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Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Writer's picture: Jason SweetJason Sweet

Have you ever stopped yourself from doing something you truly wanted to do because of fear? You talk yourself out of it, using logic and common sense, only to regret it later. I think most of us have been there. At the time, we come up with all the reasons why we shouldn’t do it—convincing ourselves it’s the right decision to back out. But if we’re being honest, fear is usually the real reason. We’re afraid, and rather than admit it, we disguise it as something else.


Those who know me well might find this ironic. After all, I’ve jumped out of airplanes, bungee-jumped, and cliff-dived. I’ve climbed tall ladders in the fire service and rappelled from helicopters. Yet, despite all of that, I have a healthy respect for heights—to put it lightly, I don’t love them. Even though I’ve faced my fear of heights many times, it still lingers.


Recently, my wife, Martha, and I have been traveling more, visiting incredible places like Colorado and Utah. Thanks to Martha’s exceptional navigation skills and thrill-seeking nature, we inevitably find ourselves driving along narrow dirt roads that hang over 10,000-foot cliffs. And when we finally get out of the car? We get to hike those same death-defying canyon edges.


Now, you might think that after everything I’ve done, these drives and hikes would be no big deal. But that fear I worked so hard to overcome? It’s still there. That’s when I realized something important: I never actually got rid of the fear—I just learned how to act in spite of it.


One recent hike, which zigzagged up the side of a steep canyon with sheer drop-offs, was high on Martha’s to-do list. I took one look at it and thought, Nope. I considered suggesting a different trail or just waiting at the bottom. Climbing that steep, exposed trail seemed reckless, and I almost convinced myself that I was the smart one for not wanting to do it.


But then I asked myself—why was I still afraid? After all the experiences I’d had with heights, why hadn’t I “cured” this fear? The answer hit me: You don’t always eliminate fear. You learn to move forward despite it.


I remembered something crucial: I did all those other things scared too. That’s what it’s about—feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Each time you push through, you build confidence. You prove to yourself that fear doesn’t have to stop you.


So, I reluctantly followed Martha up the canyon trail. Step by step, my heart raced, my mind screamed at me to turn back—but I kept going. And when we finally reached the top? The view was stunning. I was glad I had done it.


Fear doesn’t always go away. But if you push through it, you’ll find that what’s on the other side is often worth it.


So the next time fear creeps in, remember this: Feel the fear—and do it anyway.


-Jason





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