Here’s how I’ve learned to lean into the scary stuff, embrace stress, and live a better life:
1. Understand the Difference Between Fear and Excitement
First, understand that your body doesn’t know the difference between fear and excitement. They feel the same. When you start getting anxious before an event and start feeling those butterflies in your stomach, ask yourself: “Am I actually scared, or am I just excited?”
As adults, we’re not excited often. Our body’s default response to increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and surging adrenaline is fear. Then we fall into a downward spiral and get scared when we should really be excited.
Something I heard on a podcast that I’ve never forgotten: “The butterflies in my stomach is my body preparing me to do something great.” Now I repeat that to myself before the start of every big competition, before every interview or meeting where I feel a little nervous, and every big lift!
2. Anticipation Is Often Worse Than the Event
Second, know that anticipation is worse than the event itself. Our fear of what might happen is always way out of scope from what actually happens. Our lizard brain takes over, and our minds go to the worst-case scenario, running at max heart rate for three days before the event. When the event actually starts, we’re exhausted from replaying the possibilities over and over! We’ve already done the whole event—with every catastrophe included!—100s of times!
Waiting, deliberating, anticipating—they’re always worse than doing. If you can choose when to start The Hard Thing, choose to start it right now. Skip the hard part.
3. Put the Event in Perspective: Will You Remember This in a Year?
Third, put the event in perspective: Will you actually remember this in a year? If not, it’s not worth stressing about. If you WILL remember the event a year from now, it’s REALLY worth doing.
Life is a series of moments. These standout moments, the ones you remember—not the daily rhythm of eating breakfast and drinking water—become your story. Any story without these moments is boring. Every time you go through a painful break-up, every time you grind your gears to just pay the bills that month, every time you stay up all night in fear—they’ll all make a great story that will help someone else. In the end, these are the things that matter most, using our stories to help others. So, lean into them.
How Souris Valley CrossFit Can Help!
At Souris Valley CrossFit, we understand that stepping out of your comfort zone and facing new challenges can be daunting. That’s why our community and coaches are here to support you every step of the way. Here’s how we can help you lean into stress and embrace fear:
Personalized Coaching: Our coaches are experienced in scaling workouts to fit your fitness level and helping you set achievable goals. They provide guidance and encouragement, making sure you feel prepared and confident for any challenge!
Supportive Community: The Souris Valley CrossFit community is like no other. Whether you’re tackling a tough workout or preparing for a big event, you’ll find camaraderie and support from fellow members who are on the same journey.
Focus on Mental Strength: We believe fitness is as much about mental fortitude as it is about physical strength. Our coaches provide tips and techniques to help you manage stress and stay motivated, ensuring you’re mentally prepared for any challenge.
At Souris Valley CrossFit, we’re here to help you embrace those moments and turn them into something extraordinary. Join us and discover how you can live a life worth telling stories about. Book a no sweat intro today to learn more!
