Patrick Sweeney and tonight I’m going to tell you a fear can transform your life
tell you a fear can transform your life
tell you a fear can transform your life and if you’re a parent or a teacher I’m
and if you’re a parent or a teacher I’m
and if you’re a parent or a teacher I’m going to tell you how it can have a
going to tell you how it can have a
going to tell you how it can have a dramatic impact on the likelihood of
dramatic impact on the likelihood of
dramatic impact on the likelihood of success of children and who better to
success of children and who better to
success of children and who better to lead the congregation than a reformed
lead the congregation than a reformed
lead the congregation than a reformed sinner that’s my confession I’m gonna
sinner that’s my confession I’m gonna
sinner that’s my confession I’m gonna make to you tonight for the longest time
make to you tonight for the longest time
make to you tonight for the longest time I was the world’s biggest wimp now I
I was the world’s biggest wimp now I
I was the world’s biggest wimp now I live an amazing life doing really crazy
live an amazing life doing really crazy
live an amazing life doing really crazy adventures all over the place and I
adventures all over the place and I
adventures all over the place and I found that I have a superpower and my
found that I have a superpower and my
found that I have a superpower and my superpower is courage and I’m going to
superpower is courage and I’m going to
superpower is courage and I’m going to share that with all of you tonight
share that with all of you tonight
share that with all of you tonight it’s a gift that I want to give in some
it’s a gift that I want to give in some
it’s a gift that I want to give in some of the science behind it which is
of the science behind it which is
of the science behind it which is fascinating I think you’ll find really
fascinating I think you’ll find really
fascinating I think you’ll find really intriguing I’m gonna leave you with
intriguing I’m gonna leave you with
intriguing I’m gonna leave you with three lessons they’re going to be
three lessons they’re going to be
three lessons they’re going to be lessons in how to live a life of impact
lessons in how to live a life of impact
lessons in how to live a life of impact courage and be the hero you always want
courage and be the hero you always want
courage and be the hero you always want it to be with your family with yourself
it to be with your family with yourself
it to be with your family with yourself or in a time of crisis in order to do
or in a time of crisis in order to do
or in a time of crisis in order to do that we’ve got to go back to 1976 now I
that we’ve got to go back to 1976 now I
that we’ve got to go back to 1976 now I know the parents in the room get that
know the parents in the room get that
know the parents in the room get that kids they’ll have to explain that one to
kids they’ll have to explain that one to
kids they’ll have to explain that one to you it’s a little bit dated but imagine
you it’s a little bit dated but imagine
you it’s a little bit dated but imagine if you will a duplex and a
if you will a duplex and a
if you will a duplex and a rough-and-tumble suburb of Boston you’re
rough-and-tumble suburb of Boston you’re
rough-and-tumble suburb of Boston you’re on the bottom floor of the duplex and
on the bottom floor of the duplex and
on the bottom floor of the duplex and you see a family sitting there there’s a
you see a family sitting there there’s a
you see a family sitting there there’s a young boy on the floor playing with his
young boy on the floor playing with his
young boy on the floor playing with his GI Joe doll he’s wrestling with the kung
GI Joe doll he’s wrestling with the kung
GI Joe doll he’s wrestling with the kung fu grip he’s not even old enough to be
fu grip he’s not even old enough to be
fu grip he’s not even old enough to be worried about Barbie yet his mom and dad
worried about Barbie yet his mom and dad
worried about Barbie yet his mom and dad are planted on the couch in front of
are planted on the couch in front of
are planted on the couch in front of their black-and-white RCA TV his
their black-and-white RCA TV his
their black-and-white RCA TV his brothers next to him annoying him like
brothers next to him annoying him like
brothers next to him annoying him like always when all of a sudden on the
always when all of a sudden on the
always when all of a sudden on the screen comes a scene of disaster boy
screen comes a scene of disaster boy
screen comes a scene of disaster boy shut up
shut up
shut up he’s transfixed on the screen he sees a
he’s transfixed on the screen he sees a
he’s transfixed on the screen he sees a monochromatic flames shooting up from
monochromatic flames shooting up from
monochromatic flames shooting up from the tail of a Delta dc9 a newscaster
the tail of a Delta dc9 a newscaster
the tail of a Delta dc9 a newscaster half scream half spits out the words
half scream half spits out the words
half scream half spits out the words that a instrument pilot was coming in on
that a instrument pilot was coming in on
that a instrument pilot was coming in on approach he flew too low in the fog
approach he flew too low in the fog
approach he flew too low in the fog cartwheeling the plane down the runway
cartwheeling the plane down the runway
cartwheeling the plane down the runway scattering metal debris and body parts
scattering metal debris and body parts
scattering metal debris and body parts all over Boston’s Logan Airport killing
all over Boston’s Logan Airport killing
all over Boston’s Logan Airport killing all hundred people on board immediately
all hundred people on board immediately
all hundred people on board immediately that scene is written on the boys very
that scene is written on the boys very
that scene is written on the boys very sophisticated hard drive fast forward
sophisticated hard drive fast forward
sophisticated hard drive fast forward two weeks and that same family is
two weeks and that same family is
two weeks and that same family is packing for a trip to Atlanta Georgia
packing for a trip to Atlanta Georgia
packing for a trip to Atlanta Georgia there on tan uncle has a new puppy and
there on tan uncle has a new puppy and
there on tan uncle has a new puppy and it needs a home so the family’s super
it needs a home so the family’s super
it needs a home so the family’s super excited to go down to Atlanta and get
excited to go down to Atlanta and get
excited to go down to Atlanta and get the puppy they haul their stuff into
the puppy they haul their stuff into
the puppy they haul their stuff into Logan Airport and all of a sudden the
Logan Airport and all of a sudden the
Logan Airport and all of a sudden the boy sees across the smokey terminal a
boy sees across the smokey terminal a
boy sees across the smokey terminal a Delta logo on the tail of a plane he’s
Delta logo on the tail of a plane he’s
Delta logo on the tail of a plane he’s immediately hit with an electric wall of
immediately hit with an electric wall of
immediately hit with an electric wall of fear he has a terrible response
fear he has a terrible response
fear he has a terrible response emotionally to seeing that because that
emotionally to seeing that because that
emotionally to seeing that because that image has popped back out of his hard
image has popped back out of his hard
image has popped back out of his hard drive onto his mind’s eye he rips and
drive onto his mind’s eye he rips and
drive onto his mind’s eye he rips and pulls at his mother’s hand trying to get
pulls at his mother’s hand trying to get
pulls at his mother’s hand trying to get out of here I don’t want to die he kicks
out of here I don’t want to die he kicks
out of here I don’t want to die he kicks and he pulls in he screams get me out of
and he pulls in he screams get me out of
and he pulls in he screams get me out of here he throws such an apoplectic fit
here he throws such an apoplectic fit
here he throws such an apoplectic fit there kicked out of Logan Airport and
there kicked out of Logan Airport and
there kicked out of Logan Airport and they’re forced to drive the 15 hours to
they’re forced to drive the 15 hours to
they’re forced to drive the 15 hours to Atlanta that ensures two things that are
Atlanta that ensures two things that are
Atlanta that ensures two things that are both tragic number one that he doesn’t
both tragic number one that he doesn’t
both tragic number one that he doesn’t confront the fear so it gets further
confront the fear so it gets further
confront the fear so it gets further written on his hard drive number two
written on his hard drive number two
written on his hard drive number two that he catches hell for the next family
that he catches hell for the next family
that he catches hell for the next family next 40 years at every family gathering
next 40 years at every family gathering
next 40 years at every family gathering and he’s bullied about it to this day
and he’s bullied about it to this day
and he’s bullied about it to this day well not surprisingly that was me and
well not surprisingly that was me and
well not surprisingly that was me and that was my fear frontier maybe you have
that was my fear frontier maybe you have
that was my fear frontier maybe you have a fear of snakes maybe you have a fear
a fear of snakes maybe you have a fear
a fear of snakes maybe you have a fear of the water everybody has a fear
of the water everybody has a fear
of the water everybody has a fear frontier maybe it’s failure we all have
frontier maybe it’s failure we all have
frontier maybe it’s failure we all have a place where we come to where we’ve got
a place where we come to where we’ve got
a place where we come to where we’ve got a moment of fear how we deal with that
a moment of fear how we deal with that
a moment of fear how we deal with that determines our future and our success
determines our future and our success
determines our future and our success for 30 years I lived with this this
for 30 years I lived with this this
for 30 years I lived with this this terrible fear of flying every time I got
terrible fear of flying every time I got
terrible fear of flying every time I got on board or anywhere near an aircraft I
on board or anywhere near an aircraft I
on board or anywhere near an aircraft I got more and more scared and one thing
got more and more scared and one thing
got more and more scared and one thing that I found is this cowardice begets
that I found is this cowardice begets
that I found is this cowardice begets cowardice I was even the guy in high
cowardice I was even the guy in high
cowardice I was even the guy in high school who was still afraid of the dark
school who was still afraid of the dark
school who was still afraid of the dark that’s how bad things were I lived with
that’s how bad things were I lived with
that’s how bad things were I lived with this for 30 years
this for 30 years
this for 30 years and then my worst fear came to fruition
and then my worst fear came to fruition
and then my worst fear came to fruition it could have happened to any one of us
it could have happened to any one of us
it could have happened to any one of us I was working out I was in my mid-30s
I was working out I was in my mid-30s
I was working out I was in my mid-30s and I had a pain in my arm and kept
and I had a pain in my arm and kept
and I had a pain in my arm and kept getting worse over the next few days but
getting worse over the next few days but
getting worse over the next few days but like everything else I was afraid to go
like everything else I was afraid to go
like everything else I was afraid to go to the doctor’s I finally went and when
to the doctor’s I finally went and when
to the doctor’s I finally went and when I got into the doctors he told me I had
I got into the doctors he told me I had
I got into the doctors he told me I had no white blood cells no immune system
no white blood cells no immune system
no white blood cells no immune system that got me a ticket to the Johns
that got me a ticket to the Johns
that got me a ticket to the Johns Hopkins leukemia matinee and this was a
Hopkins leukemia matinee and this was a
Hopkins leukemia matinee and this was a special showing for rare cases now I was
special showing for rare cases now I was
special showing for rare cases now I was petrified all I could think about in the
petrified all I could think about in the
petrified all I could think about in the hospital was my one-year-old daughter
hospital was my one-year-old daughter
hospital was my one-year-old daughter would the image she had of her dad be
would the image she had of her dad be
would the image she had of her dad be the guy who was too much of a coward to
the guy who was too much of a coward to
the guy who was too much of a coward to get on a plane and take her to Disney
get on a plane and take her to Disney
get on a plane and take her to Disney World I was suddenly choked with a
World I was suddenly choked with a
World I was suddenly choked with a deathbed feeling of regret like I had
deathbed feeling of regret like I had
deathbed feeling of regret like I had missed out on so much in life and I was
missed out on so much in life and I was
missed out on so much in life and I was gonna miss out on so much more that’s
gonna miss out on so much more that’s
gonna miss out on so much more that’s when I decided that I was going to kick
when I decided that I was going to kick
when I decided that I was going to kick that disease and when I got out I take
that disease and when I got out I take
that disease and when I got out I take flying lessons not to put the story to
flying lessons not to put the story to
flying lessons not to put the story to bed too early but I did get out I did
bed too early but I did get out I did
bed too early but I did get out I did beat leukemia and I started taking
beat leukemia and I started taking
beat leukemia and I started taking flying lessons and over the next several
flying lessons and over the next several
flying lessons and over the next several months my entire life changed just
months my entire life changed just
months my entire life changed just because I went mano-a-mano with that
because I went mano-a-mano with that
because I went mano-a-mano with that flying demon everything in my world
flying demon everything in my world
flying demon everything in my world changed and I realized I’ve been living
changed and I realized I’ve been living
changed and I realized I’ve been living like a caterpillar on this tiny leaf
like a caterpillar on this tiny leaf
like a caterpillar on this tiny leaf inching around eventually ensconcing
inching around eventually ensconcing
inching around eventually ensconcing myself in this cowardly cocoon but I
myself in this cowardly cocoon but I
myself in this cowardly cocoon but I never realized it until I flew and then
never realized it until I flew and then
never realized it until I flew and then when I got my wings and literally
when I got my wings and literally
when I got my wings and literally learned to fly my whole world changed
learned to fly my whole world changed
learned to fly my whole world changed and in fact I fell in love with flight I
and in fact I fell in love with flight I
and in fact I fell in love with flight I got my instrument rating my commercial
got my instrument rating my commercial
got my instrument rating my commercial rating and nowadays I compete in
rating and nowadays I compete in
rating and nowadays I compete in acrobatics every year this is a
acrobatics every year this is a
acrobatics every year this is a competition last year and if this the
competition last year and if this the
competition last year and if this the idea of being upside down with the
idea of being upside down with the
idea of being upside down with the ground coming at ya at high speed
ground coming at ya at high speed
ground coming at ya at high speed activates your fear frontier
activates your fear frontier
activates your fear frontier maybe it’s speaking
maybe it’s speaking
maybe it’s speaking in front of a big audience maybe it’s
in front of a big audience maybe it’s
in front of a big audience maybe it’s asking a girl out on a date we all have
asking a girl out on a date we all have
asking a girl out on a date we all have a fear frontier how we deal with those
a fear frontier how we deal with those
a fear frontier how we deal with those determines our success and that brings
determines our success and that brings
determines our success and that brings me to lesson number one you don’t know
me to lesson number one you don’t know
me to lesson number one you don’t know how great life can be until you get to
how great life can be until you get to
how great life can be until you get to the other side of your fear frontier the
the other side of your fear frontier the
the other side of your fear frontier the choice you make determines what your
choice you make determines what your
choice you make determines what your life is like you’ll only have two
life is like you’ll only have two
life is like you’ll only have two choices when it comes to fear
choices when it comes to fear
choices when it comes to fear you can either tame fear or fear can rip
you can either tame fear or fear can rip
you can either tame fear or fear can rip you apart bit by bit I was so enamored
you apart bit by bit I was so enamored
you apart bit by bit I was so enamored and so amazed how my life changed when I
and so amazed how my life changed when I
and so amazed how my life changed when I got beyond my fear frontier and I
got beyond my fear frontier and I
got beyond my fear frontier and I started to tame fear I want to make sure
started to tame fear I want to make sure
started to tame fear I want to make sure my kids had the same thing so as a dad I
my kids had the same thing so as a dad I
my kids had the same thing so as a dad I stumbled on something that the Navy
stumbled on something that the Navy
stumbled on something that the Navy SEALs have known for decades and when I
SEALs have known for decades and when I
SEALs have known for decades and when I first did it I got a lot of flack from
first did it I got a lot of flack from
first did it I got a lot of flack from other people because they said fear you
other people because they said fear you
other people because they said fear you shouldn’t but you should be avoiding it
shouldn’t but you should be avoiding it
shouldn’t but you should be avoiding it and in fact that’s the number one
and in fact that’s the number one
and in fact that’s the number one strategy people have for dealing with
strategy people have for dealing with
strategy people have for dealing with fear is avoidance it’s also the biggest
fear is avoidance it’s also the biggest
fear is avoidance it’s also the biggest mistake you can make and that causes you
mistake you can make and that causes you
mistake you can make and that causes you the most damage in your life avoiding
the most damage in your life avoiding
the most damage in your life avoiding fear so I want to give my kids this gift
fear so I want to give my kids this gift
fear so I want to give my kids this gift when they were three years old I started
when they were three years old I started
when they were three years old I started him skiing when they were four years old
him skiing when they were four years old
him skiing when they were four years old we were rock climbing at seven they went
we were rock climbing at seven they went
we were rock climbing at seven they went paragliding I didn’t have a dad handbook
paragliding I didn’t have a dad handbook
paragliding I didn’t have a dad handbook I was just doing the best I could I kept
I was just doing the best I could I kept
I was just doing the best I could I kept trying to extend their fear frontier
trying to extend their fear frontier
trying to extend their fear frontier nudging them out of their comfort zone
nudging them out of their comfort zone
nudging them out of their comfort zone and I’d meet parents and they’d say Rock
and I’d meet parents and they’d say Rock
and I’d meet parents and they’d say Rock lighting and rock climbing and
lighting and rock climbing and
lighting and rock climbing and mountaineering with kids that’s crazy
mountaineering with kids that’s crazy
mountaineering with kids that’s crazy and then I’d meet the kids and they’d
and then I’d meet the kids and they’d
and then I’d meet the kids and they’d say wow rock climbing can you talk to my
say wow rock climbing can you talk to my
say wow rock climbing can you talk to my mom and dad and that brings me to point
mom and dad and that brings me to point
mom and dad and that brings me to point number two there is a dramatic
number two there is a dramatic
number two there is a dramatic difference there are two very different
difference there are two very different
difference there are two very different animals risk and fear risk is the
animals risk and fear risk is the
animals risk and fear risk is the probability or the likelihood of
probability or the likelihood of
probability or the likelihood of something bad happening
something bad happening
something bad happening fear is an emotional response to a
fear is an emotional response to a
fear is an emotional response to a physical feeling in the body they often
physical feeling in the body they often
physical feeling in the body they often get confused and people don’t understand
get confused and people don’t understand
get confused and people don’t understand why if I knew the difference between
why if I knew the difference between
why if I knew the difference between risk and fear when I was a
risk and fear when I was a
risk and fear when I was a seven-year-old boy at Logan Airport I
seven-year-old boy at Logan Airport I
seven-year-old boy at Logan Airport I would have never let my parents drive
would have never let my parents drive
would have never let my parents drive just to put it in perspective in our
just to put it in perspective in our
just to put it in perspective in our lifetime in this room three people will
lifetime in this room three people will
lifetime in this room three people will die in car accidents it would take
die in car accidents it would take
die in car accidents it would take twenty five rooms this size filled up to
twenty five rooms this size filled up to
twenty five rooms this size filled up to have one put in a airplane crash that’s
have one put in a airplane crash that’s
have one put in a airplane crash that’s the difference between knowing the risk
the difference between knowing the risk
the difference between knowing the risk so why isn’t a mom who drops her her son
so why isn’t a mom who drops her her son
so why isn’t a mom who drops her her son or daughter off at school who’s texting
or daughter off at school who’s texting
or daughter off at school who’s texting her boss at the same time which is
her boss at the same time which is
her boss at the same time which is incredibly dangerous
incredibly dangerous
incredibly dangerous why isn’t she full of fright because of
why isn’t she full of fright because of
why isn’t she full of fright because of that because familiarity fades fear and
that because familiarity fades fear and
that because familiarity fades fear and that can work to our benefit and it can
that can work to our benefit and it can
that can work to our benefit and it can also work to our detriment but just
also work to our detriment but just
also work to our detriment but just knowing that fact makes a big difference
knowing that fact makes a big difference
knowing that fact makes a big difference in our life so one of the things that I
in our life so one of the things that I
in our life so one of the things that I found is with the Navy SEALs
found is with the Navy SEALs
found is with the Navy SEALs there’s fear-based behavior that doesn’t
there’s fear-based behavior that doesn’t
there’s fear-based behavior that doesn’t make any sense until you figure out why
make any sense until you figure out why
make any sense until you figure out why you’re doing it what the motivation is
you’re doing it what the motivation is
you’re doing it what the motivation is if you think about it for a second
if you think about it for a second
if you think about it for a second fear-based decision-making rarely makes
fear-based decision-making rarely makes
fear-based decision-making rarely makes sense why is it you can be sitting on
sense why is it you can be sitting on
sense why is it you can be sitting on your couch at home safe and sound and
your couch at home safe and sound and
your couch at home safe and sound and watching something on the TV that you
watching something on the TV that you
watching something on the TV that you know isn’t real but have a tremendous
know isn’t real but have a tremendous
know isn’t real but have a tremendous fear response it doesn’t make any sense
fear response it doesn’t make any sense
fear response it doesn’t make any sense why do we let our amygdala stay in such
why do we let our amygdala stay in such
why do we let our amygdala stay in such control of us it’s almost like put into
control of us it’s almost like put into
control of us it’s almost like put into the soul and fear is on the other end
the soul and fear is on the other end
the soul and fear is on the other end coming from Uranus all right how risky
coming from Uranus all right how risky
coming from Uranus all right how risky is life really well I don’t know but I
is life really well I don’t know but I
is life really well I don’t know but I can guarantee you none of us are going
can guarantee you none of us are going
can guarantee you none of us are going to get out alive so we might as well
to get out alive so we might as well
to get out alive so we might as well live with the most courage the most
live with the most courage the most
live with the most courage the most excitement and the most passion we can
excitement and the most passion we can
excitement and the most passion we can we need to take a take a page out of the
we need to take a take a page out of the
we need to take a take a page out of the Navy SEAL handbook because it’s really
Navy SEAL handbook because it’s really
Navy SEAL handbook because it’s really all about controlling the glands I
all about controlling the glands I
all about controlling the glands I mentioned the amygdala before that’s a
mentioned the amygdala before that’s a
mentioned the amygdala before that’s a small gland at the base of your brain
small gland at the base of your brain
small gland at the base of your brain that’s shaped like an almond it’s there
that’s shaped like an almond it’s there
that’s shaped like an almond it’s there and it’s fully developed at birth it
and it’s fully developed at birth it
and it’s fully developed at birth it does three things it handles the three
does three things it handles the three
does three things it handles the three FS fight flight or freeze it was there
FS fight flight or freeze it was there
FS fight flight or freeze it was there to keep us from getting attacked by a
to keep us from getting attacked by a
to keep us from getting attacked by a saber-toothed tiger what we found out
saber-toothed tiger what we found out
saber-toothed tiger what we found out over the last hundred thousand years is
over the last hundred thousand years is
over the last hundred thousand years is freezing like a deer-in-the-headlight
freezing like a deer-in-the-headlight
freezing like a deer-in-the-headlight or bolting every time there was a rustle
or bolting every time there was a rustle
or bolting every time there was a rustle of grass didn’t exactly make us the best
of grass didn’t exactly make us the best
of grass didn’t exactly make us the best dinner guess so we developed something
dinner guess so we developed something
dinner guess so we developed something that’s kind of like adult supervision
that’s kind of like adult supervision
that’s kind of like adult supervision for the amygdala it’s called the
for the amygdala it’s called the
for the amygdala it’s called the prefrontal cortex and the prefrontal
prefrontal cortex and the prefrontal
prefrontal cortex and the prefrontal cortex this is the rub isn’t developed
cortex this is the rub isn’t developed
cortex this is the rub isn’t developed until you’re in your mid-20s the
until you’re in your mid-20s the
until you’re in your mid-20s the amygdala the thing responds crazy
amygdala the thing responds crazy
amygdala the thing responds crazy reaction of mine at the airport that
reaction of mine at the airport that
reaction of mine at the airport that flight or fright developed at birth the
flight or fright developed at birth the
flight or fright developed at birth the adult supervision and the ability to
adult supervision and the ability to
adult supervision and the ability to make a rational decision not developed
make a rational decision not developed
make a rational decision not developed until your mid-20s and how it develops
until your mid-20s and how it develops
until your mid-20s and how it develops can determine your whole life that’s
can determine your whole life that’s
can determine your whole life that’s what Navy SEALs do every time they go
what Navy SEALs do every time they go
what Navy SEALs do every time they go through training at Budds which is basic
through training at Budds which is basic
through training at Budds which is basic underwater demolition school each day it
underwater demolition school each day it
underwater demolition school each day it gets more and more intense until finally
gets more and more intense until finally
gets more and more intense until finally during hell week their task bound at the
during hell week their task bound at the
during hell week their task bound at the wrists and ankles into a pool
wrists and ankles into a pool
wrists and ankles into a pool blindfolded with instructors literally
blindfolded with instructors literally
blindfolded with instructors literally beating on them
beating on them
beating on them most of these recruits are between 20
most of these recruits are between 20
most of these recruits are between 20 and 24 years old what the Navy’s doing
and 24 years old what the Navy’s doing
and 24 years old what the Navy’s doing is pre-wiring them for courage I got so
is pre-wiring them for courage I got so
is pre-wiring them for courage I got so fascinated by fear I started
fascinated by fear I started
fascinated by fear I started interviewing experts all around the
interviewing experts all around the
interviewing experts all around the world one of the experts that I talked
world one of the experts that I talked
world one of the experts that I talked with told me there’s something called
with told me there’s something called
with told me there’s something called preconditioning extinction before
preconditioning extinction before
preconditioning extinction before preconditioning and I just refer to this
preconditioning and I just refer to this
preconditioning and I just refer to this as preconditioning they studied Navy
as preconditioning they studied Navy
as preconditioning they studied Navy SEALs and did an article in the military
SEALs and did an article in the military
SEALs and did an article in the military special operations journal and it shows
special operations journal and it shows
special operations journal and it shows that Navy SEALs have a higher resiliency
that Navy SEALs have a higher resiliency
that Navy SEALs have a higher resiliency to stress than ordinary soldiers and
to stress than ordinary soldiers and
to stress than ordinary soldiers and they have less incidents of
they have less incidents of
they have less incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD the reason I believe this is is because
the reason I believe this is is because
the reason I believe this is is because they’re preconditioning they’re training
they’re preconditioning they’re training
they’re preconditioning they’re training their mind to do this I used to think
their mind to do this I used to think
their mind to do this I used to think breathing was only important when I was
breathing was only important when I was
breathing was only important when I was racing I was a rower and I thought it
racing I was a rower and I thought it
racing I was a rower and I thought it was only important then but it turns out
was only important then but it turns out
was only important then but it turns out it’s one of their techniques so is
it’s one of their techniques so is
it’s one of their techniques so is increasing the intensity so the paradox
increasing the intensity so the paradox
increasing the intensity so the paradox with all this is you have to get scared
with all this is you have to get scared
with all this is you have to get scared to build courage you have to feel when
to build courage you have to feel when
to build courage you have to feel when the amygdala starts to take over because
the amygdala starts to take over because
the amygdala starts to take over because what happens is you feel your heart rate
what happens is you feel your heart rate
what happens is you feel your heart rate increasing your breathing increasing
increasing your breathing increasing
increasing your breathing increasing your pupils will dilate that’s the
your pupils will dilate that’s the
your pupils will dilate that’s the amygdala trying to take over but if your
amygdala trying to take over but if your
amygdala trying to take over but if your prefrontal cortex can stay the boss then
prefrontal cortex can stay the boss then
prefrontal cortex can stay the boss then you
you
you can be a Superman or superwoman because
can be a Superman or superwoman because
can be a Superman or superwoman because you’ve got this cocktail going through
you’ve got this cocktail going through
you’ve got this cocktail going through your body that makes you stronger makes
your body that makes you stronger makes
your body that makes you stronger makes you think better it’s there to help us
you think better it’s there to help us
you think better it’s there to help us survive if you can use your prefrontal
survive if you can use your prefrontal
survive if you can use your prefrontal cortex to be the boss then you can do
cortex to be the boss then you can do
cortex to be the boss then you can do amazing things so one of the ways to do
amazing things so one of the ways to do
amazing things so one of the ways to do that is using the neurons in your brain
that is using the neurons in your brain
that is using the neurons in your brain continually getting scared if they this
continually getting scared if they this
continually getting scared if they this is a video from mi t–‘s lab that’s the
is a video from mi t–‘s lab that’s the
is a video from mi t–‘s lab that’s the amygdala of a mouse and you can see
amygdala of a mouse and you can see
amygdala of a mouse and you can see what’s happening every time one of those
what’s happening every time one of those
what’s happening every time one of those neurons fires if they continue to fire
neurons fires if they continue to fire
neurons fires if they continue to fire the same neurons they’ll build a pathway
the same neurons they’ll build a pathway
the same neurons they’ll build a pathway neurons that fire together we’ll end up
neurons that fire together we’ll end up
neurons that fire together we’ll end up wiring together so the courage pathway
wiring together so the courage pathway
wiring together so the courage pathway becomes easier and easier to travel so
becomes easier and easier to travel so
becomes easier and easier to travel so courage has a halo effect if you’re
courage has a halo effect if you’re
courage has a halo effect if you’re trying to get over fear of heights and
trying to get over fear of heights and
trying to get over fear of heights and you start rock-climbing on the weekends
you start rock-climbing on the weekends
you start rock-climbing on the weekends one thing you’ll find is you can go ask
one thing you’ll find is you can go ask
one thing you’ll find is you can go ask your boss for a razor you can go ask
your boss for a razor you can go ask
your boss for a razor you can go ask your teacher for extra work and and you
your teacher for extra work and and you
your teacher for extra work and and you feel less anxiety because of it so the
feel less anxiety because of it so the
feel less anxiety because of it so the point number three I’m going to give you
point number three I’m going to give you
point number three I’m going to give you is a tool for building up this courage
is a tool for building up this courage
is a tool for building up this courage for creating that wire so lesson number
for creating that wire so lesson number
for creating that wire so lesson number one was you don’t know how great fear
one was you don’t know how great fear
one was you don’t know how great fear life is until you get beyond your fear
life is until you get beyond your fear
life is until you get beyond your fear frontier listen number two huge
frontier listen number two huge
frontier listen number two huge difference between risk and fear lesson
difference between risk and fear lesson
difference between risk and fear lesson number three is that you need a tool set
number three is that you need a tool set
number three is that you need a tool set you need something you can rely on to
you need something you can rely on to
you need something you can rely on to build up that courage I used what’s
build up that courage I used what’s
build up that courage I used what’s called a base methodology the B is for
called a base methodology the B is for
called a base methodology the B is for breathing take a breath in for a count
breathing take a breath in for a count
breathing take a breath in for a count of four hold it for a count of four and
of four hold it for a count of four and
of four hold it for a count of four and let it out for four if you keep doing
let it out for four if you keep doing
let it out for four if you keep doing that that’ll stabilize your heart rate
that that’ll stabilize your heart rate
that that’ll stabilize your heart rate the second one that a is to assess the
the second one that a is to assess the
the second one that a is to assess the situation
situation
situation so many times we project bad things into
so many times we project bad things into
so many times we project bad things into the future instead be present say what’s
the future instead be present say what’s
the future instead be present say what’s going on right now can I make a plan can
going on right now can I make a plan can
going on right now can I make a plan can I get in control the S it’s
I get in control the S it’s
I get in control the S it’s counterintuitive but smile if you smile
counterintuitive but smile if you smile
counterintuitive but smile if you smile no matter how forest it has a direct
no matter how forest it has a direct
no matter how forest it has a direct link to your central nervous system just
link to your central nervous system just
link to your central nervous system just using those muscles in your face and
using those muscles in your face and
using those muscles in your face and then e is for encouragement for
then e is for encouragement for
then e is for encouragement for self-talk tell yourself that’s not fear
self-talk tell yourself that’s not fear
self-talk tell yourself that’s not fear you’re feeling it’s excite
you’re feeling it’s excite
you’re feeling it’s excite that’s a challenge if you use this base
that’s a challenge if you use this base
that’s a challenge if you use this base methodology you might you might find
methodology you might you might find
methodology you might you might find that well try it for yourself if you
that well try it for yourself if you
that well try it for yourself if you don’t like public speaking next time you
don’t like public speaking next time you
don’t like public speaking next time you go out to dinner stand up and make a
go out to dinner stand up and make a
go out to dinner stand up and make a toast and when me you make a toast
toast and when me you make a toast
toast and when me you make a toast maybe you’ll only get through the bee
maybe you’ll only get through the bee
maybe you’ll only get through the bee and start breathing and then have to sit
and start breathing and then have to sit
and start breathing and then have to sit down but each time your courage will
down but each time your courage will
down but each time your courage will grow it’ll get more and more easier to
grow it’ll get more and more easier to
grow it’ll get more and more easier to do something courageous so if you
do something courageous so if you
do something courageous so if you practice getting yourself scared
practice getting yourself scared
practice getting yourself scared you can learn to be a great leader
you can learn to be a great leader
you can learn to be a great leader there’s a whole ocean of great leaders
there’s a whole ocean of great leaders
there’s a whole ocean of great leaders who’ve learned to tame fear and done
who’ve learned to tame fear and done
who’ve learned to tame fear and done amazing things with it
amazing things with it
amazing things with it but there’s a vast barren desert of
but there’s a vast barren desert of
but there’s a vast barren desert of timid souls who let their life be ruled
timid souls who let their life be ruled
timid souls who let their life be ruled by fear and fear from manipulation from
by fear and fear from manipulation from
by fear and fear from manipulation from politicians from marketers from the
politicians from marketers from the
politicians from marketers from the press don’t be one of those people go
press don’t be one of those people go
press don’t be one of those people go out and learn how to be courageous learn
out and learn how to be courageous learn
out and learn how to be courageous learn how to be the hero you want to be
how to be the hero you want to be
how to be the hero you want to be remember excuses are just fear in
remember excuses are just fear in
remember excuses are just fear in disguise go out and live the most
disguise go out and live the most
disguise go out and live the most passionate exciting adventurous life you
passionate exciting adventurous life you
passionate exciting adventurous life you can go out and find fear and live the
can go out and find fear and live the
can go out and find fear and live the life of a butterfly thank you very much
life of a butterfly thank you very much
life of a butterfly thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment