Fear: The Inhibitor of Action--How Iconoclasts Free Themselves from Fear

Description

Humans possess a stress response system that evolved in very different circumstances than exist today. In fact, the stress system is so important and active that it can override every other system in the brain. It reacts when provoked, and this reaction is powerful enough to derail many of the most innovative people out there. How does an iconoclast squelch the fear of the unknown, the fear of physical harm, and the fear of social isolation that come along with challenging conventional thinking? This chapter describes some cognitive strategies for keeping the fear system under control. This chapter is excerpted from "Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently."

Keywords

Cognitive psychology Creativity Fear Influence Innovation Leadership Stress