Fear is Your Co-Pilot: Why Being “Fear-Full” is the New Fearless
Let’s be honest. We’ve all been subjected to the relentless tyranny of the word “fearless.” We see it plastered on motivational posters next to pictures of impossibly tanned people bungee jumping off cliffs with a single, blindingly white tooth showing. “Be fearless!” they scream. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there, heart doing the samba in your chest, contemplating sending that email to your boss about a raise, or perhaps just attempting to assemble IKEA furniture without weeping.
Enter Glennon Doyle, the literary ninja from her powerhouse book Untamed, who drops this absolute truth bomb: “You don’t have to be fearless; you just have to be fear-full and do it anyway.”
If that quote doesn’t make you want to high-five a stranger, you’re clearly already fearless (and possibly a robot). This isn’t just feel-good fluff; it’s a strategic, hilarious, and deeply honest instruction manual for actually living your life.
Unmasking the Myth of the Fearless Superhero
For years, we’ve been conditioned to believe that successful people are those who have somehow managed to surgically remove their amygdala. We picture the entrepreneur launching their business while sipping artisanal coffee and juggling chainsaws—totally unfazed. This is garbage.
Fear is not the absence of action; it’s often the prerequisite for meaningful action. Think of fear like that incredibly nervous friend who insists on riding shotgun on every road trip. They might grip the dashboard so tightly their knuckles turn white, and they might loudly suggest turning back every time you hit a pothole, but they are there. They are present.
Doyle’s genius lies in acknowledging that fear is the natural human response to doing anything that matters. If you’re not a little terrified when you start that new online business course or step onto that stage, you’re probably not aiming high enough.
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Fear-Full vs. Fear-Paralyzed: Knowing the Difference
This is where we need a little clarity, folks. Being “fear-full” is not the same as being “fear-paralyzed.”
Fear-paralysis is when you look at the obstacle, decide it’s too high, and then spend three days researching orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating existential dread, all while avoiding the actual task.
Fear-fullness, however, is acknowledging the dread monster sitting on your shoulder, noticing its sharp teeth and questionable breath, and saying, “Yeah, I see you. You’re going to ride along today, but I’m driving.”
It’s the difference between courage and stupidity. Courage isn’t the lack of fear; it’s acting despite the fear. Stupidity is jumping off the cliff just to prove you aren’t scared—and then realizing you forgot your parachute. We are aiming for courageous, not reckless.
SEO Strategy: Why Your Anxiety is Great for Google
Keywords like overcoming anxiety, building self-confidence, and taking risks are huge in the self-help space. But how does Doyle’s quote optimize for this? Because it provides an accessible entry point. People search for “how to stop being afraid,” and the traditional answer is overwhelming. Doyle’s quote provides immediate relief: You don’t have to stop being afraid!
This realization is incredibly motivational for personal growth. It shifts the goalpost from achieving an impossible state of Zen to simply managing your very real, very human terror.
To truly embrace the fear-full life, sometimes you need tools that help you manage the internal noise. A great journal can be your confidante.
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Practical Steps for Doing It Anyway (Even While Sweating)
So, how do you execute the “do it anyway” part when your knees are knocking louder than a drum solo?
- Name the Fear: Don’t let the fear be a vague, looming shadow. Give it a name. Is it “Fear of Looking Stupid”? “Fear of Rejection”? Once named, it becomes a manageable character, not an apocalyptic event.
- The Five-Second Rule: Inspired by Mel Robbins, if you have an idea or feel the impulse to act, count down 5-4-3-2-1 and move. This preempts your brain from building an elaborate excuse machine.
- Micro-Dosing Bravery: Don’t try to conquer Everest on Tuesday. If you fear public speaking, your first step isn’t hosting a TED Talk; it’s asking a thoughtful question in a small meeting. Be fear-full about that small step, and then do it.
This approach is key for anyone working on achieving personal goals or developing better coping mechanisms for stress. You’re retraining your brain, one terrified action at a time.
Embracing the Messy Middle
The most compelling aspect of Doyle’s philosophy is that it grants us permission to be messy. True authentic living isn’t polished; it’s gritty. It involves stumbling, apologizing, and occasionally hiding in the bathroom stall for a moment to re-center after a particularly scary conversation.
When you accept that fear is just energy—energy that can be channeled into meticulous planning, extra preparation, or just sheer stubborn forward momentum—you unlock tremendous potential.
So, the next time you’re staring down something terrifying, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re scared! That means you care deeply about the outcome. Now, take a deep breath (try not to hyperventilate) and remember: you just have to be fear-full and do it anyway. And maybe invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones for the nervous co-pilot yelling in your ear.
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