Safe back on dry land, a little worse for wear.

"Make fear a tailwind rather than a headwind."
- Jimmy Iovine

The time and place: Anzac Day, Wellington. 

The scene: The wind was intense, the waves were epic, and I was windsurfing on the edge of control. As I chased one last wave, a huge gust catapulted me forward, smashing my sternum onto the hard boom. 

Not good.

I surfaced in excruciating pain, struggling to breathe. The safety of the shore seemed distant. Panic crept in – what if I couldn't make it back? What if I couldn't breathe? My mind was going into a doom loop.

But then a calmer voice prevailed: hold onto your gear – it floats; don't do anything until you regain your breath; you’ve been in situations like this before and you got through it, wave for help if needed; you'll eventually drift ashore. You’ll be OK.

Clinging to these reassurances, I floated until the panic subsided, readying myself for the journey back. Noticing a huge hole in my sail (how did I not see that before?), I reframed it as a blessing: less power to tax my battered body.

Eventually, I made it back, relieved and exhausted, assisted by the welcoming windsurfing community. They’re a great bunch.

In retrospect, this was a lesson in rising above fear: not eliminating it, but acknowledging and going beyond it to act decisively. 

We face fear daily, right? Conversations we dread, losing control, the tension of decisiveness amidst complexity. 

Fear is just energy. If we’re to lead wisely, we need to have ways of working with fear so we can channel its energy to create better outcomes.

Here’s a simple formula that I’ve learned to use:

1. Name it: "I'm worried [X] will happen." Naming it makes it something you can deal with.

2. Frame it: Objectively assess the situation – the outcome you want, the experience you have in similar situations,  the options you have, the best approach, and steps you can take. This creates a 'fear circuit breaker', putting you back in charge.

3. Tame it: Take purposeful action based on your assessment. Acting deliberately, rather than reacting from fear, restores confidence in handling the situation.

Fear can debilitate, but harnessed well, it can propel you forward. Make fear a tailwind, not a headwind.

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For more like this, check out:

Deal In Energy

This Too Will Pass. But How Will You Experience It?

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