587. Expert Interview: How to Turn Fear, Stress and Anxiety into Allies

Akshay Nanavati

Akshay Nanavati is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, author, speaker and entrepreneur. Through his new book, “Fearvana,” and his coaching programs, he draws on his expertise around understanding fear. He has dedicated his life to helping people reframe fear so they can accomplish their goals and live limitless lifestyles.

How to Turn Fear, Stress and Anxiety into Allies

“Fear is often perceived as a negative emotion. When you hear the word, people do not think of it as something positive. Inevitably, fear is the number one barrier that stops people from getting where they want to be in life. But fear is the brain’s natural response to risk. Anytime you enter the unknown, your brain responds with fear.”

Why Is This Important?

“Through my research to heal my own brain from post-traumatic stress disorder, I’ve come to learn that fear can be our greatest ally when we learn how to harness it because it is the most primal emotion and the number one thing to address to be successful in our lives. My studies led me to an understanding of fear, stress and anxiety, because neurologically all three are pretty much the same.”

What Are the Key Lessons Learned Here?

“The starting point, the foundation, is recognizing that we do not control what first shows up in our brain. If I am standing on the edge of a cliff and my brain feels fear, it is a very natural response that is keeping me alive. The problem is that we judge our fears and then label ourselves negatively for having them, instead of learning how to harness them for our own good.”