#106 – How are physical and mental fears different (or alike)?

Fear is fear.

Whether it’s a saber-tooth tiger, a calculus test, or descending an icy black diamond ski slope, your body has only one goal: to keep you alive. To prepare for fight or flight, it increases blood flow and floods your system with adrenaline. Your brain interprets this as “fear.”

For more details, check out How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett's entertaining and informative deep dive into how the body-mind creates emotions.

The context—a ski slope, exam, or jungle walk—tells the brain whether to feel anger, sadness, fear, or disgust. But it’s our body’s energy level that determines if and how strongly an emotion is triggered.

When your brain detects fear in the absence of real physical danger, one mental tool can help restore your baseline – name the fear.

As Buddhist tradition suggests: “I see you, Mara; let’s have tea.” Acknowledge the fear, accept it, and take action anyway.

But when the danger is physically real, you want the adrenaline—it’ll help you run, fight, or hide.

That’s why the first step is to assess whether the fear stems from your mind or your environment. If it’s in your head, sit down with Mara. If it’s in your presence, forget about tea and heed Mara's advice.

What imagined fear did you overcome and stop from shaping your decisions?

Love,

Carolina