How To Overcome Stress, Fear & Negative Thoughts To Reinvent Your Life | Hedvig Wessel

Rangan Chatterjee

Nov 13, 2024

Episode description

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Today's guest is Hedvig Wessel, a professional skier and the 2024 Freeride World Tour champion. Now, if you’re not sure what freeride skiing is, it involves navigating the most challenging mountain terrain, and due to its dangerous nature, it’s a sport for only the most highly skilled skiers. One wrong move could be fatal.

What is incredible about Hedvig - and one of the reasons I was keen to invite her onto the show - is her general outlook on life: the approach she takes to following her passion and living her truth.

In our conversation, we cover so many different topics that - although discussed in the context of being a World Champion skiier - I believe, have huge relevance for each and every one of us. We talk about conquering negative thoughts, how to manage anxiety, the importance of exploring our own personal limits, and how we can best overcome fear, and turn our struggles into growth.

Hedvig shares her inspiring journey to becoming world champion, and we discuss how pursuing our own passions can lead to a more meaningful and purposeful life. We explore the rituals Hedwig uses to prepare for competition, the importance of trusting our instincts in critical moments and how spending time in nature has shaped her perspective on life and death.

We also discuss why Hedwig chooses to work with an Ayurvedic health coach, why she has decided to stop competing despite being the reigning world champion, and she shares a powerful visualisation exercise that she uses to make difficult decisions.

This conversation is a masterclass in purposeful living, following your passion, and the power of self-reflection. Hedvig's insights on pushing limits, overcoming fear, and living with intention will inspire you to approach your own challenges with renewed courage and clarity.
#feelbetterlivemore
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Connect with Hedwig Wessel:
https://www.instagram.com/hedvigwessel/
@HedvigWesselYT
https://www.facebook.com/hedvigwesselathlete/

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast

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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Utilize two papers to guide decision-making through body awareness

To make a difficult choice, write each option on a piece of paper, stand on each one, and tune into how your body feels to guide your decision.

#awareness

#decision-making

Confront fear immediately after failure to regain confidence

After a scary experience like an avalanche, you must immediately do the activity again before fear sets in and prevents you from ever doing it again.

#fear

#resilience

Practice fear and nervousness to enhance performance

Elite athletes regularly practice feeling fear and nervousness to associate it with excitement and presence, rather than something to be pushed away.

#fear

#resilience

Time your stress and use music to calm down before performance

You can't sustain high-stress states for long, so use tools like music to distract and calm down until the moment you need to perform.

#music

#stress

Utilize in-between moments for rest, not productivity

During busy periods, it is crucial to use the moments between meetings or tasks to rest and disconnect, rather than trying to be productive on your phone.

#recovery

#stress

Repeat 'I can trust myself' daily to build self-trust

Saying the affirmation 'I can trust myself' multiple times a day is a powerful tool to build self-trust, especially before a challenge.

#empowerment

#routine

Establish morning routine by avoiding phone until after grounding practices

A strict morning routine involves not turning on your phone until after you've completed grounding practices like yoga and journaling to set your own state for the day.

#grounding

#routine

Create a sense of home while traveling with familiar items

To manage the stress of unfamiliar environments, travel with items that create a sense of safety and routine, like your own breakfast, a rice cooker, a yoga mat, and a journal.