Jocko Willink: How To Overcome Fear

Experts say that your fears could be holding you back from success.

No one is immune to anxiety, not even Navy SEALS. Jocko Willink spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, and he served in one of the most highly decorated special operations units of the Iraq war — and he has experienced fear throughout his career.

Along the way, he's learned how to deal with it.

"The first thing you've got to realize is that most of the fear that you have isn't reality," says the former SEAL, who is now an author and leadership coach. "It's just built up in your head."

The best way to get over any fear is to face it with confidence, he tells CNBC Make It: "Go and look at it. Go on the attack. Move towards it."

As tempting as it may be to avoid or suppress fear, that will only exacerbate it, Willink says: "The more you hide from it, the bigger it gets. The scarier it gets. Don't allow that to happen — instead, confront it, face it and get after it."

Willink gives the example of jumping out of an airplane, which he had to do in SEALs training: "The first time you ever jump out of an airplane, it's a very unnatural thing to do, and if you have any sense of self-preservation, you're going to look at the open door of a moving aircraft that's at 1,200 feet above the ground and you're going to think to yourself, 'This doesn't seem like a good idea.'"

But, "if you sit there and think about all the things that could go wrong, that fear is going to grow and grow and grow."

Whether you're about to jump out of a plane or face any other fear, such as speaking in public for the first time, don't back away or delay the task at hand, says Willink.

"When you start to feel yourself lock up, recognize that you're being paralyzed, and take that first step forward," he says. "That first step is the hardest part. Once you take that step towards what you're afraid of, you're going to move forward and things are going to be OK."

Self-made billionaire Warren Buffett, who overcame an intense fear of public speaking, agrees. "Address whatever you feel your weaknesses are, and do it now," he wrote for Forbes. "Whatever you want to learn more, start doing it today."

As Willink puts it: "Don't hesitate. Go."

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Ex-Navy SEAL: This is the first step to take to conquer your greatest fears | CNBC Make It.

[journaltrade]

You fear because you live in "Your Mind", there is no fear in "Reality".

[sdotlondonkid]

Step towards the fear. Do not hide from it. Hesitation leads to stagnation.

[unleashingpotential-psycho]

We must face our fears head on to overcome them 👍🏾

[Alpino-itgo]

"Go and face it". A simple but fundamental piece of advice. Thank you from a former Italian Alpino 🇮🇹 !

[SabbathSOG]

I remember when I was in the Marines. We were training to repel down a helicopter. I was number 19 out of 20. I psyched myself up so much. I went to the front of the line. My attitude was. Let's do this. Let's get it over with.

[broadcasttttable]

First (and only) time I skydived, I remember a vague but controllable sense of uneasiness as we loaded our gear and boarded the plane. Airborne, we got to jump altitude (3k feet). Then the door opened, and the view of the ground coupled with the loud rush of air hitting us in the plane and my knees got weak ("wait a minute, what am I about to do?"). Instinctively I knew I had to shut off that voice IMMEDIATELY. I did this by focusing on my next breath, my next footfall, my next hand hold, and just listening to the instructor. When it was my turn, I was only hearing his voice (yelling to make himself heard over the airstream) and I'll never forget it: "CHECK YOUR CONNECTION (we were on static line). GET IN THE DOORWAY. GET OUT ON THE STRUT. ARE YOU READY!? LOOK AT ME!
Later on the ground, I asked him if anyone had ever refused to jump. Laughing (but serious) he said, "No. There are six of us crowded onto a small, single-engine plane, and there's no room. If you refuse to jump, the people behind you won't be able to accomodate you moving off the strut and back into the plane. If I have to, I'll reach out and knock your hands off the strut, so you're going anyway!"
Yes, face the fear like Jocko says, but just as important is shutting down that voice IMMEDIATELY, like within a second---two, max.

[gustavomolinari]

This is true. This man has the a answer in 2 minutes. If you really know something, you know you can give a straight answer. Most other videos in YT on the topic are quite long.

If you have your fear, you'll come out less afraid of it. It is the only way.

[romanvladimirovichpetrikov]

I will try the advice right now! I thank you for the useful and superb video.! Have a fearless day, everybody!

[MisterSweatpants]

How to overcome fear? It’s simple. When the fear comes, over come it. - Jocko

[xxChacaronXX]

I can't even jump out of a plane in VR! lmao

One thing I wished he mention was "Learning to crawl before you can walk, learning to walk before you can jog"

If the fear is too much (like social anxiety) then start with baby steps... just call a store to ask for their hours or something... then work your way up from that!

[xtraspecial]

Once you overcome fear it gives you confidence rather than let it rule your life

[joshhoffman]

I’m getting into surfing bigger waves and my goal is to become professional at it. This video pertains to one aspect of doing that mentally

[jamescampbell]

Such good advice. "Fear is the mind killer."

[Americanpatriot-zotk]

Dude, thank you for the video I think you give him pre-solid advice people face this every day weather in the military or not.

[nicef]

A very good advice,
Brilliant thanks to you man

[loveheals]

Thank you. I tried and it sent me back hiding. I am too sick and too traumatized to even face fear. I am no Navy SEAL. I am sick in bed and have no strength or health left. No where to go. Nothing to say. Stockholm "Stalking-home" Syndrome. Straight up. Don't wanna go anywhere but to the doctors and family. I want to live.

[kapaip]

"I'm gonna walk towards that door, I'm gonna step out of it, and I'm gonna get some:. Thanks Joco. It was the "I'm gonna get some" that did it for me and also I mentally saw "fear" at my back not in front. Life exhilaration possibilities was at my front! Yes, I can do this.

[blackrashblackrash]

Good advice 👍 well done man thanks for your great words

[tenanikifya]

Thanx for this most videos tell me fear is in my head but I gotta do something scary and I got no choice so I like wot u say thanx

[patmark]

Don't be afraid to pray an act of perfect contrition everyday