In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel and Sawyer Robbins explore the connection between fear and personal growth. Through their experiences with a live speaking tour, they examine how feeling afraid before new challenges often signals deep investment in the outcome, rather than a sign to retreat.
The discussion delves into practical approaches for pushing beyond comfort zones and managing fear in high-stakes situations. Drawing from their experiences at venues like Boston's Wang Theater, the Robbins share insights about transforming nervous energy into motivation, embracing bigger challenges than initially planned, and viewing fear as a natural component of personal development rather than an obstacle to overcome.
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In this episode, Mel and Sawyer Robbins explore the relationship between fear and personal growth, offering insights into how to transform self-doubt into motivation.
Mel Robbins explains that feeling afraid before new experiences often indicates how much you care about the outcome. She illustrates this through her experience with her live tour, noting that nervousness typically surfaces when we're invested in success. Sawyer Robbins reinforces this idea, sharing how his intense fear of public speaking reflected his deep commitment to their tour and book.
Mel Robbins shares how her initial plan for a simple speaking tour evolved into an ambitious production combining elements of Broadway and rock concerts. Rather than limiting herself based on past experience, she chose to "go bigger," eventually pushing Sawyer to take on a larger role in the show. This expansion led to unexpected challenges, including a moment of panic at the Wang Theater in Boston, but Robbins found that pushing through these obstacles led to significant personal growth.
Mel Robbins advocates for infusing challenging experiences with playfulness and enjoyment. She describes how approaching fear-inducing situations with excitement, similar to the thrill of a roller coaster, can transform the experience. Rather than trying to eliminate fear entirely, Robbins suggests embracing it as a natural part of growth. She emphasizes that feeling afraid shows investment in the outcome and that pushing through this discomfort is essential for personal development. Sawyer Robbins supports this perspective by sharing his own experience of managing performance anxiety during their tour.
1-Page Summary
Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins share their experiences and insights on why fear can be an indicator of how much an experience matters to you and how reframing self-doubt as motivation can lead to personal growth and increased self-confidence.
According to Mel Robbins, feeling afraid before embarking on a new adventure, such as her own live tour, reveals a deep care for the outcome. The presence of nerves and fear is closely tied to one's concern about the result of that experience. Robbins underscores that fear typically surfaces when we are invested in the success of the endeavor, exemplifying the point with Kendall's contrasting reactions to performing in different contexts.
Sawyer Robbins amplifies this sentiment by sharing her own struggle with public speaking and how the intensity of her fear was a measure of her dedication to their tour and book. Both Robbins emphasize that consistently confronting fears through performance shows commitment and the ability to trust in oneself.
Mel Robbins speaks to shifting from a mindset plagued by "I can't" to tackling challenges because you believe you can't. She stresses the importance of facing the activities you're hesitant about, as this leap outside your comfort zone propels personal development and honing of capabilities.
Sawyer Robbins, too, embraces the notion of saying yes to challenges, especially because of underlying self-doubt, thereby flipping the narrative from inability to opportunity. Mel Robbins suggests that doing the exact things you fear—such as applying for jobs, performing live, or moving to a new place—is not only a step towards trying them but also a stride towards becoming the person you aspire to be.
By counteracting the voice that whispers "you can't," and by choosing to engage in fear-inducing ...
Overcoming Fear and Hesitation to Try New Experiences
Mel Robbins expresses her journey from planning a simple speaking tour to embarking on a production that resembled a combination of Broadway and a rock concert, highlighting the transformative power of embracing ambitious visions and the growth that can come from unforeseen challenges.
Robbins shares that her desire to interact with people in real life led to the decision to go on tour. Initially, she planned to have a traditional setup with theaters and speeches, but she challenged herself to "do it bigger," leading to a vision that expanded well beyond her previous experience.
Her story exemplifies how diving into new ventures without self-imposed constraints can lead to unexpected opportunities. Robbins encourages embracing a broader scope without considering past experiences as limitations. She motivates others with her aphorism, "Stop sitting around waiting to feel ready and just do it because you think you can't and then you're going to actually realize you've been ready the whole time."
This idea of "going bigger" was not limited to Robbins as she, unintentionally, pushed Sawyer, who was initially going on stage for a short segment, to be a part of half of the entire show. Although Robbins admits she didn't fully comprehend what she had signed on for, this represents her recommendation to embrace a vision that pushes the boundaries.
The realities of "going bigger" became apparent to Robbins when confronted with the scale of the production at the Wang Theater in Boston, which led to a panic realizing the complexities involved with a full-blown production, something much greater than the simple speaking engagements she was accustomed to.
Despite Robbins’ experience with public speaking, hosting her own expansive event opened her eyes to the unanticipated complexities of production. "Doing it bigger" came with its own set of challenges, illustrating that new ventures can drastically diverge from their original plans.
Robbins admits that the decision to expand the sca ...
Embracing the Unexpected and "Going Bigger" Than Planned
As Mel Robbins conveys through her experiences and guidance, having the right mindset and attitude is crucial for pushing beyond one's comfort zone. She introduces the concept of infusing activities with playfulness and embracing fear as a natural part of growth.
Robbins suggests that approaching fear-inducing situations with a sense of excitement can be transformative. She describes her own experience as similar to the thrill of a roller coaster, hinting at the exhilaration that can be found in challenging circumstances.
Robbins recounts her journey, where despite paralyzing stress and fear, she discovered that her tour turned into one of the magical highlights of her life. She addresses the notion of enjoyment in the process, highlighting the importance of confronting fears as a source of fun and self-discovery. Her encouragement points to an underlying playfulness, where even in serious or scary situations, having fun serves as an antidote to fear and nerves.
She shares how aiming to have more fun during her show allowed her to loosen up and enjoy the experience, eventually changing her initial negative perceptions. Her focus on ensuring the audience, crew, and team also enjoyed themselves illustrates the infectious nature of a playful attitude.
Robbins' emphasis on bringing fun into various scenarios, such as high-stress work environments, demonstrates her belief that lightheartedness can transform experiences. By infusing activities with a playful approach, individuals can reduce self-criticism, ease tension, and lean into the ride they are on. Robbins points out that humor and light reactions to mistakes can help defuse stressful situations and encourage a more positive outlook.
Throughout Robbins' discussion, there’s a strong message that embracing fear is more constructive than trying to eliminate it.
She interprets fear and nervousness as indicators of deep care and concern for the outcome of an endeavor. Whether it’s a tour or a dance class, Robbins conveys that pushing through fear and panic to follow through with a commitment is part of the growth process. In her view, experiencing fear, like having stage fright or performing in a new role, shows that what you're doing matters to you.
Robbins acknowledges that fear ...
Mindset and Attitude For Pushing Beyond Comfort Zone
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