4 Ways to Lean into Your Fears and Increase Your Success

At first glance, you may feel you have nothing to fear. You may be in a highly successful business, or you may be weathering a storm that is tough but under control. The truth is, though, we all fear something, and fear in any form is what holds us back from reaching new heights. If you want to do more, be more, have more, and achieve more than you are currently, then it is time to assess what is holding you back and find ways to lean into that fear, so it dissolves into success. Some of the most intense professions around the world – especially positions held by first responders – set an incredible example for what it looks like to face fears and run headlong toward a problem. Think about a police officer; when they hear gun shots, they run toward the sound looking to engage with the source. Consider firefighters also; they run toward the fire to put it out as quickly as possible. The same is true of snow ski experts; to be a great skier, you have to lean forward, which is incredibly counter-intuitive. Likewise, motorcyclists lean into each turn to maximize their centrifugal force, not the other way around. Erik Weihenmayer is an incredible example of what it looks like to live uninhibited by fear. As a blind man, many people encouraged him to play it safe in life; to be content with his limitations. But Erik decided that life was too short to live in fear, and so he set out on what has turned into a decades-long search for adventure and meaning. He has climbed Mt. Everest, summited countless other peaks, and spoken to businesses, sports teams, and even schools on the value of struggle and setting stretch goals – audacious, scary goals that stretch you into achieving more than you ever thought possible. In a blog post he wrote, “Ama Dablam (a peak he summited) is no more special than any other mountain or goal. The simple fact is that completing this climb added meaning to my life; the same way that completing a triathlon, raising money for a local nonprofit, or losing weight might for someone else. I