How to “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways”
I heard this quote a few months ago and it really made me think about fear in a totally different way.
“Fear is a self-centered dynamic. We only feel fear when we’re thinking about ourselves.”
Fear is a reaction to a perceived threat—real or imagined.
…and it’s an emotion we need.
It’s not about NOT feeling fear, because if we didn’t feel fear we’d put ourselves in a lot of life-threatening situations.
It’s about being able to “feel the fear and do it anyway,” in most cases.
The most common threats are physical danger, emotional pain, or social rejection.
and fear often zeros us in on self-preservation.
What if I fail?
What will people think of me?
How will this hurt me?
It pulls our attention inward, hyper-focusing us on ourselves.
There are moments where fear is required, like in moments of life or death…
Fear triggers our fight-or-flight response and keeps us alert.
It helps us make quick decisions, like taking a step back when the floor beneath you is caving in.
That’s not the type of fear we’re talking about today.
The type of fear we’re talking about is the fear that holds you back from doing the things you want.
From growing, learning, challenging ourselves, trying new things.
For example:
Fear of rejection
Fear of public speaking
Fear of trying something new
Fear of failure
Fear of success
Fear of criticism
Fear of embarrassment
Fear of looking stupid
There are two ways you can respond to fears like this…
1) You can use this kind of fear to help prepare you.
For example, if you have a fear of public speaking, you can use that to push you to practice and prepare.
2) Or, you can use this kind of fear to hold you back.
For example, never public speaking.
It’s in moments like this, that it’s helpful to keep this quote in mind.
“Fear is a self-centered dynamic. We only feel fear when we’re thinking about ourselves.”
And the answer is in the second part of this quote I haven’t shared yet. It’s:
“There is no fear once the mission to serve becomes clear.”
I mentioned fear places the focus on ourselves.
The solution is to shift the focus outward, to look at the bigger picture.
Instead of making it about you,
“I’m not smart enough.”
“I’m not pretty enough.”
“I’m not successful enough.”
“I’m not educated enough.”
All of which, are probably not true anyways.
Instead, ask yourself,
“What am I holding back from teaching others?”
“Who might benefit from what I have to say?”
“How might I change someone’s life by sharing this today?”
“What value can I bring to someone else by showing up despite my fear?”
“Am I more focused on how this situation will affect me rather than the greater good?”
…and sometimes, you can make it about you:
“What can I learn from this?”
“How will doing this help me grow?”
“How do I benefit from challenging myself in this way?”
“If I succeed despite my fear, what opportunities might open up for me?”
When we understand that fear is self-centered, we gain the power to reframe it.
Instead of seeing it as an obstacle, use it as a signal that you have the opportunity to grow here, to level up.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the decision to act despite it.
…and the more you show yourself you can, the less you’ll think you can’t.
