Scared? Bring It On!

WH explores the science behind that skittish feeling and how to crush it once and for all

- Rachel Sturtz

What’s stopping you from flying on a kiteboard or swooshing down a dune? Fear, says a host of research. A fear of injury, sure, but also a fear of being judged and not immediately acing the sport in question. “Women tend to worry much more than men about competency when trying something new,” says cycling and athletic coach Dr Kristen Dieffenbach. “They have what I call a Superwoman expectation: if they do something, first time or not, they better be really good at it. Any perceived incompetence is demotivating.” And that’s a shame because learning an adventure sport comes with a ton of benefits. It rewires your brain so that it can better control your movements, helping you boost muscle memory and quicken reaction time (a perk that’ll improve your overall fitness – even the day-in, day-out stuff you do at the gym). What’s more, another study found that overcoming fear through an extreme sport can create a greater sense of fulfillment in your life at large. Sounds worth it, right? Let’s get out there and turn fear into your next big adventure.

Why We’re Afraid