Fear Hacks

There is a famous scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy has to traverse a canyon over an invisible bridge, known as The Path of God.

It is a fantastical cinematic depiction of a challenge that each of us faces frequently in our daily lives. We see a goal. We hesitate. Eventually, if we are bold, we step forward with our own leap of faith.

What drives the hesitation? In the words of writer and entrepreneur, Seth Godin, fear is what stops us. Fear fuels hesitation and doubt. Fear fuels the negative self talk that undermines our confidence. Fear keeps our eyes averted, our mouths shut, and our hands in our pockets.

Here are four fear hacks for your tool kit.

First, fear seems massive, insurmountable as we stand before it. But, take a step forward and you will see that fear is like a thin façade. It is an illusion. With each step forward, fear shrinks. For our case study Indiana Jones, it was not until Indy began to move forward that the “invisible” bridge materialized.

This brings us to the next antidote, continued action. When I started writing, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I was filled with doubt. A mentor pointed out that writers write. You keep writing until the doubt dissipates. That has been my experience. The more afraid I am, the more I know I need to pick up a pen and continue to write.

The third fear hack is service to others. This works best with crowd scenes–parties, meetings, speaking engagements. I look for ways to be of service. Even something as simple as holding a door for someone will work. Fear can’t abide service to others.

Lastly, make the decision small. Whether it’s leading a project or running a marathon, tackling a big effort can feel as improbable as crossing a massive canyon without a bridge. We make decisions small by breaking large efforts down into more manageable parts. So while the big goal may appear impossible, each individual step becomes achievable.

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