Is Fear a Motivator or a Distractor?
Is Fear a Motivator or a Distractor? The simple answer is it can be both.
Do you ever think about what drives you? Is it the pull of something amazing, or the push of fear?
I’ve always seen myself as someone driven by a vision of the future—goals I’m excited about, things I want to create. But if I’m being honest, fear can be a powerful motivator, too. We’re all driven by fear all the time in our day-to-day lives: preparing for a big presentation so we don’t look unprepared, making it to the airport before the gate closes, or even setting that reminder to pay bills before late fees kick in.
When I was in Grade 9, Science class made me really nervous. I’d heard that studying just 10 minutes a night could make a big difference. So, every night that whole semester, I diligently reread my notes. And when exam time came, it wasn’t just manageable—it felt easy.
What really motivated me? Fear. I didn’t want to fail, and that fear pushed me to study consistently, even if it was just a few minutes a day.
Fast-forward to now, there is a lot of fear in the collective—understandably. There are some days in the past few weeks that I've woken up completely paralyzed with fear by what's happening in the world. Many terrible things feel out of my control and that fear is derailing me in those moments. I sit with it, and do some mindfulness exercises to get to the point of starting my day.
And fear is showing up for me in a more simple way too—this time with the triathlon I’ve signed up for. I've said it before, but I don't really bike, run, or swim (until now)!
The swim scares me the most. Walking is always an option during the run, and I can pedal slowly if I need to, but there are no shortcuts to not drowning.
Fear, in this case, is a huge motivator. It’s getting me in the pool often, even when I really, really don’t want to.
I have a feeling fear will play a significant role in my life during this chaotic time in the world. And there is going to be a big distinction between fear driven by large external events outside of my immediate control, and fear coming from things I have more direct ability to change.
I don't want to bypass the gravitas of fear, but I also don’t want to be controlled by it. For me, fear can be a gentle nudge or a big shove to get me moving or to focus on what I can actually impact. Fear can be a motivator for something as tangible as my triathlon training or for the bigger change I want to make in the world. I’m witnessing a lot of momentum among my American friends and colleagues as they take action and channel their fear into something tangible.
The key for me is to reflect: where is fear serving me, and where is it derailing me?
What about you? How are you handling fear in your life right now? I’d love to hear your story. (And reach out if you feel consumed by fear.)