“Through every generation of the human race there has been a constant war, a War with fear“ - Alexander the Great.

Fear! A topic that involves something so peculiar and the most basic survival skill of mankind! We all have fear, all animals have fear!!! Despite of your intelect capabilities, fear is an inexorable element of our most basic physic and instinct.

We all believe that intelect can tame fear. Or that maybe that exaustive practice can support the process and reduce the anxiety provoked by fear itself!

During the Laver Cup, the Big-3 assembled: Nadal and Federer playing doubles, while Djokovic has joined as the coach. The trio has collectively won 63?major?singles tournaments; In Grand Slam terms: Nadal with 22 titles, Djokovic with 21, and Federer with 20. What a combination of excellence!!!

So, theses 3 guys, the top, the Big-3, each considered to be among the best professional players of all-time, have no fear, right?

Wrong! And Alexander the Great knew it! And who said loud and clear has been nobody else than Mr. Roger Federer himself! Yes, the Maestro just mentioned something during the discussion, something that really has shocked me:

“I just feel like we cannot be scared of hit the ball…. “

Really? How come? Here the video below - Source: Eurosport .

We all humans! And does not matter 20+ Grand Slams, years of practice and whatever amount of sweat and hard-work put down, at the end, we all face Fear on daily basis!! Confidence is what takes to tame it? Doubt it as the only one factor. Train your mind to not listen to it? Somehow can help. At the end is a process, a combination of so many mental skills. That’s why take years to make a Jedi, right?

It is clear that Roger knows that he has to trust the process, to hit the ball, to believe in the hours/days/years of training. But while loosing and making mistakes, the self-doubt and anxiety builds up. Confidence Once the risk is perceived, the response can vary from individual to individual. We often see it on the extraordinary examples that any sport gives us, or other cases of gallantry and utmost intrepidity of risk of live on all Medal of Honor citation or other military decorations.

The brutal training of the US SEALS really can generate a more pragmatic response when dangerous is recognized, when our brain is bombarded by chemicals and reactions that ultimately change all our behavioral. Specially when your live and the live of others depend on it! So becomes all survival! Instinct?

I am still digesting it…. I have already many times discussed this with my little girls, as Fear is everywhere and related to anything we care about: fear of losing friends, of school grads, of athletic performance, of speaking to strangers or to a multitude…

But now, more than ever, I can show this video from Federer! Show to my little girls that you haver to trust your instincts and fight your Fear. That does not matter the ball you want to hit: a business venture, a new profession, a sport, a competition, a relationship - at the end, you cannot be scared of hitting it!