In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Heather Vickery about leveraging your fears into intentional bravery. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Heather and Jonathan discussed the concept of leveraging fears into intentional bravery, focusing on its application in the workplace and personal growth. They emphasized the importance of self-awareness, personal accountability, and regular reflection in driving positive change, and shared practical tools and exercises to help individuals manage their fears and commitments. The discussion also touched on the sunk cost fallacy, the need to manage limited resources, and Heather's book "F*ck Fearless," with an invitation for the audience to connect with her for further insights.
Leveraging Fears for Intentional Bravery
Heather and Jonathan had a discussion about leveraging fears into intentional bravery. Jonathan welcomed Heather, introduced the topic and asked her to share her background and personal context with the audience. Heather agreed to share practical applications of the topic to help her audience lead their teams better. Both were located far from their usual places, with Jonathan in Utah and Heather outside of Chicago. They discussed the recent weather in their respective locations.
Leveraging Fears for Intentional Bravery
Jonathan and Heather discussed the concept of leveraging fears into intentional bravery, focusing on this in a workplace context. They emphasized that everyone faces fears and challenges, but it's how one responds that defines them. Heather, a success coach, shared her unique approach to the topic, incorporating human design, subconscious reprogramming, and NLP. They both agreed on the importance of awareness and intentionality in deciding what actions require bravery in a given situation. Heather's personal experiences and certifications further enriched the discussion.
Self-Awareness, Accountability, and Personal Growth
Heather and Jonathan discussed the importance of self-awareness and personal accountability in driving positive change. They emphasized that individuals have the power to choose their responses to challenges and situations, and that taking ownership of one's thoughts and behaviors is key to personal growth. Heather's "Brave Method," which involves reassessment, reframing, and resilience, was presented as a tool for increasing self-awareness and fostering personal development. They also acknowledged the potential discomfort and resistance to self-reflection, but ultimately argued that the benefits of personal growth outweigh the initial challenges.
Embracing Daily Practices for Personal Growth
Heather emphasized the importance of regular reflection and reassessment in one's personal and professional life. She suggested implementing daily gratitude practices and setting flexible goals to enhance a sense of peace, relaxation, and joy. Heather also underscored the significance of having an accountability partner or mentor to stay motivated and on track. She advised against waiting until circumstances become dire before making necessary changes. Jonathan concurred with Heather's points and emphasized the importance of not postponing improvements until a crisis occurs.
Overcoming Sunk Cost Fallacy in Decisions
Jonathan and Heather discussed the sunk cost fallacy, where people struggle to let go of endeavors they have heavily invested time and effort into, even if those endeavors are no longer serving their intended purpose. Jonathan acknowledged having experiences where things he was passionate about weren't working out as planned. Heather encouraged him to view past investments as learning opportunities, have open conversations with others, and trust himself when realizing it's time to pivot or abandon certain commitments, despite the fear of disappointment or appearing like a failure.
Managing Resources, Making Intentional Commitments, and Overcoming Fears
Jonathan and Heather discussed the importance of managing our limited resources and being intentional about our commitments. They emphasized that saying 'no' to some things means we are saying 'yes' to others, and it's crucial to evaluate what we are giving up when we take on new tasks. They also talked about the value of being brave and leaning into our fears. Heather suggested a practical exercise of listing our fears and then examining the potential outcomes, to help build trust in ourselves and make braver decisions.
Listen to the webinar here:
