Be The Warrior Not The Worrier - Fighting Anxiety & Fear | Angela Ceberano | TEDxBedminster

Summary

In this TEDx talk, Queenie Lee opens up about her lifelong battle with anxiety and how she has learned to turn it into a source of strength. Despite struggling with fear and self-doubt, she reveals how stepping outside her comfort zone, especially through creating a YouTube channel, helped her overcome personal challenges. Queenie shares her journey of confronting fears, both in her personal and professional life, and the profound impact it has had on her happiness. Her message encourages others to tackle their fears head-on, creating 'fear projects' that inspire growth, confidence, and success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace anxiety as a tool for personal growth rather than something to avoid.
• 😀 View fear and anxiety as opportunities to conquer and grow, not obstacles to success.
• 😀 Anxiety can be reframed as a motivator to act, especially when faced with challenges outside your comfort zone.
• 😀 Overcoming fears can lead to unexpected opportunities, as demonstrated by the speaker's TEDx invitation.
• 😀 Creating 'fear projects' can help you confront specific anxieties, such as public speaking or being on camera.
• 😀 The power of 'No' should be embraced—use rejection as fuel to work harder and prove others wrong.
• 😀 Anxiety often stems from worry about things that either won’t happen or can’t be changed; 40% of worries never come true.
• 😀 Public speaking, while a common fear, can be an opportunity for growth if approached with the right mindset.
• 😀 Find a personal hobby or project that challenges one of your specific fears and use it as a creative outlet.
• 😀 Happiness often comes from confronting fears head-on, which helps build confidence and increase life satisfaction.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's TEDx talk?

The main theme of the speaker's TEDx talk is about overcoming anxiety and fear by embracing it, using it as a source of motivation, and tackling it head-on through 'fear projects'.

How does the speaker describe her personal struggle with anxiety?

The speaker describes her anxiety as something that has been with her since childhood. She worries about anything and everything, even when there is nothing specific to worry about. This anxiety often leads to sleepless nights, difficulty eating, and obsessive overthinking.

What role does the speaker's career play in her ability to manage anxiety?

In her professional life, the speaker runs a PR agency and experiences no anxiety when working. She feels confident and strong in her career, which provides a sense of control and balance. However, outside of work, she struggles more with personal anxieties.

How did the speaker's experience with 'No' influence her professional success?

The speaker was often told 'No' throughout her life, including in her academic career and early professional endeavors. These negative responses motivated her to prove others wrong and achieve her goals, such as starting her own PR agency despite doubts from others.

What is the significance of the speaker's husband's approach to fear?

The speaker’s husband, a professional musician, inspired her by living a life where he constantly confronts fear. Whether performing in front of large audiences or pursuing hobbies like surfing and karate, his willingness to embrace fear helped her realize that fear can be tackled and conquered for personal growth.

What is the 'fear project' concept introduced by the speaker?

A 'fear project' is an intentional endeavor designed to confront a personal fear head-on. The speaker created a YouTube channel as a 'fear project' to tackle her fear of being on camera, which allowed her to grow both personally and professionally.

Why does the speaker choose to discuss designer handbags in her TEDx talk?

The speaker discusses her passion for designer handbags as part of her personal 'fear project.' Despite being a superficial topic, it is something she is genuinely passionate about and represents her stepping out of her comfort zone to talk about something non-professional in a public setting.

What was the unexpected outcome of the speaker's YouTube channel?

The speaker's YouTube channel, initially created to conquer her fear of being on camera, gained a large following and hundreds of thousands of views. Most unexpectedly, it led to an invitation to speak at the TEDx event, demonstrating how facing personal fears can lead to unforeseen opportunities.

How has the speaker's view on anxiety changed over time?

Initially, the speaker viewed anxiety as a negative, debilitating force. However, over time, she has shifted her perspective, learning to use anxiety and fear as tools for personal growth and as a source of motivation to push beyond her comfort zone.

What is the final message the speaker wants to convey to the audience?

The speaker's final message is to embrace fear rather than avoid it. She encourages the audience to create their own 'fear projects' to face and overcome their anxieties, thus becoming 'fear fighters' who use fear as a catalyst for growth and success.