It is that time of year, October. October is the time of year; we hope for cooler temperatures, Sunday football victories, bonfires, and pumpkins. Let's remember, for some, this is the best time of year for ghosts, ghouls, and fear. That's right, fear. 

Just saying the word FEAR more than once is giving me the chills! Fear is a funny thing. To a certain extent, fear can be a good thing.

 

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Do one thing every day that scares you."

It got me thinking about the connection between fear and adventure.  

 

One could infer that while embarking on an adventure, at one point or another, one would experience some level of fear. In the proper doses, science has determined that fear has many benefits. What might some of those benefits be? Read on to find out.

 

Fear helps you to make intelligent decisions and avoid potentially dangerous situations. Fear acts as an internal alarm, a warning signal. 

Without fear, you might run into a road of heavy traffic or walk down that dark, suspicious alley alone. Fear generates our brain's fight-or-flight response to keep us safe. Without this fear response, you would not have the energy, speed, or strength to fight or flee. 

 

Stress stems from fear. We worry that something will go wrong or that we forgot the most important detail. When under stress, the body floods the brain and nervous system with adrenaline, dopamine, and oxygen. We buzz to life, and our brain becomes hyper-focused on the most critical information to make safe choices. 

 

Worrying about future outcomes is enough to scare anyone! If you are feeling anxious or fearful about something unknown in the future, you can harness that fear to help you focus on what needs to be done in the present to achieve the most desired outcome. Anxiety can help you make a plan and decide the next step forward. Fear snaps you into feeling alert and awake. 

 

Oxytocin is released when you experience fear. The hormone of oxytocin is associated with pro-social behavior. 

The release of oxytocin is one of the brain's many survival instincts. Oxytocin helps you to find other humans to work with and bond with to survive. Consider the desire to huddle together during a horror movie or hold the hand of another on a roller coaster.  

 

When you fear for a sick family member, an injured child, or a big career move, fear can help you filter out all other unnecessary details. Fear can help you take care of what is most important in life. Fear can help you to see that the time is "now" and later is not guaranteed.  

 

Find your sweet spot with fear. Fear can bring about change, clarity, and originality. Try to embrace fear when it's appropriate. By no means am I suggesting you lean into big life-threatening fear, that would be reckless. But, small doses may help us become healthier and more confident.