That’s easier said than done. Some people, myself included, have trouble tamping down the physical response to fear. That’s why I’ve always avoided “adrenaline activities.” Roller coasters, skydiving, rock climbing…nope, not for me. Fear causes tension, shaking, and an overall miserable experience. But as a t’ai chi practitioner, I’ve studied the ins and outs of balance, thus gaining some insight into my brain and the fear response.
For example, an exercise to develop balance is to place one foot directly in front of the other, walking forward as if on a tightrope. The body has to trace its own midline and balance on a much narrower platform than the usual method of walking with feet farther apart. When doing this exercise on the floor or the ground, there’s the occasional wobble, with arms out to the sides acting as outriggers to help shift the balance one way or the other. Now, visualize this exact same activity, only you’re crossing a narrow bridge over a rushing mountain stream. Now the brain weighs in with its warning system, and for me, that spells trouble. I have to fight the fear response—which is not based on the reality under my feet, but on what might happen if I lose my balance.
I’m not usually able to find the valve that turns down my body’s response to my brain’s warnings. But log crossings have been frequent in my life, and they’re impossible to avoid. I play the game: so what if I get wet, this has to be done in order to continue the hike, etc. With a little mental arm-wrestling I can usually talk myself into an uneventful crossing.
Not so with the more intense adrenaline activities. But balance improves with practice, and then the feedback loop isn’t insurmountable. The body’s confidence can calm the brain, and then the physical fear response diminishes.
Fear causes tension, and when muscles lock up, the nimbleness required for good balance gets shut down. A childhood memory illustrates this. Remember those funhouse rooms at carnivals, with wooden floors that, when activated, started moving in chaotic waves like the ocean in a storm? We’d try to keep our footing, and loose knees and hips tended to keep us more vertical. The same idea prevails when skiing moguls. The joints are shock absorbers…they don’t function when they’re locked up tight.
To undertake activities to improve balance, start with a wall nearby. That way, the work can be done without fear, and the body gets more adept and confident. This has worked very well for me—especially during times when I’ve been rehabbing an injury. That little extra help, the wall nearby, or just a little extra moment to reassure myself, usually enables me to complete the task without pain, or fear of pain. Then, there is the memory of a good experience to build on, and a little more muscle memory as well. Have no fear, and have an abundance of patience!
