Fear Isn't Always the Enemy...
When I got to the grocery store yesterday… there were no carts left. None.
People were standing near the entrance, literally waiting in a line for someone to return one.
I had decided to do my weekly grocery shopping a day early.
And apparently - everyone else had the same idea.
Because a “cyclone bomb” snowstorm was headed our way.
And I’m not exactly sure what that actually is, but I’ve heard reports of everything between 20 inches and 4 feet of snow, so I figured it was serious enough that I should probably have a few days of healthy meals on hand.
Inside the store the aisles were packed and more often than not I stood patiently behind someone while they selected their item before being able to get to what was on my list.
And some shoppers were clearly preparing for the worst - carts piled high like it was early 2020 again!
I started to wonder “Should I be panic-buying soup right now too?”
Then, standing there, waiting for cottage cheese, I had a realization.
Fear was motivating people to take action.
The possibility of being snowed in got people moving.
They made a plan, changed their schedule, stocked up and prepared.
Fear didn’t paralyze them.
It mobilized them.
And this made me think about how often we talk about fear as a negative - something that holds us back.
But fear can actually be a powerful catalyst.
The key is how you use it.
In the health and fitness world, fear shows up in different ways:
Fear of declining health.
Fear of feeling tired all the time.
Fear of losing mobility as you age.
Fear of a concerning lab result.
Fear of a future body you no longer recognize.
Some people react by avoidance.
They tell themselves they’ll start next week.
Or when life slows down.
Or when motivation magically appears.
But others use that same fear differently.
They let it become a signal instead of a stop sign.
Think about the grocery store yesterday.
Nobody said, “Well, a storm is coming… guess I’ll just do nothing.”
They prepared - some of them a little bit overzealously.
Fear triggered action.
And that same principle can apply to your health.
Instead of letting fear spiral you into worry, you can ask yourself a different question:
“What is one action I can take today to prepare for the future I want?”
Maybe that action is:
Scheduling a walk.
Planning a few healthy meals for the week.
Strength training to preserve muscle.
Prioritizing sleep instead of one more late night.
Small steps compound.
Preparation builds confidence.
And confidence slowly replaces fear.
Motivation doesn’t always start with excitement.
Sometimes it starts with awareness,
Or concern,
Or a little bit of fear about where things could be headed.
The difference is what you do next.
You can let it freeze you…
Or you can let it move you.
Just like everyone in that crowded grocery store yesterday.
What would your future self be grateful you prepared for today?
Take one small step toward that now.
You don’t need a cyclone bomb to start.
Xoxo,
Kim
P.S. We’re at 10 more inches of snow and ice so far and counting!
