Before Breakfast Second Cup: Be smart about your fears
Oct 26, 2025
Explore the wisdom behind fears and learn how to differentiate useful fears from harmful ones. Discover how repeated exposure, like practice in public speaking, can diminish anxiety. Find practical steps to tackle career-blocking fears while embracing personal limits in risky situations. Understand fears as protective signals and the importance of building financial safety nets to reduce anxiety. Gain a practical framework for evaluating fears, deciding when to conquer, lessen, accept, or heed them.
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Public Speaking Became Routine
- Laura Vanderkam used public speaking fear as a career hurdle she overcame through repetition.
- After many talks, speaking became routine and no longer terrifying.
Familiarity Normalizes Phobias
- Repeated exposure in a job (flying, heights, etc.) normalizes common phobias.
- Familiarity reframes extreme reactions into everyday experiences like 'going over a speed bump.'
Reduce Fear With Small Exposures
- Do use small, repeated exposures to lessen fears that block goals.
- Start small and learn as you go so losses or setbacks feel less scary over time.
