Neuroscience and neurolinguistic programming (NLP) have been pivotal in my coaching training. Better understanding how our brains work just seemed the obvious thing to learn before I could even develop and implement strategies to support my coachees.

In this article, I am inviting you to discover how fear is processed by our brains. But first, let’s consider that fear, like any other emotion, is information (rather than a directive to act a certain way). If we see fear as information, we can then "take a step back and have a better view of our mental processes, which deprives them of the power they exercise over us", as American psychologist Susan David reminds us (Emotional Agility, p.230).

Fear as information

Fear, as emotional information, is processed by three systems that make up our brain: the reptilian brain, the emotional brain (known as the limbic system) and the neocortex. Each of these systems has very specific functions. Understanding these functions better and recognizing when we are using a particular system over another, can allow us to develop greater control over our mental structures and our responses to fear.

The reptilian brain

The reptilian brain (also called the “brainstem” or “reticulated system”) is the oldest brain. It dates back over 100 million years! Its functions basically date back to the time of the dinosaurs or before! It takes care of our physical security, and it serves us to determine our immediate reaction to external stimuli. As a system of protection and survival, the reptilian brain is the one that manages our “fight or flight” response to danger.

The emotional brain

The emotional brain dates back 50 million years and is the brain of 98% of the mammals on the planet! It wraps around the reptilian brain and together they create an interdependent system. It is a link between our physical and our emotional consciousness. It is also a system driven by a strong desire to preserve patterns that are familiar to us and have conditioned us for a very long time.

Fear is our emotional brain's interpretation of stimuli that make us think "I am in danger" of something. This is a system that also tends to be guided by a feeling of survival, a binary way of thinking and with rapid reactions. So in situations of fear, if we let our reptilian and emotional brains govern our response to the situation, we risk remaining in a “fight” or “flight” mode when faced with the emotion rather than to consider a third more rational and productive way. One that could be based on our core values, in order to resolve the situation.

I imagine you reading this and thinking, “Not letting myself be ruled by my emotions is not such an easy thing to do! " I feel you. It is sometimes more familiar to stay in a "flight or fight" mode than to see other possibilities. In fear of uncertainty, for example, you may think that there is more "danger" in leaving your comfort zone, even when it is no longer that comfortable and deprives you of your freedom to act, to think or to be fully yourself.

Susan David explains that “when we have to take risks without any quantifiable probability of success or anything familiar to hold onto, our brain shows increased activation in the amygdala, a region associated with fear” (Emotional Agility, p.194). And when the amygdala in our limbic system activates, it also deactivates our frontal lobe (which aims to rationalize) to respond faster to the perceived danger.

So how do we get out of our patterns of thoughts and emotions? Fortunately, we have… our fabulous third brain: the neocortex!

The neocortex

The cerebral cortex, also called the neocortex, is only 3 million years old. "Only! ": Well, yes, I know, it seems like 3 million years is a long time, but when we look at the evolution and development of our brain, it is still quite recent compared to the reptilian brain! The neocortex is therefore the "new kid” in our brain systems, but it is also 1000 times more flexible than the emotional brain. The neocortex is incredibly complex because its frontal lobes allow us to visualize the future.

This system contains 16 billion neural connections, making it possible to construct and reconstruct images of ourselves, as if they were short films. The neocortex takes care of "imagining" for us. When we experience fear, stimulating our neocortex means imagining a script where moving forward despite the fear opens up new possibilities for us. This visual brain can take over very powerfully over our emotional brain.

If you are saying to yourself, "But I can't visualize" or "I'm not good at visualizing," I have good news for you. We all can visualize! It's called our cerebral brain, and it's a kind of amazing camera that lets us imagine a complex movie in seconds.

Let's do a short exercise involving your visual brain to test this mental "camera" right now:

• Imagine standing 3 meters above or in front of you and take a mental photo of yourself. Or take a low-angle mental photo of yourself.

• Take the time to notice everything you observe in your mind - the details, the atmosphere, etc.

You will be able to notice that you are indeed quite capable of visualizing! But the neocortex is an area of your brain that should be stimulated on a daily basis with practice and with intention.

As Susan David explains, "When we are trapped in toxic thoughts, feelings and situations, we often make choices that take us away from our values" (Emotional Agility, p.147). Putting our values back at the center of our decisions by activating the neocortex makes it possible not to let the reptilian and emotional brains dictate our response to fear.

Because the mental process of anchoring values ​​goes through our visual brain, open-ended questions, visualization, four quadrants thinking, and mental rehearsal are key tools. My coaching methods are aimed at activating your frontal lobes and fully integrating the three brain systems. I mobilize positive visualization and solution-oriented questioning within each session. My coachees can then learn to use the visual capacity of their neocortex to amplify powerful positive emotions. In fact, my coachees leave their sessions with solutions designed with their internal resources in mind, as well as with a reduced level of stress compared to the beginning of the conversation. 

If this approach has piqued your curiosity, I invite you to schedule a free consultation with me here.

I also suggest that you read my blog post on assertiveness where I give you 3 keys to practice it daily. The need to assert oneself is often limited by the way we manage our emotions, and especially by how we deal with fear.

Did you enjoy this article on how the brain works in relation to fear?

Please feel free to leave me a comment below and share this article with your loved ones, a friend, or a colleague.

Coach Virginie