“Never Fear the Event.”

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson

So.

I am using a quote from a guy who probably was one of the best at seeking out ‘events’ rather than fear or avoid them.

Therefore it becomes difficult to use this occasion to discuss worrying about things that will never happen and fear of what could be.

Instead this is all about the ‘impending event’ and fearing it.

In Nelson’s case it was huge cannons shooting big iron balls at him with the intent of taking his head off (and whoda thunk it would actually be a mini ball that would get him in the end).

But. You know what?

He took that bullet that killed him standing in full admiral dress uniform on the main deck in full view of his men and all his enemy to see.  Leading. Did he feel “fear?” Sure.

I am sure somewhere inside him he had to feel something. But the event took precedent.

Fear, dread and worry are odd things. But very real odd things.

And because I am writing about ‘the event’ they affect the event. Or maybe better said they affect your performance at the event.

They become important to talk about for in the moment of the event should lie peace and a certain contentment if we accept the moment as it is (and you actually want to do your best at the event).

But fear saps peace. And worse it saps energy.

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” Leo F. Buscaglia

I will change this quote for my needs and say “it only saps today of its energy.”

The constant litany of everything that should have been done, everything that needs to be done, everything you wish you had time to have done … and done it better … sap energy that could be invested in the event.

And many of the things I just listed are driven of fear of the event.

Now. I am not suggesting not being prepared or thinking through what needs to be done or anything like that.

But events are meant to be commanded not feared.

And the difference between approaching an event looking at both of these is significantly different.
I am sure we all have encountered that familiar tightening in your gut as you not only near the event but sometimes just even thinking about the damn thing.

Deep breaths don’t do shit.

Convincing yourself that everything will be okay doesn’t do shit.

And building the perfect plan CERTAINLY doesn’t do shit. (because inevitably it will all go to shit and you will fester and worry about that)

Let me tell you the conclusion of what will occur AFTER the event with worries:

“None of it happened (what I feared or worried about).”

“Some of what I feared happened.” (but it the world didn’t stop spinning)

Oh.

“Look at all the time I wasted.” (fearing the event)

The anxiety and fear associated with the event is a big fat frickin’ waste of time.

Imagining how everything was going to turn out badly was a waste of energy. (and the people who suggest that doing such things made everyone better prepared are wrong … unequivocally wrong)

Some guy who had a crappy education and ended up on CNN or something like that said: “I’d been so focused on my doubts, on replaying that tape of me at my worst, that I’d forgotten who was truly helping me become the best I could be.”

Dude.

You got it (the issue). And you got it (what you wanted).

Ok.

The point.

Yeah. I purposefully selected probably one of the best naval commanders of all time to make this point.

You can fear the event or you can command the event.

Boldness, or commanding the moment, does have a certain power to it. I won’t call it magic but rather energy.

And that makes fearing what is actually something that is inevitable (the event) is just plain silly. And just a plain waste of energy.

I don’t care if it’s a presentation, a speaking event, your driver’s test, an interview or even a frickin’ date.

They are inevitable events.

Seek to command. Do not enter into the event in fear. Stand on the deck amongst the bullets in full uniform and take what will come.

But.

Command. Do not fear the event.

Command the event.