The Case for Doing It Scared

There’s a version of you that wants to raise your hand, speak up, say yes. And then there’s a version of you that says, “I’m not going to do it; I’m scared.”

But that tension between fear and action is where growth happens.

And learning when to “do it scared” (and when to not!) might change the way you approach your career and your life.

Back in business school...

I volunteered to present in front of 600+ people. (My group for a class-wide project made it to finals; when no one else wanted to present, I eventually raised my hand.)‍

Depending on your aptitude for public speaking, this may not seem like a big deal. But for me, someone who historically avoided any semblance of a stage, it was. After the presentation, I walked off the stage with an immense feeling of pride, accomplishment, and growth.

I was so glad that I did it scared.

When To Do It Scared (vs. Not)

Our internal fear-o-meter (very scientific term) plays a powerful role in keeping us safe. So how do we know when to go for it and when to not?

‍There’s the bad scared. This is the kind that shows up when your gut knows something is off. It often feels constricting or misaligned.

And then there’s the good scared. This is the fear that comes from expanding into something new. It’s unfamiliar and nerve-wracking, but deep down, you know it’s the kind of stretch that will help you grow.

Here's What I Ask Myself:

Will I be proud of myself for doing this?

Will I regret not doing this?

I try to picture myself on the other side of doing the thing that I’m afraid of. And I ask myself those questions. If the answer is yes, I usually know it’s worth going for it…even if I’m scared.

A Time and A Place for The Comfort Zone

It can be easy to fall into complacency, into our comfort zone. And there’s a time and place for that!

The comfort zone is where we recharge and organize, where we deepen our existing strengths, where our spikes get spikier.

But if you stay there too long, you risk getting stuck.

Need an Extra Nudge? The Science That Supports Doing it Scared:

1. Nerves mean that you care.

Feeling nervous before a high-stakes moment is your body's sympathetic nervous system activating. It’s your body’s way of preparing you to perform. This is a sign that you care and are engaged! (Sian Beilock, Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To)

2. Reframe nerves as excitement.

As it turns out, your body responds to both anxiety and excitement with the same physiological symptoms. A study by Dr. Alison Wood Brooks at HBS found that “participants who reframed their anxiety as excitement performed better on public speaking, singing, and math tasks.” (Brooks, A. W. (2014). Get excited: Reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement. Journal of Experimental Psychology)

3. Confidence comes from action.

When you take action while you’re scared, you teach your brain that you’re capable, ultimately reducing the intensity of the fear response over time. This concept is widely supported in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) research. Facing feared situations (gradually) is how the brain rewires its response! (Craske, M.G., et al (2008). Maximizing Exposure Therapy: An Inhibitory Learning Approach)

In your corner,

Jac