Advice: How to live with fear

How to live with fear

So there I was, sitting forlornly in my office, deadline looming, a blank computer screen and absolutely no idea what I was going to write. I awoke from what seemed like an eternal reverie to find myself staring semi-consciously at my overflowing bookcase. Low and behold a book was staring back at me. I have no idea how the book came to be sitting in my bookshelf, or for that matter what it was about, but the title really got my attention. Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway. What a great motto to live by.

As a child I was always interested in stories that featured unwavering heroes overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to win the fight between good and evil. As a matter of fact, I'm still addicted to fantasy stories; only now they're contained in respectable best-selling books (written for adults of course...) by authors like Raymond E Fiest, Stephen Donaldson and Robert Jordan.

The very idea that there can be characters of such courage and strength, way beyond my own feeble capabilities, is and always has been very attractive to me. The characters, although often obviously flawed, are somehow larger than life. They never seem to struggle with indecision when it comes to doing the right thing. They just get out and do it. Fear is a word not often associated with the outcome of the story.

Fortunately, my bookcase also contains some real life biographies of people I look up to, both in and out of motorcycling. An interesting pattern emerges when you read enough material about successful people, regardless of their field of endeavour - their stories are often very similar in many respects. The principle of Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway is very strong in almost every case. Courage is not the absence of fear, it's the mastery of it...

The question is - how many times have you got into a situation on a motorcycle where you're not sure you're going to make it out the other side? How often have you felt real fear when riding? The reality is that fear is an important part of life. Without a requisite amount of fear, we would not grow into balanced individuals capable of living full lives. Fear lets us know that there is something happening beyond our understanding. It's a wake up call to let us know that we are now entering the 'Twilight Zone' (which is simply a realm where our existing viewpoint makes little sense). Truth is, we only fear what we don't understand.

Fear can do one of two things: it can either stop you or start you. Think of a red traffic light for a moment. Some people think it's there as an inconvenience, just to halt your progress. Incorrect. The red light doesn't actually stop you. Although it may be against the law, you can choose to proceed if you wish. A red light is simply a warning of danger if you proceed. The warning (red light) will remain until it's safe to continue, then the light turns green, indicating there is no more danger. The red light is telling you to modify your speed (usually to zero) and start looking for the danger.

Fear lets you know you are on the verge of something that you don't understand - something you can't control. It's indicating that there is something for you to learn. It's a red light warning you of danger if you proceed at the speed you are currently travelling.

Time to get real. Has fear stopped you, or simply warned you of impending danger? How do you see it? What effect has fear had on your life so far?

I often make the comment in the classroom that we're all adults and nothing scares us, but sometimes things 'get our attention'... in truth, they do scare us and it's important that they do. Fear gives the message enough impact for us to learn whatever lesson it is we need to learn, keeping us alive in the process.

I'm sure we look at real life heroes like Valentino Rossi, Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Garry McCoy et al and make comments like "they're fearless" or "I'll bet nothing scares him." Right now, at the point they are in their riding, I'd have to agree with you 99 percent of the time. There is still an element of fear, but the knowledge and understanding they have of riding has overcome all but the most extreme circumstances. But when they were learning the skills needed to get them to this level, I can assure you they felt the fear (just like we do), but they did it anyway...

Good luck with your riding.

Steve Brouggy is the owner of the

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