Why Adventurer Bear Grylls Encourages People to S-T-O-P Fighting Against Fear
By Movieguide® Staff
Bear Grylls, a former British Special Forces soldier and TV star on the survival adventure series MAN VS. WILD, recently shared a helpful acronym to address fear in our everyday lives.
Although many would label Grylls as fearless, he said that fear is something that helps him survive in the wild; and that it translates to less life-threatening fears as well.
“Fear is a huge part of my life, it’s part of my job,” he told NPR in a recent interview. “Fear isn’t an enemy. It’s something that nature gives you to allow you to stay sharp and perform well and to have all your senses firing.”
Grylls said that the goal in life should not be to avoid fear but to train it like any other muscle.
“When you’re thrown into a scary situation, that fear muscle isn’t strong, so you get kind of an overload of adrenaline,” he explained. “And an overload of adrenaline is always going to create a kind of a fog of war.”
To help people and himself fight off that “fog,” Grylls uses a version of the acronym, S-T-O-P, created by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan.
NPR reports:
S – Stop and step back
We all have those everyday moments of panic – deadlines, difficult conversations, getting out of our social comfort zones, job interviews. Don’t give in to the anxiety of the moment and just act reflexively.
T – Take a break
It’s hard to think clearly when you’re in fight-or-flight mode. Take a moment to gain some distance from the situation and get your thinking brain back online. Deep breaths and a quick mindfulness practice are a good place to start.
O – Observe
In high-stress situations, Grylls says it’s natural to fixate. “You tend to just get super dialed into that one thing,” he says, “but actually, just look at your surroundings. You’re going to see escape routes. You’re going to see alternatives and options.” Who’s in your corner? What resources do you have? Make sure you’re on alert and taking stock of the full picture.
P – Plan
You’re cool, calm and you’ve collected your resources – it’s time to move ahead. Create a strategic plan of action – or two! – and keep moving forward.
“If I had to choose three things [to bring on any expedition], I would make them a resourceful spirit, a determined heart, and a courageous attitude – that you’re going to walk towards the difficult stuff and do whatever it takes to get out of that,” Grylls added.
Movieguide® previously reported:
MAN VS. WILD and RUNNING WILD star Bear Grylls opened up about the power of positive thinking, how he conquers his fears and his prayer routine.
“‘Storms make us stronger,'” Grylls said of his favorite inspirational quote. “I hold on to that if I’m going through a hard time. A) I know it’s not going to last forever. And B) how I act in the storm defines me. Don’t run away from these difficult moments; they are opportunities.”
He also shared how he starts every day.
“I try to start the day on my knees,” Grylls shared of his daily praying. “I just get down on the floor next to the bed. My grandpa used to do that, and I always loved it. It’s a way to remind me to be grateful, to say sorry and to ask for help. It’s my way to survive the day really.”
Even though Grylls is known for doing terrifying things, it might surprise some of his fans to know that even gets scared sometimes.
“I’m terrified of skydiving and heights, yet I do both all the time,” he admitted. “I’ve learned that if I do the things I’m scared of and I do them often enough, I become good at managing fear. It’s like a muscle, and it gives me an edge. If we are used to doing the difficult and the scary, it can all be positive for us.”
Grylls also talked about the hardest thing he has ever had to do: serving in the British military.
“Being selected for the British Special Forces was life-defining,” he explained. “It was probably the hardest 11 months of my life. I was 19. I failed the first time.”
“It was a reminder to me that the worthwhile things never come easy,” Grylls continued. “You’ve got to go through the door of failure many times to get to the good stuff. I wasn’t the strongest or the fittest or the biggest or the smartest, but sometimes you’ve just got to hang on and be dogged and determined.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
