Do you ever think about what drives you? Is it the pull of something amazing, or the push of fear?
I’ve always seen myself as someone driven by a vision of the future—goals I’m excited about, things I want to create. But if I’m being honest, fear is a powerful motivator, too. We’re all driven by fear all the time: preparing for a big presentation so we don’t look unprepared, making it to the airport before the gate closes, or even setting that reminder to pay bills before late fees kick in.
When I was in Grade 9, Science class made me really nervous. I’d heard that studying just 10 minutes a night could make a big difference. So, every night that whole semester, I diligently reread my notes. And when exam time came, it wasn’t just manageable—it felt easy.
What really motivated me? Fear. I didn’t want to fail, and that fear pushed me to study consistently, even if it was just a few minutes a day.
Fast-forward to now, and fear is showing up again—this time with a triathlon I’ve signed up for. The thing is, I don’t bike, run, or swim!
The swim terrifies me the most. Walking is always an option during the run, and I can pedal slowly if I need to, but there are no shortcuts to not drowning. Fear, in this case, is a huge motivator. It’s getting me in the pool and swimming, even when I really, really don’t want to.
We don’t want to live in fear all the time, but fear doesn’t have to be the enemy. It can be a gentle nudge (or a big shove) to get us moving or to tackle important tasks. The key is to reflect: where is fear serving me, and where is it derailing me?
What about you? What’s your relationship with fear? Has it ever pushed you toward a goal? Or has it stopped you in your tracks? I’d love to hear your story.
