One Word Suggestion: Parachute

For a good friend of mine, it was heights. So we did the obvious thing: we went skydiving.

I was nervous. My friend even more so.

But we committed. We got on the plane. Jumped out into the unknown. Pulled a ripcord. And watched our parachute billow up as we floated down. Screaming and laughing the whole way with relief, joy and exhilaration.

As soon as we were safely back on terra-firma we immediately signed up to go again.

That’s how quickly something that at first terrifies you can become a thing you love.

For me, my biggest fear was deep water, so in university, I learned to surf, scuba dive and sail. Activities I still enjoy to this day. And for this and many other reasons, I’m a big fan of facing your fears.

There is a saying in improvisation, attributed to the legendary improv teacher Del Close:

Follow the fear.

According to a Huff Post article by Mike Bonifer, Del didn’t only say this to neophyte improvisers afraid of performing without a script. Del taught the best there was. Bill Murray, John Belushi, Tina Fey, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers – his former students are the improv comedy hall of fame.

What he said is that you can use your fear as a kind of divining rod. Do what makes you uneasy, he taught. Do the thing that scares you most. There, Close told his students, you will discover new worlds.

For a very large percentage of the population, their number one fear isn’t deep water or heights, it’s public speaking. Being centre stage. But despite living in a world where everyone wants to be famous for nothing (thanks Paris Hilton) our classes and workshops are full of people who think they could never stand up in front of a group and say anything that makes sense.

But just like jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane, once they realize they can. They sign up for more.

Because its exhilarating, fun, and confidence-boosting. And because the experience, is proof of their personal growth.

And that’s why I often refer to improv as “mental skydiving.”

If your fears are deep water or heights, I encourage you to jump right in, or out, as the case may be.

But if your fears are presenting, selling, or speaking confidently in front of a crowd, then get yourself or your team into an improv class or workshop.

And follow the fear. Out of it, you will grow.

Plus, won’t need to wear a helmet or silly goggles, and I promise you will be 100% safe.

Safer, in fact, than any activity that requires you to wear a parachute.