Learning New Skills and Overcoming Fear

Overcoming Fear When Learning Something New - Lessons from My First Ski Trip

At 59, I decided to strap on skis for the first time and take on the slopes. Logical? Maybe not. Terrifying? Absolutely. But as I stood at the top of the beginner slope, heart racing and knees wobbling, I realized I wasn’t just learning to ski, I was learning to manage fear.

Fast forward just five days, and I had skied over the mountains from Italy to France and back in a day. I even tackled a red run that, only four days earlier, I would have thought was impossible. What changed? Not just my technique, but my relationship with fear and how I approached learning itself.

Why Fear Gets in the Way of Learning

Whenever we try something new, fear shows up. It’s our brain’s way of keeping us safe, but it can also keep us stuck. Fear makes us overthink, hesitate, and tense up, exactly the opposite of what we need to learn and improve. The key isn’t to get rid of fear but to work with it.

How I Managed Fear (and Learned Faster) on the Slopes

1. Start Small “ Instead of launching myself straight down the mountain (tempting as that disaster would have been), I built confidence on easier slopes first. Small wins tell your brain,  You can do this.

2. Breathe and Visualise  -  Deep breaths calmed my nervous system, and picturing myself skiing smoothly (instead of wiping out spectacularly) helped train my brain before my body even moved.

3. Observe and Selectively Take Advice - Not all advice is useful. I paid attention to those who skied with effortless control, picking up on their technique rather than trying to process every single tip thrown my way. Our brains are wired for observational learning watching skilled practitioners activates the same neural pathways as doing the movement ourselves.

4. Skiing with the Right People -  I was lucky to be skiing with more experienced skiers who knew exactly when to encourage me, when to challenge me, and when to remind me to laugh at myself. They provided just the right balance of support and pressure - exactly what great coaching does.

5. Reframe the Fear -  Instead of thinking, I’m going to fall! I told myself, This is exciting! Fear and excitement feel the same in the body - how we label them makes all the difference.

6. Laugh at the Learning Process  -  Yes, I fell. A lot. But every fall was proof that I was trying. And the more I laughed, the less fear had a hold on me.

Fear and Learning: The Big Picture

This isn’t just about skiing it’s about anything new we want to learn. Fear shows up whenever we step outside our comfort zone, but that’s also where growth happens. Whether its a new sport, a new career move, or a new adventure, the same principles apply:

• Start small and build confidence
• Use breathwork and visualization to stay calm
• Observe those who do it well - your brain learns through watching
• Take advice selectively - too much input can overwhelm progress
• Surround yourself with the right people - support and challenge accelerate learning
• Reframe fear as excitement
• Embrace mistakes as part of the process

Had I listened to my fear, I would have never made it beyond that first wobbly attempt on the beginner slope. Instead, in just five days, I was skiing across international borders and tackling runs I never thought possible.

And if fear is keeping you from taking on something new, that’s where Adventure into Wellness can help. We use neurobiologically informed coaching methods to help you manage fear, take on new challenges, and experience the joy of learning and growth at any age. Having the right support makes all the difference, and werre here to provide it.

So, what’s something new you’ve been wanting to try? What’s stopping you? Let’s tackle it together.