Turning Fear into Fire

You know the feeling.  At first it starts to feel like some someone is playing a game of paddle ball with your heart.  It beats so fast that you start to think it is going to grow legs and come racing out of your chest like a thoroughbred horse coming out of the starting gates at a race track in the Kentucky Derby.  Next, your palms begin to sweat and shake despite how many times you wipe your hands off on your pants and clench your fists to make the tremors stop.  It’s the feeling you get when it’s your turn to perform your form during the belt test, or when your name gets called to spar against someone that is bigger, stronger, and a higher rank than you.  It’s the same sensation that you get when you have to give a presentation at work for the first time in front of your peers, the first day of school when you are asked to introduce yourself to your class, or even when it’s finally your turn to ride the biggest roller coaster at the amusement park and everyone is watch.  You know the feeling.  It’s FEAR.

Most people would define fear as something that is bad or considered a weakness.  However, what most people don’t know is that anyone can turn their fear into FIRE.  When you get scared or nervous, your body releases chemicals into your system that make you faster, stronger, and more alert.  When you feel your heart racing, palms sweating, and your mind is running at a hundred miles an hour, it is actually your body’s way of letting you know that all the fuel you need to be SUPER CHARGED is right there waiting for you.  

It’s just like when a race car driver revs up the engine in the car just before speeding off.  The car starts to shake, rattle, and smoke.  When most people see their car do that they starting making an appointment for the repair shop, but when a race car driver feels that it just lets him know that his car is ready to race and win.

Turning FEAR into FIRE is all about focus.  When I had to compete against eight other black belts and masters at the NAFMA National Tournament in Atlantic City, NJ, I was really nervous.  Master Circle and I practiced our forms at least 80 times in class and probably 20 more times just before the competition.  Even though I knew my form, I was more worried about how I would do against so many other great competitors, including my teacher.  Even though I was nervous about doing my best, when I stepped into that ring, made my announcement and stepped back, everything changed.  As I took a deep breath in, I looked out past where the judges where sitting and stared intensely at nothing.  I focused so hard on not focusing on anything that I went into a mode where nothing existed but me as if someone hit the pause button for the world.  

Even though I looked in all directions, I could not see or hear the crowd, the judges, or anyone.  It was just me and my form.  I let my instincts and hard work take over.  When the form was over, it was like someone pressed play and everything started moving again.  A wave of relief came over me and finally I could breathe easy.  Much to my surprise, when the announcements were made, I was awarded first place in the forms competition. 

The secret to turning FEAR into FIRE is knowing yourself.   The only reason that I could have done so well is because of all the practice that I did in preparation for the competition.  I went over my form so many times that I didn’t have to think about it during a time when I was scared.  When you prepare yourself to face the thing that you fear the most, that fear becomes a tool that you can use and control.  If you are nervous about giving a presentation at work, all you have to do is memorize your material so well that when it comes time to do it you don’t have to think about it.  If you know that you will have to tell the kids in your school about yourself on the first day, then think of something a few days before you go so that when the time comes, you already know what you’re going to say.  When you have to spar someone that you’re afraid of, fear can help you to react faster, endure hard hits, and go longer without feeling tired.  

So the next time you are feeling nervous or scared, just remember, that’s your body’s engine revving up and getting ready to race, so hold on tight and focus on the finish line.

AUTHOR: Instructor Chris Higdon, 2009