5.25 Eileen Gu: In Love with Fear

“I admit it. I'm in love with fear.” - Eileen Gu

How do you feel about fear?

I’ve seen fear do a lot of things, including forcing people to stop doing something they love. As a coach, I hate when I see my athletes not try new things in practice and games because they are afraid, including not giving their all because they fear the opponent in front of them.

Fear can slow you down or stop you altogether if you allow it, so how can you overcome it?

Freeskier Eileen Gu has found a healthy balance between confidence in her ability and the thrill of uncertainty or fear. In fact, she has said, “I admit it. I’m in love with fear.”

How? By recognizing it can both help and hurt you, and channeling in a way that fear serves as a guide, not an enemy.

It starts with visualization. When Gu feels fear, she visualizes herself successfully doing the thing she is afraid of. Gu says confidence is also important when trying to fight off fear. How do we gain confidence? Through practice and success from practice. Practice what you do so much that you know you can’t mess up.

Finally, she practices gratitude. You can’t feel fear and be grateful at the same time. When you feel fear, find three things you are grateful for. Gu says this is especially helpful when you feel pressure to perform from others, like family.

Fear is a part of the journey, but you can combat it by building your confidence with practice, visualizing yourself doing the things you are afraid of, and practicing gratitude - being thankful for the opportunities you are given.

Question of the Day: How can you overcome the fear you feel?