FEAR & HABIT

Okay guys, let's talk about fear.  I'm not talking about snakes or spiders; I'm talking about real fear.  Fear so strong it changes chemicals in your brain that forces you to change decisions, inhibit emotions, and multiply by itself.  

Fighting bulls at any level comes with a very unique job description, similar to that of a body guard or even a pass blocker.   However, the one thing that is different for bullfighters is that the opponent is not a human.  Bulls do not have reason and will not take a bribe.  The outcome quickly becomes UNKNOWN, which in our opinion is one of mans' greatest fears.  

No two situations will be the same in this industry.  You will face literally millions of different challenges along the way.  Many of them come with an inevitable level of uncertainty.  In this game, fear can be your greatest asset or your worst enemy.  It's up to you to decide which category it falls under.  Bullfighters have to consciously decide that the fear of the unknown is  inferior the power of their own minds' in order to train themselves to react the way that is needed to do their job excellently.  This is not something that happens overnight;  it can take years to develop the mental fortitude it takes to perform at a superior level.  To the men that do this day in and day out? It's second nature, no more than a reflex... but it didn't start that way.  It is a habit created by repetition. 

Every time a bullfighter steps in the arena, he is faced with a multitude of decisions in very fast increments of time.  His reactions need to be quick and precise in order for everything to go smoothly (best-case scenario).  At first, your conscious mind will need assistance to make the correct moves.  Over time, after enough of the right moves have been made in succession, this becomes habit.  

According to www.merriam-webster.com, a Habit is "a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance."  

In order for something to become an involuntary type habit, fear needs to be faced.  In order to face fear, you need to realize it exists, and embrace it.  The more you are able to train your mind in a tense situation to make the correct decisions, the easier the habit will be to form. That way, when it comes time to jump that hang-up, you're prepared.  

Comment on the blog post below: What do you really ​FEAR?