Aim to be braver, not have less fear

“When you repeatedly do what you’re afraid of, you don’t get less afraid, you get braver. That’s better, because there’s plenty of things to be afraid of, but you can get braver”

Jordan Peterson

I think this distinction is extremely important. There have been many times in my life where I have quit on a new effort, despite making progress, because even though I was getting better, I still felt apprehension each time I would tackle that task. Learning to just do it anyway despite how I felt has been critical for maintaining forward motion.

Some examples come to mind which may surprise or resonate with those who know me.

• Every time I go up to a stranger in networking events, I still get butterflies in my stomach, but I do it anyway.
• Every time I go lift a new higher weight, I’m scared for my life, but I do I anyway.
• Every time I need to have an unpleasant but necessary call with a client, I desperately want to delay it or email instead, but I do it anyway
• Every time I wake up, negative thoughts invade my psyche, but I do my life-affirming morning rituals anyway: being grateful, goal setting, meditating, and working out.

Also, this is still a work-in-progress. I still procrastinate on certain important activities, like creating content meant for mass distribution, due to fear of it not having the desired result… I’m still learning to do it anyway.