September 03rd, 2020

The Day I Conquered Fear. And You Can Too.

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The day I conquered fear.

We've all been there, right?

As a kid, I absolutely remember the penetrating fear standing at the top of my first waterslide.

A hot summer day, every step up on the ladder made my knees weak and my hands tremble. My friends ahead of me racing to the top like they were professional athletes competing.
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Finally reaching the top, the lifeguard standing next to me with their emergency-red colored vest and whistle telling me to wait before I go. I want to back out now but that means I must climb down the ladder which almost sounds worse, and then being ridiculed for "chickening out" would ruin me.

​The lifeguard ushers me to the chute opening. My heart is pounding, I haven't even touched the water and I'm soaking wet from nervous sweat.

​The lifeguard peers down waiting for the last kid to shoot out into the pool. It's time. He counts to three for me. One...two...three, I wiggle my way through the opening and the water carries me, picking up speed along the way. My fear is confused, I'm starting to enjoy the ride. Faster and faster I travel through the chute sliding from side to side, the water rushing all around me. I can see the opening and I shoot out into the pool like a bullet. Disoriented and doggy paddling to the surface I'm hooked.

I thought I’d see my friends cheering for me, but they are already back up the ladder. I frantically swim to the edge of the pool and lift myself out and race to the ladder. I start climbing the ladder and before I can even remind myself that I’m climbing the ladder I’m already at the top again. The lifeguard saying “Whoa” and putting their hand up to signal to me it’s not time to go yet. I get the green light and launch myself through the chute and down the slide. Enjoying every jostle and chlorinated water spray up my nose. 

​That afternoon I conquered fear. I didn’t run, I didn’t “chicken out” and I actually enjoyed what I had feared. How could that be?

The reason is simple. 

​You don’t know how it feels till you’ve gone through it. As with my waterslide story, the same is true in our professional lives. Yes, I’ve feared sending an email. I’ve feared sharing my work. I’ve feared that I’m not worthy of success. It all sounds ridiculous on paper but at the time, in my mind, it makes perfect sense on why I should fear such things. I can also tell you that once I climbed the ladder and pushed myself through the chute and down the slide I wanted more because each time the fear was less and less till it just became part of a routine. 

​However, anytime I let up on any of it, whether it be emailing, sharing my work, reaching out for help, or doing anything where fear might stop to chat it becomes harder to get going again. 

The trick?

​One trick I’ve learned over the years that I have a hard time remembering is this. Let’s say you're daunted with a task and you have an overwhelming feeling of dread, pain, irritation, or any form of discomfort, just remind yourself…this too shall pass. What that means is, if “said task” will only take 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days, tell yourself, “in 10 minutes I won’t feel like that anymore, in 10 hours I won’t feel like that, in 10 days I won’t feel like that”. It’s true, once you start something and go through and finish you’re outlook, feelings, and perspective change. I’ve tested it multiple times on many different aspects of my life. For example, I had a job once that I hated but knew I needed it for a year to accomplish another goal. I told myself, “in 1 year I won’t feel like this, in 6 month’s I won’t feel like this, in 3 months I won’t feel like this.” And you know what? It worked. I achieved my goal and then some. It took shifting my perspective and a reassurance that I’m on the right path, just hold out for X number of seconds, minutes, days, or years working toward that goal.

​Another, more relatable example, mowing the lawn, I hate it. But I know in an hour I’ll be done and feel differently afterward. What’s an hour? Sometimes we just need to push through the discomfort to achieve success no matter what that success looks like, large or small.

This is not a wrap-up or conclusion. Just a question.

Normally an article would have a “Wrap-up” or “Conclusion” section but I think what should be said, should instead be asked of you. Ask yourself, right now. What are you dreading that you know you need to do to get to where you want to be? How long will it take to do? Put a number on it. Now say to yourself “In X number of minutes, days, or years I won’t feel like this, and I will have achieved my goal” The feeling of discomfort is a sign of change, use it to your advantage.

I hope being able to view tasks and goals in a different way helps in achieving your goals or at the very least maybe you can’t wait to go down a waterslide again.

My name is Brandon Miller and I’m a professional voice over artist based out of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I work with video production companies to tell their clients stories through explainer videos, brand anthems, documentaries, and commercials. If you’re looking for a voice to tell your waterslide story email me at [email protected] or check out my work at www.brandonmillervoiceover.com/portfolio