A super famous viral blogger just said this the other day:
We’re all scared shitless most of the time… Many of you read my LinkedIn posts and think I’m winning all the time and I consistently hit aces. I’m not. I’m fearful about career change, romantic relationships, having kids and not performing at work just like you are.
The difference I’ve learned is to understand this: we’re all fearful of the same stuff. The people you admire lean into the fear. They make the difficult decisions no matter what. They take on opportunities to grow.
Once you understand that everyone has the same fears and challenges that you do, it makes things so much easier. You approach your career differently and you share what you’re feeling because you know that everyone else is going through something similar. It’s a simple idea but it’s a game changer. We’re all scared shitless. Take action regardless. That’s the differentiator. — Tim Denning
Are you “scared shitless” most of the time? Is that the life you want to live?
Constant stress, fear, and worry is a killer. It is not solved by an occasional vacation (if someone is audacious enough to take one). Human bodies were evolved to react successfully to occasional high stress (the climax of the hunt, or when hunted… the bear charges).
The body is built for 5% high stress (Red Mind), 95% low (Blue Mind). A flipped ratio to near constant “scared shitless” stress revs the body, changes the brain chemistry, and even the brain itself.
I used to be in the “scared shitless” category. But I am not now. I wish I would have learned earlier that there is a choice. And you CAN be productive, more productive, by living most of your life with a Blue Mind.
“Blue Mind” (by Wallace J Nichols) is a book I recently enjoyed. It is not just about the favorable impact living near water can have on your life. It is about how you can live more relaxed, happy, healthier … and ultimately more productive. Just as “Goodbye, Things”… is much more than a book on Japanese minimalism. It is also about ending the “scared shitless” insanity.