I wondered about the difference between “fearless” and “foolish” in the last couple of months. On my journey to become fearless, I asked myself many different questions. It turns out there’s a thin line. Today I’m bungee jumping, and many can find this challenging and even terribly dangerous. I feel calm and focused. For me, this is just another checkmark on my to-do list to become fearless. I started this post an hour before the jump, and I’m now finishing it.
Here are a few of the puzzling questions that excited me on my mental journey:
Why do you need to feel fearless?
I want to feel fearless to know I’m prepared for everything coming my way. I know what I want to achieve, and being prepared for every situation gives me the illusion of control. Am I a control freak? I know what I want, and I aim for it. Fear can sometimes be a meaningless obstacle on your way to the final goal. OK, then but isn’t “brave” enough? Why prove yourself to yourself while aiming for the extreme? Knowing that I dealt with all my fears brings me closer to the divine image of my ideals. I’m trying to be the best version of myself, which includes no fears in my visualisation.
The idea of turning invincible.
Why would you want to feel invincible when you are obviously a tiny dot of dust? Well, people suffer. To reduce the suffering, you’d probably aim for the extreme of being fearless. Isn’t that a fear too? A fear of having remaining fears? Yes, maybe, but fighting against it will eventually leave you without many pointless fears or, even better – any.
Is being “completely fearless” even an option?
Being brave and being fearless are two completely different things. “Brave” means that you are willing to show courage and ready to face and endure danger or pain. On the other hand, being fearless implies that you have no fears left. Well, yes, I believe that it’s an option. Later in the text, I’ll go into more detail on the subject of “how”.
What are the downsides of being fearless?
You can get hurt without expecting it. You may forget the importance of preparation and repetition.
Want a one-2-3-four step list to become fearless while staying perceptive, ey?
- Define what is a dangerous decision for you
- Gather as much information before making a dangerous decision
- Never overlook the unknown
- Start by slowly expanding your comfort zone
- Try to be as physically prepared as possible – You’ll adapt and get better at preparing psychologically faster with time.
- Visualise the result of your final goal multiple times before each attempt and try to correct the deviations in real-time.
- Each new challenge is more accessible than the previous one – That’s not always true. It would help if you aimed a little bit out of your comfort zone and always kept the next challenge steeper, but at the same time, your confidence will get boosted because of your previous small victories. You’ll know that now you are capable of facing the unknown.
- If you risk your life, you’re crossing the line of courage and going into stupidity – A straightforward rule. Make sure you stay alive and at one peace. It’s a very tin line.
- Have a realistic idea of ​​your capabilities based on your previous experiences – Don’t get discouraged by your failures. In most cases, the winner is only one. This means that you can fail hundred times on the road to your goal. What matters is the final achievement. If it satisfies your ideal, that’s the ultimate win. If not, keep trying and don’t whine.
- Efficiency – People understand how efficient they are when the fear factor is reduced. Once you knowledge your powers, you are on the road to becoming fearless.