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Day 29
Conquer a Fear
Fear can be a good thing. It’s a biological instinct that prevents us from
doing stupid things that might kill us. For example, fear kicks in with good
reason when we see a slithering snake or look over the edge of a cliff.
Unfortunately, fear is not always rational and not always healthy. Thus,
our heart races when we’re getting on a plane but not when we’re driving,
even though we have a far greater chance of dying while behind the wheel.
And while fear works to prevent us from physical pain, it can also hold us
back from the chance at both the pain of a crushed ego and the exhilaration
of victory and success.
The Manliness of Overcoming Your Fears
1. Fear is irrational. No one can ever be fully rational in their choices
and behavior. But every man should strive to live with reason and
ration as his guide. Fear is a primal instinct, not a function of higher
brain faculties. When we logically think through our fears, we often
find that they have no real rational basis.
2. Fear is cowardly. We often try to frame our fears in ways that soothe
our egos. We say that we’re being prudent or cautious. We say that
we haven’t tried simply because it’s not important to us. We say that
we’re just a little nervous. But if you want to start overcoming your
fears, it’s helpful to call a spade a spade. Don’t say, “I’m not doing this
because I’m nervous,” say, “I’m not doing this because I’m a coward.”
This is not meant to be harsh; I actually find it quite helpful to frame