What no one is telling you about fear and anxiety | Kristen Ulmer | TEDxNaperville

Extreme athlete Kristen Ulmer knows fear. Her 50+ near death experiences have taught her an important lesson on fear, and it's a lesson that you've never heard before. Kristen Ulmer is a thought leader on fear and anxiety who draws from her tenure as the most ‘fearless’ woman extreme skier in the world for 12 years, from intently studying Zen for 15 years and from facilitating thousands of clients on flow and peak performance.

The author of: The Art of Fear: Why Conquering Fear Won’t Work and What to Do Instead, Kristen radically challenges existing norms about what to do about fear.

[brandongrill]

I've been meditating for the last 6 years now, usually an hour a day. What she's saying is so spot-on that it's crazy most of us think otherwise. Don't control your emotions --> let them go. Release them. Or they'll come up in nastier ways later. You can really feel the power of her words because they are so simple.

[daveschrader]

Guess what folks, personal experience has validated to me that she is right. I tried society's model, controlling emotions for decades. Kristen's insight finally got me going in a new, happier direction. Bravo on the Ted Talk. Clear and powerful.

[deanbonney]

I had the good fortune in the 90s to ski with Kristen at some clinics at Palisades Tahoe. As always, I was in the least prepared group to take on extreme skiing at the level expected in these clinics, but Kristen, like John Egan, knew how to move others to flow with your skis and ski with the flow. So it is unsurprising to me the path that Kristen has followed since the Alps tragedy. Romancing ones fear allows one to emerge more resilient when the music of ones life is suddenly disrupted with an awkward, uncomfortable, unbearable engagement with silence. Fear is in that awkward moment of uncertainty as one drops into a bowl for the first time. Its what fills the void when one achieves that weightlessness moment at the top of a mogul with an uncertain line forward. I will share this talk with others for the freedom it offers all of us.

[tricster]

I recently had an experience that brought up a lot of strong, persistent emotions. I tried to push them away initially and quickly realized that it wasn’t going to work. Having been to a camp with Kristen, I knew I had to feel it all and honor my feelings to be set free from this experience, and in that, I have grown in a way I didn’t expect. I’ve had a fear of failure my whole life, and processing this last one in a healthier way has changed my entire view of failure.

[doug_cartwright]

I worked with Kristen as a private client in 2017. Her insights on fear radically changed my whole life. Thank you Kristen!

[ronrodriguez]

This is really a very important topic and Kristen does a great job of putting it into perspective. I've read her book and have been working on my developing my fear practice. I have found when I really feel fear and ask it why its there without judging it, I can accept it and hug it, as Kristen says, and make use of it. I definitely recommend that people take this to heart and share it with friends and family to help them see things a little bit differently. It will help you to free yourself from your unwillingness to feel fear and your resistance to fear keeping you stuck.

[billweidner]

Your continued commitment to help everyone understand the human relationship with fear is revolutionary Kristen! Your teachings for me personally? I now know that embracing my fear is a precursor to a breakthrough.

[deannablanchard]

It takes work! Returning to our defaults seems somewhat natural, but as Kristen suggests, it just cycles you around the same circle of uncertainty, doubt, fear, and anxiety. Thanks Kristen!

[conanbrenko]

Great video. Much respect to Kristen. Watch this video. Read her book. She is on the right path.

[msdebenham]

A 20-minute chat with Kristen changed my life. Over dinner one evening, I expressed to Krisen the fear and anxiety that came up anytime I had a race. Her advice to embrace that the fear is going to happen and to accept that was eye-opening and has forever changed how I approach endurance racing (and life).

[kmjohnss]

I work with my clients this way and when they are willing to do this, it really is transformative.

[haidehhirmand]

A truly spectacular and on-point talk! I had the fortune of experiencing Kristen's ski to live program several times and it did more for my skiing, and life, than many technical sessions! This is a synthesis of years of insight and research and a huge contribution. A not to miss!

[karynmcevoy]

it's been a breakthrough to allow myself to just feel fear without trying to make it go away or stuff it down with food!

[tedbrown]

Well Kristin has distilled this concept for embracing fear in a priceless 14:00. She is correct in her analysis and runs contrary to traditional wisdom. Just look at the data we are flying this plane into the ground unless we change our approach.
Good work.

[MichaelKraeuter]

Thank you for this! Yes, fear is our friend!

[MaricrisDelaVega]

Off all the exercise I’ve heard and suggestions this is the most unforgettable for me really fear is gonna be there my whole life it’s just i have to used to it i have to live with it i have to face my fears yet think about things i am afraid of and challenge myself until that fear become my strength thank you so much.

[mattsimpson]

Awesome talk! Thanks for sharing your gift and offering

[hypnoflowaimee]

Truly a revolutionary approach to fear and anxiety! I've been a hypnotherapist for over 14 years and seen what damage is caused when people repress and resist the normal and natural feeling of fear! It gets trapped in the body, the organs and the system is locked in chronic fight/flight/freeze/fawn mode, which disables us and causes health problems and emotional issues. Kristen's approach and advice to be in FLOW with Fear is gold!!

[yana]

This was so beautiful and powerful! Thank you!

[BarryMoniak]

A masterclass in the realm of fear, and how to have a more functional, intimate relationship with fear - in under 15 minutes. Kudos Kristen!