Run towards the fear

​Last fall, I listened to a podcast that changed my perspective on fear. 

It was an episode of This American Life titled "Swim Towards the Shark." In this episode, Sarah Polley shares her journey of recovering from a debilitating concussion. After years of struggling with minimal recovery, a doctor advised her to “Run toward the danger” and embrace loud environments such as parties and gatherings—to help retrain her brain and encourage healing. She took this advice and, within a few months, she noticed dramatic improvements.

She also noticed this new “Run towards the danger” mentality spread to other areas of her life. After a lifetime of anxiousness, she was able to do things she never dreamed possible before her accident, such as speak to large groups. Instead of avoiding discomfort, she embraced it, advocating for the transformative power of facing one’s fears head-on.

I found myself riveted when listening to this podcast. As a lifelong worrier with a strong hyper-vigilant streak, I found the notion of running towards things we’re scared of intoxicating. It went deeply against the grain of my upbringing. So I embraced it with a slight tweak. Instead of “Run toward the danger,” my mantra is “Run towards the fear”. 

This simple phrase, “Run towards the fear,” has changed so much in my life and continues to open me up to notions of what I’m capable of. Whenever I notice the tightening of fear based on self-doubt, I start running right towards the thing I am scared of, and this has increased my tolerance of fear and uncertainty.

A presentation I’ve been invited to give to an impressive group? Run towards it. 

A party I've been invited to, but don’t know anyone? Run towards it. 

A new intimidating client when my imposter syndrome flares up? Run towards it.
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A difficult conversation with a loved one? Run towards it.

Maybe it took reaching my 50s to feel comfortable with this notion, but when I listen to my intuition and combine it with the mantra of “Run towards the fear”, it makes me braver than I thought possible.

What do you want to run towards today?