How to 'overcome' fear | Trevor Ragan | TEDxCedarRapids

Summary

The speaker delves into the science of fear and its impact on learning, highlighting how the amygdala, or 'lizard brain,' generates fear to avoid perceived threats. He explains that fear is a natural response to uncertainty, attention, struggle, and change, which are also the ingredients for growth. The talk encourages embracing fear as a compass for bravery and stepping out of comfort zones to foster personal development, rather than striving to be fearless, which is unattainable.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The amygdala, often referred to as the 'lizard brain', is responsible for generating fear to keep us safe, but it can't distinguish between life-threatening dangers and personal growth challenges.
• 🚀 Fear can be a barrier to learning and development, often stemming from the fear of looking bad, the unknown, or making mistakes.
• 💡 Overcoming fear is a skill that anyone can develop, and it involves understanding and working with the natural response of the 'lizard brain', rather than trying to eliminate it.
• 🔄 Fear is triggered by uncertainty, attention, change, and struggle—elements that are also present in the best learning opportunities.
• 🙈 The 'lizard brain' can lead to avoidance behaviors, such as procrastination or choosing less challenging tasks, which can hinder personal growth.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests that instead of trying to 'kill' the lizard brain, we should 'dance with it', using it as a compass to guide us toward brave and bold actions.
• 🚶‍♂️ Fear can rob us of opportunities for growth, such as in the examples of the third-grader avoiding playing in the infield or the high school student not singing at the audition.
• 🌟 Seth Godin's influence on the speaker emphasizes the idea that feeling fear is a natural and human response, and it should be acknowledged rather than shamed.
• 💪 The concept of 'dancing with fear' suggests that we should not avoid fear but instead use it as a signal that we are stepping out of our comfort zone and into a learning experience.
• 📚 Liz Gilbert's approach to keeping fear in the 'back seat' of our lives is highlighted as a way to acknowledge its presence without letting it control our decisions.
• 🌱 The speaker concludes that stepping out of our comfort zone is a skill that can be developed over time, and that it's a continuous process of growth and learning.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the speaker in the video script?

The speaker discusses the concept of stepping out of one's comfort zone for learning and development, focusing on the role of fear and how it is generated by the amygdala, often referred to as the 'lizard brain'. The speaker suggests that understanding and managing fear can enhance learning and personal growth.

Why does the speaker refer to the amygdala as the 'lizard brain'?

The speaker uses the term 'lizard brain' to describe the amygdala because it is a primal part of the brain responsible for survival instincts, including the generation of fear to avoid danger. The term 'lizard brain' is used to illustrate its ancient and instinctual nature.

What are the four triggers that the speaker identifies as enhancing fear?

The four triggers that enhance fear, as identified by the speaker, are uncertainty, attention, change, and struggle. These elements can provoke a fear response, which can hinder learning opportunities.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between fear and learning opportunities?

The speaker describes fear as a barrier to learning opportunities. He explains that the same elements that create fear—uncertainty, attention, change, and struggle—are also present in the best learning opportunities, which can lead to avoidance if not properly managed.

What is the speaker's view on the common advice to 'be fearless'?

The speaker argues that advising someone to 'be fearless' is flawed because it is impossible to completely eliminate fear, especially in situations involving uncertainty, attention, change, and struggle. Instead, he suggests embracing and managing fear as a natural human response.

What does the speaker mean by 'dancing with the lizard brain'?

The speaker suggests 'dancing with the lizard brain' as a metaphor for understanding and working with the fear response rather than trying to eliminate it. It means recognizing the fear signal as an indicator of a learning opportunity and choosing to engage with it rather than avoid it.

How does the speaker's perspective on fear change after his conversation with Seth Godin?

After his conversation with Seth Godin, the speaker's perspective on fear shifts from trying to eliminate it to using it as a compass for identifying and engaging with learning opportunities. He adopts the idea of embracing fear as a natural part of the learning process.

What is the speaker's personal experience with fear in relation to his dream of attending Duke University?

The speaker shares that he felt immense fear during his first year at Duke University, which led him to avoid participation in class discussions and presentations. He attributes this fear to his 'lizard brain' signaling that he was out of his comfort zone.

What advice does the speaker give for dealing with fear in the context of job interviews or performances?

The speaker advises that feeling fear in such situations is natural and human. He suggests that recognizing fear as a signal of a learning opportunity can help individuals to engage with these experiences, learn, and grow, rather than avoiding them due to fear.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'dancing with fear' to Liz Gilbert's approach in 'Big Magic'?

The speaker relates 'dancing with fear' to Liz Gilbert's idea of keeping fear in the back seat of a car, acknowledging that it cannot be completely removed but should not be in control. This analogy emphasizes the importance of managing fear rather than letting it dictate one's actions.

What is the final message the speaker hopes to convey to the audience about dealing with fear?

The speaker's final message is that dealing with fear is a skill that can be developed and improved over time. He encourages the audience to be aware of their fear responses, make conscious choices to engage with learning opportunities despite fear, and to view fear as a signal for growth rather than an obstacle.