your kids to hear that inner alarm whether itrsquos a creepy stranger at the mela or a tricky math exam. Teach yourself to face the what-ifsmdashjob loss health scares or that tough family talk yoursquove been dodging. Fear isnrsquot weakness itrsquos wisdom in disguise. Itrsquos what kept our ancestors alive and itrsquos what drives us to innovate to protect to grow. So the next time fear knocksmdashwhether itrsquos your kid clinging to you at the doctorrsquos or your own heart racing before a big decisionmdashdonrsquot shove it away. Listen. Whatrsquos it telling you? Use it to plan to prepare to push forward. Fearrsquos not the enemy itrsquos the friend who says ldquoIrsquove got your back.rdquo Embrace it and yoursquoll not only survivemdashyoursquoll thrive. Just ask what Guamrsquos birds wouldrsquove given for a little fear. A second chance to sing. Parambrahma Tripathy is an author and Communication for Development professional with over 18 years of experience. He has worked with organizations like BBC Media Action Landesa The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago IPE Global and Coceptual Media. He has been recognized with several awards including the prestigious Laadli Media and Gender Sensitivity Award in 2022 and 2023 Best Lyricist of the Year in 2022 Dr. Radhanath Rath Fellowship for Journalism Kalinga Literary Youth Award Timepass Bestseller Award Srujan India Youth Award Utkal Sahitya Samaj Felicitation and Odia Yuva Stambha Samman2023