Do It Afraid: Harness The Power Of The R.A.S. To Become Unstuck And Unstoppable

The Curious Case of Shawn Carter

It's remarkable to think that during the early days of his illustrious career, Shawn Carter, aka Jay Z—rap's braggart extraordinaire and the first rapper to ever be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame—experienced such debilitating performance anxiety that he'd occasionally forget his lyrics while on stage. But it's the truth. Fast-forward nearly four decades, and Jay's performances have evolved into masterclasses of artistry, where each verse and its accompanying pose is executed with flawless precision. Yet, if you scrutinize the rapper's body language closely, you may catch a subtle, seemingly out-of-place gesture—one that reveals the still fearful Brooklyn boy beneath The GOAT. He grabs his crotch. Yes, you read that right. And don't just take my word for it; allow Hov to explain himself—in an old interview, he dissected the psychology behind performing on stage as a fledging rapper besieged by fear:

"So you get up there, you feel naked. So when you feel naked, what's the first thing you do? You cover yourself. So that bravado is an act of, 'I am so nervous right now. I am scared to death. I'm going to act so tough that I am going to hide it, and I have to grab my crotch.' That's just what happens."

As a keynote speaker who continues to grapple with glossophobia (the fear of public speaking), I'm intimately acquainted with the paradox of using outward confidence to conceal hidden fear. My fear drives me to overcome it through heightened confidence, yet it doesn't actually dispel or diminish the fear itself; I rise to the occasion, but so does my fear. Therefore, when you perceive me as confident on stage, the truth is that I'm experiencing intense terror. Nevertheless, I speak with confidence. Effectively, I'm doing it afraid.

Everyday Struggle

I'm far from alone when it comes to doing things afraid. People often push past their fears. One of my academic superheroes, Dr. Kevin Sansbery II, delivers keynotes despite his fear. CEO and Innovative Leader Trevor Koot built businesses despite his fear. And yes, I published this newsletter despite my fear.

Fear is a universal experience. Even those who seem fearless, like elite performers, grapple with it. Consider that MMA legend Georges St. Pierre would fight while afraid. Consider that Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin became the youngest state leader while afraid. Consider that decorated NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo plays basketball while afraid. He recently admitted:?

"I'm not as talented as Steph. I'm not as talented as KD. I'm f***ing desperate. I'm obsessed... So I f***ing work as hard as I can because I don't want to lose this s***."

It surely can't be that simple, can it? Does Giannis' lust for victory 'trick' him into balling harder? Does Dr. Sansberry's passion for eradicating toxic workplace behavior override his stage fright? Does Shawn Carter's divine self-esteem conjure Jay Z to command the crowd? Glossophobia is estimated to affect up to 75% of the population, including professional keynote speakers. This contrast between outward confidence and hidden fears raises an intriguing question: Can we intentionally deceive ourselves into performing at an elite level despite our fears??

I understand that to some, this might seem derivative of the pseudoscientific law of attraction and a little "woo woo." I get it. But as you’re about to learn, the science checks out. Let me demystify the "do it afraid" dictum, beginning with fear itself.

Fear's Biological Origins

Fear is rooted in the amygdala, an ancient brain structure influencing our fight, flight, and freeze responses. It developed for mostly ancestral threats (i.e., predators, heights, storms, darkness, etc.) but not for modern threats (i.e., cigarettes, cars, handguns, social media, etc.) This dichotomy underscores the issue: Though we have advanced societies and god-like technology, we're still governed by primitive brains. Our last substantial brain "upgrade" was around 200,000 to 2 million years ago, leaving us with evolutionary vestiges to navigate the complex future. But it's here we find a clue. In close proximity to the amygdala lies an even more ancient and lesser-

In close proximity to the amygdala lies an even more ancient and lesser-known component: the Reticular Activating System (R.A.S.). This neural core directs our attention. In the context of evolution, basic survival functions like maintaining consciousness and alertness (which the R.A.S. supports) preceded the intricate emotional processing functions associated with the amygdala. In other words, our capacity for relentlessly focusing on our goals predates our ability to detect and manage potential threats. In this way, the R.A.S. counterbalances the amygdala's primal impulses. It empowers us to push toward our goals, even when gripped by fear.

As it turns out, fear doesn't have to dictate the journey.?

Harnessing The R.A.S.

Picture the R.A.S. as your cognitive ignition switch—a mechanism that rallies your mental faculties. It thrives on conscious conditioning, converting subconscious narratives into conscious triggers. Astonishingly, the R.A.S. doesn't distinguish between reality and imagination, processing both with equal weight. It's the scientific bedrock below aphorisms such as "speak it into existence," "thoughts become things," and "see it, believe it, achieve it."

Returning to Jay Z's stage fright for a moment, I propose two truths: Firstly, he possesses supreme self-confidence, genuinely believing that he will deliver a stellar performance. Secondly, there are moments where his conviction falters, but he promptly resorts to his signature crotch grab (acknowledging his fear) and proceeds to perform.

Harnessing the power of the Reticular Activating System (R.A.S.) to override the amygdala's fear responses involves deliberate and focused mental conditioning. Here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Create A System of Goals: Clearly define meaningful goals and rank them. The R.A.S. responds to specific instructions, so having a clear target gives it a direction to focus on. It’s imperative to establish one goal that will take precedence over the rest. Otherwise, you risk creating openings for your fear.
2. Visualize Victory: Use visualization techniques to vividly imagine yourself successfully achieving the supreme goal. Create mental images of the desired outcome and immerse yourself in the positive emotions associated with success.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement: Craft positive affirmations related to your goal. These should be concise, present-tense statements that reflect your desired state. Repeatedly affirm these statements to reinforce positive beliefs.
4. Surround Yourself With Success: Immerse yourself in visual cues representing your goal. Use images, words, or symbols that remind you of your aspirations. This constant exposure conditions your R.A.S. to focus on your objectives.?
5. Make It A Habit: Establish a daily routine that includes moments of goal alignment, visualization, and affirmations. Consistency is vital to training your R.A.S. to prioritize positive stimuli over fear triggers.
6. Take Action: The most crucial step is taking action. Even small steps toward your goal signal to your brain that you are moving forward despite fear. The act of doing diminishes fear's grip.?
7. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate each achievement, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement enhances your confidence and reinforces your R.A.S.'s focus on progress.

Should you remain skeptical about this approach, considering it fantastical, hear me out: The amygdala is an unconscious processor, feeding the hypothetical construct of fear. But the R.A.S. is a filter between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind—it feeds the amygdala whatever you're cooking. And so, by harnessing your R.A.S., you’ll filter through the millions of pieces of data that your brain is processing per second, only allowing what's important and of interest to you into your awareness.

Take it from someone who registers ancestral Savannah-level survival terror before taking the keynote stage. Even though my worst-case scenario is a mid-tier presentation, I'm on the edge of a panic attack whenever I hear, "Please welcome Hamza Khan to the stage!" I've clawed through a decade of public speaking and thousands of hours of coaching and cognitive behavioral therapy only to conclude that my glossophobia won't disappear just because I want it to. However, it can take a backseat by locking onto the supreme goal of helping people co-create a thriving future of work. And when I forget that, instead of grabbing my crotch, I tightly grip the clicker and continue.

Do what needs to be done despite the fear. Just do it, afraid.?

In Spite of Fear

No matter the challenge, remember that fear doesn't have to dictate your journey. Harnessing the R.A.S. to override the amygdala's fear responses requires patience and consistent effort. But by conditioning your mind through intentional focus and positive reinforcement, you can gradually reshape your brain's response to challenges, replacing fear with determination. Rather than surrendering control, embrace the doctrine of "do it afraid." Employ the Reticular Activating System to overcome hurdles and unleash GOAT-level performance every time.?

Let deep desire dictate your journey. Let it help you become unstuck and unstoppable.