Fear and excitement both activate our bodies in similar ways. They make our hearts beat faster, they kick off a flow of brain chemicals, and they produce those familiar butterflies in the stomach.
So what’s the difference? My friend Ross Harwood explained it this way: fear causes us to lean back, while excitement causes us to lean forward. He noticed this one time when he was on a rollercoaster with his daughters. The had their arms raised and were leaning in, screaming with excitement. Ross was leaning back, trying to slow down the car with his body.
Same experience, two different reactions.
I was in an experience a few years ago that really had me on my edge. My habitual response would have been to be back on my heels. But I remembered what Ross had told me and I chose in the moment to lean forward and choose excitement instead of fear.
What has you leaning back today?
