How Best-Selling Self-Help book changed my Life - FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY by Susan Jeffers - My personal in-depth review. Recommended by many for Self Growth
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Book cover of - Feel the Fear and do it anyway #ad
Let me share with you my thoughts and review on a highly recommended Self Help book that will give you a better mindset & logical reasoning skills about how to manage fear, in turn enabling you to conquer the restraints of your mind, giving you the confidence to move forward with your Adventures.
Whether it’s an Adventure, Travel, or perhaps a new hobby or even a career you’d like to do, but haven’t managed to due to the constraints, that feelings of fear bring. This book will help you move forward into embracing the moment and living the life you want to live. Bringing clarity to those ever-natural feelings of fear that would otherwise hold you back and limit your world.
What are you afraid of and why? - Chapter one #ad
The book I’m writing about today is “Feel the Fear and do it anyway”. This book by Susan Jeffers has changed my world, turned my thought process around and enabled me to open new doors and move forward without letting fear hold me back. Its bought light to situations that otherwise would’ve been engulfed by Darkness and uncertainty.
Susan Jeffers is an internationally renowned author, best known for this ground breaking book. A book which has been read and appreciated by many all over the globe. You can find endless positive reviews about this book online, with countless people expressing the magnitude of how much reading this book has empowered them.
Opening of Chapter three - From Pain to Power #ad
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Let me divulge with you an overview of how this book has changed my life.
I’m 35 years old, I read “Feel the Fear and do it anyway” approximately 21 Months ago. Here’s what I’ve achieved since reading this book. I’ll keep it simple and list all the benefits I’ve gained in the form of bullet points.
I’ve started wearing swimwear in public (not in a weird way – only at swim spots haha). This is something I avoided before. I’ve hidden myself for years in fear of somehow not being good enough and more so, fearful of being judged.
There’s a few harsh memories of particular moments that come to mind, moments when I was at the water’s edge of popular Wild swimming spots, times where it was rammed with people – People of all shapes and sizes, I was longing to Swim so much, yet just couldn’t, the fear of removing my clothes and bearing all in front of strangers was too much, unfortunately more than I was able to overcome without the help of Susan’s book. On more than one occasion the lack of self-esteem had reduced me to tears by the water’s edge. With the awakening reality that I was not in control of my own life, as the fear consumed me too much, leaving me frozen within myself, and unable to act on my wants.
I’ve taken up wild cold-water swimming, an activity which I now do throughout the year, winter included!
Previously for many reasons (the above bullet point being one) I’d long to swim and revel in nature but could never manage to pluck up the courage to face my fears. I’d worry about numerous things, such as the cold, the unknown touching my legs under the water, entanglement, drowning, people seeing me in swimwear, not knowing what’s underneath the water. A huge factor for me was doing such an activity alone. I was endlessly talking myself out of an activity which now brings me so much joy and hugely helps my mental health.
I’ve learnt to drive a car and now have my full License. I’ve tried learning to drive on and off since being a teenager, having numerous lessons, instructors and even cars, but I found myself always giving up and never moving forward and booking a test. Regardless of the fact the instructors would assure me I was ready. Only after reading this book did I decide that I was going to give it another go, after only a few months and two tests later I passed! Proving to myself it was only my fear that was holding me back, NOT lack of ability.
I’ve done long distance drives alone, 6 hours each way in fact! – something I never even dreamed I’d be confident enough to do, even after passing my test I felt that I would never get to that point. I re-visited parts of the book again, to help remind myself about how to handle fear, how to rationalise it. With each word I read I gained the clear head I needed to start driving long journeys alone, which enabled me to move on to the next level of self-growth (see the below bullet point).
I’ve been away on solo wild camp trips in the mountains, involving Hiking, swimming in mountain Lakes, camping at the Summits of secluded mountain tops.
Page of writing - “Fear is not the problem” #ad
One night I even camped in a Pine Forest, Pitching my tent in a small clearing, that created somewhat of a beach around a mountain lake at the edge of the forest. Alone in the woods at night … all night. What an experience it was, a liberating one, one that was full of self-discovery and joyous moments. However, it wasn’t all joyful, read on as I let you into my mind, sharing some moments of the sheer terror I experienced that night.
Wild Camp spot in forest clearing #ad
I felt increasingly fearful as the wind picked up, the enormous trees began to sway around me, the gusts of wind seemingly getting louder and louder. By this point the sun had already set, the crescent moon was up, and the Darkness of the night had arrived. It dawned on me that I’d read the weather wrong, I’d pitched in a spot that was not sheltered from the wind – a rookie error, one which I feared might’ve cost me my life! The fear of being crushed by a falling tree grew, Widow maker Trees as they call them! Thinking back to all the fallen pine trees I’d clambered over on route earlier in the day, trees which had once been standing tall, that had succumbed to the force of nature.
I crawled out of my tent, moving as far away from the trees as possible, with my back to the lake and the water at my heels, I looked towards the forest, my tent encapsulated within it, Silhouettes of the endless trees swaying wildly above, against the back drop of the dark night sky. Least noticeable was the lashings of rain falling upon my face. I felt sick with fear, unable to settle, unable to enjoy it, unable to prepare my meal and re-fuel after the long hike.
Tent with Forest and Lake in background #ad
It was that moment that I realised I had to calm down, as I felt my heart pounding in my chest, nausea and a strange prickly sensation I get when anxiety takes over, consumed by a feeling hopelessness. In the past I’ve fainted when I’m fearful, - that certainly would’nt help! So It was time for me to rationalise, to see if there were any feasible safer options than staying put… So, I asked myself the following four questions:
Can I safely get any further away from the trees, perhaps to clearing that was large, or to a sheltered spot?
- The answer was no, I’d already pitched in the only suitable spot for miles, leaving that spot would’ve meant walking through more danger, at the risk of potentially being unable to find a safer alternative.
Can I call for help?
- The answer was no, I had no mobile signal at all – I was completely alone, I had no way of communicating with civilisation. I’d spoken with my husband when I’d reached the Ridge above the Lake and had let him know where I intended to pitch for the night. My husband’s familiar with the lack of Mobile signal when in the mountains, so wouldn’t be overly concerned by not hearing from me that night. He knew to expect me to check in with him by late morning the following day though.
Do I really need help, has anything actually happened that requires help?
- Again, the answer was no.
Can I leave and safely get back to my car?
- Once again the answer was No, leaving was not a safer option, certainly not at night anyway, the darkness would’ve made it extremely dangerous as the only way out was through the forest, then up a mountain and a long way back down steep uneven ground.
Magnificent view towards the lake and mountain ridge #ad
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The journey in was treacherous enough during daylight, without having falling trees to worry about. I’d hiked uphill, then scrambled down a steep side of the mountain towards the lake, with scree and slippery mud, followed by an assault course style journey around the edge of the lake, through dense pine forest which entailed climbing over and under fallen trees, clambering through the branches, carefully navigating round vast bogs, bogs so deep that every footstep had to be taken with care, testing the ground with my hiking poles prior to taking each step, some of which were so deep that the entire hiking pole went in! I’d taken Great leaps of faith from one tree root to the next, narrowly managing to escape being submerged by the bog. Bog which for the most part deceivingly looked as though it was just Mud or grass, almost like Human sized traps waiting to capture those that didn’t pay attention.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware this sounds like somewhat of an ordeal, however rest assured, during the day in fair weather it was plenty safe enough when using the correct gear - hiking boots with ankle support were a great help, as were my faithful Hiking poles! which proved essential for help assessing the Boggy areas. I enjoy a challenging hike so it was perfect. I’d purposely taken the time to plan the route on the map, planning to head of to a Summit wild camp the following night.
View of tent from the forest #ad
This leads me on to my conclusion, The clarity and calmness I’d gained by using some of the techniques the book had taught me. I realised by answering these rational questions that there was no safer option, so ultimately I did’nt have a choice to make, I simply needed to stay put. There was no real problem. Essentially I was catastrophizing, I was letting fear become the problem, worrying about the “what if?” and matters that were out of my control. What I could control though was my fear.
I took comfort in the fact I was well kitted out, prepared for the weather. Ample food & Drink supplies and a reliable Shelter for the night. Reminding myself that when arriving at the camp spot earlier in the day, I’d taken the time to meticulously assess the surrounding trees, making sure there were none that looked weak, leaning, broken or cracked, none that creaked excessively - establishing prior to pitching that there were no probable Widow makers.
I told my self that the probability of a tree that has stood tall for so many years, falling on the exact spot I am, at the exact moment I’m there is very unlikely to happen. I thought about other times I’d been scared, and the feelings after when I realised I needn’t of been scared. I told myself that in the morning, when the sun is up and I’m ok I’ll wish I’d just enjoyed the night. So that’s what I did, all of the above I’ve divulged about that night, was only about an hour of it. Thanks to Susan’s book that I’d read prior to my Trip, I’d managed to successfully talk myself down and get the Fear under control. I can honestly say, from that moment on I had a fantastic night. I sat sheltered from the rain in my tent with ambient lighting from my red head torch. I was warm and content with my Down sleeping bag draped over my legs. Music played on my wind up radio, whilst I cooked and devoured a delicious curry for dinner, pot of peaches for dessert, followed by a couple of hot chocolates after. Revelling in my sense of accomplishment, whilst gazing towards the night sky through the unzipped tent door, the Moon reflecting on the the lake bordered by trees below, the silhouette of the mountain ridge above in the background. I’d hunkered down for the night, cosy and warm, to the pleasant sound of Owls and the lake lapping the shore.
View from the tent #ad
In the morning I woke to Bird song, the rain had stopped and the sun shone through sparse gaps in the clouds. It was a new day, I packed up ready for the hike to the next camp stop. Just as I had expected, I had made it through the night, all my initial fear was wasted energy.
I feel empowered since that night, like I discovered an inner strength within myself, a strength which helped me to realise, I am strong, and I am capable.
Just to put things in to perspective regarding the enormity of this self growth. I’ll share with you a little secret … in the past when I was home alone due to my husband working night shifts, I’d find myself walking up the stairs sideways, with my back against the wall, as I’d let my irrational fear dominated mind run away with me, imagining someone grabbing my ankles through the banisters as I was heading up the stairs. I’m pleased to say those days are long gone.
Back page of book #ad
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’m ever grateful for Susan’s book. Needless to say I think its clear that I rate this book very highly and from my own personal experience I can confidently recommend it to everyone, knowing only good will come from reading this book. Its hard to believe I’ve come so far in less than two years, yet somehow, I can honestly say, that by reading “Feel the Fear and do it anyway” it was possible.
Here’s some other Great Self help Books from Amazon I’d recommend for Self Growth:
How to Stop Overthinking: The 7-Step Plan to Control and Eliminate Negative Thoughts, Declutter Your Mind and Start Thinking Positively in 5 Minutes or Less (Master the Art of Self-Improvement)
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?: Drawing on years of experience as a clinical psychologist, online sensation Dr Julie Smith shares all the skills you need to get through life's ups and downs.
Atomic Habits: the life-changing million-copy #1 bestseller.
People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.