Strategy Hour Podcast Episode 990

Rewiring Your Brain’s Fear Response with Sabrina Shafer

Host: Abagail Pumphrey (Business Strategist)
Guest: Sabrina Shafer (Keynote Speaker, Creator of "Fear Forward")
Date: September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, host Abagail Pumphrey welcomes Sabrina Shafer to unpack the often-paralyzing subject of fear, especially in entrepreneurship and business leadership. Sabrina’s “Fear Forward” keynote centers on reprogramming your brain’s response to fear—not simply overcoming it, but using it as fuel to move forward. Drawing from neuroscience, personal experience, and client insights, the episode provides a playbook for recognizing and challenging limiting beliefs, building a “courage muscle,” and integrating manageable risk into everyday life and business.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Sabrina’s Journey With Fear & Origin of “Fear Forward”

• The Myth of “Picking a Lane”: Sabrina’s career is defined by multiple major pivots, debunking the notion that one must “stick with a lane.” ([03:25])
• Fear as a Compass: Tired of letting fear dictate her actions (or lack thereof), Sabrina began using fear as a directional tool, choosing to do things that scare her instead of avoiding them. ([03:56])

Approaching Fear: Does Readiness Matter?

• Meeting Yourself Where You Are: Everyone’s fear tolerance is unique. It’s valid to start with “trivial” or small fears; even minor acts of courage create momentum.
  Quote:

  “Starting with a little fear or a little fear forward is equally as good and as positive... Start where you’re ready.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([04:48])

• Example—Tiny Fears: Sabrina’s early “fear forwards” included going to meetings without makeup or in a hoodie—actions that felt trivial yet significant for her authenticity.
  Quote:

  “If I can do a little fear, maybe it’ll inspire somebody else to do a little fear themselves.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([06:02])

Neuroscience of Fear: What Happens in Our Brains

• Chemicals and Conditioning:
  • Our brains process fear through electricity and chemicals; avoiding fear yields positive reinforcement (comfort/safety), while embracing it rewires the neural pathways, building resilience.
    Quote:

  “If you can get good at being scared and showing up anyway, you build these new pathways or highways... in your brain.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([07:19])

The Process of “Rewiring” Fear Response

• Desensitization & Building “Courage Muscle”:

  • Drawing parallels to military bootcamp and behavioral training, Sabrina explains how repeatedly facing fear systematically lessens its impact.
  • It's not about erasing fear, but about acting despite it.
    Quote:

  “You’re getting better at being scared and showing up anyway... It’s retraining the brain in a very powerful way...”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([09:29])

• Practical Steps:

  • Don’t rely on willpower to “think yourself” out of fear.
  • Start tiny (new hobby, minor risk, low-stakes exposure).
  • Gradually increase the difficulty for compounding resilience.
  • Examples: standup comedy (failing publicly), singing on stage, extreme sports.
    Quote:

  “Start with something small and keep doing little things that help you take on whatever that thing is.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([10:58])

• Failing Forward vs. Fear Forward:

  • The goal is not to avoid failure, nor to guarantee success—simply to confront the fear itself. Outcomes are secondary.
    Quote:

  “It’s not Fail Forward. It’s not about the outcome. The fail part is irrelevant... It’s just about being scared and showing up.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([14:08])

Hidden Limiting Beliefs (“Fake Rules”)

• Recognition:

  • Most people—including high-achieving leaders—experience imposter syndrome and hold hidden beliefs that limit action.
  • “Fake rules” often stem from society, upbringing, or self-judgment (age, qualifications, gender, follower count, etc.). Quote:

  “Life is full of these fake rules that either we write for ourselves... that are so limiting.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([17:40])

• Common in Women Entrepreneurs:

  • Not feeling “old enough,” “young enough,” or “qualified enough” are frequent examples that keep people from trying.

Reframing Self-Talk and Building Confidence

• Mantras and Authenticity:

  • Sabrina’s grounding mantra:

    “It’s my job to show up as my best, most authentic self. It’s their job to figure out what to do with it.” ([23:59])

  • Reflection: Was I my best? Was I authentic? If not—try again, but let go of perfectionism and what others think.

• Decluttering Social Inputs:

  • Unfollow those who drain energy or aren’t inspiring. Actively curate your inspirations to maintain a growth-oriented mindset. ([25:13])

Practical Techniques to Challenge and Replace Limiting Beliefs

• Gradual Habit Formation:

  • Sustainable habits are built through repetition—block time for “investment” in trying new habits.
  • Avoid rushing the process; small, incremental changes foster deep neurological rewiring.
  • Practical tip: Set and protect “investment blocks” on your calendar for courageous acts or skill-building. ([26:36])

• Repetition and Progress:

  • Celebrate how far you’ve come through consistent practice, not innate “talent.”
  • Progress is rarely a straight line—embrace the journey of getting better (even if only you can see the results). ([28:33])

Fear in Entrepreneurship, Public Speaking, and Life

• Everyday Courage:

  • Risk is ever-present, whether launching a business, putting yourself online, or parenting.
  • Sabrina continuously raises her stakes to inspire others.
    Quote:

  “Whatever scares you most will change your life the most every single time you’re scared of something.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([31:42])

• Track Your Fears:

  • Whenever you notice something scares you, jot it down and consider doing it once.

• Fear Can Lead to Joy:

  • Many terrifying things led to Sabrina’s greatest achievements (including being on this very podcast).

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “If I can do a little fear, maybe it’ll inspire somebody else to do a little fear themselves.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([06:02])

• “You’re getting better at being scared and showing up anyway. It’s retraining the brain in a very powerful way to say... these are skills that I have now.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([09:29])

• “It’s not about lying to yourself that this thing isn’t scary. It’s acknowledging, ‘Hey, I’m nervous, I’m anxious, I’m strong, and I can take the next step.’”
  — Abigail Pumphrey ([13:20])

• “Fake rules... are so limiting, that take away from some of the best parts of life just because we think there’s some rule that doesn’t exist.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([17:40])

• “It’s my job to show up as my best, most authentic self. It’s their job to figure out what to do with it.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([23:59])

• “Whatever scares you most will change your life the most every single time you’re scared of something.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([31:42])

• “Some of my fear forwards have ended up being life changing for the good. And some of them have been like, nope, still don’t like it. And that’s okay too.”
  — Sabrina Shafer ([36:05])

Important Timestamps and Segments

• [03:25] – Sabrina’s professional pivots and relationship with fear
• [06:02] – Small fears and authenticity
• [07:19] – Neuroscience: how fear is processed in the brain
• [09:29] – Rewiring fear response (“courage muscles”), parallels with bootcamp/psyops
• [10:58] – How to start rewiring: practical, incremental steps
• [14:08] – Examples of facing fear, difference between “Fear Forward” and “Fail Forward”
• [17:40] – Hidden limiting beliefs (“fake rules”)
• [23:59] – Sabrina’s self-talk/mantra and managing rumination
• [26:36] – Habit formation and blocking time for growth
• [31:42] – Courage in daily life, taking risks, outcomes
• [36:05] – Results from confronting fears—sometimes positive, sometimes neutral, but always informative

Where to Connect with Sabrina Shafer

• LinkedIn: Sabrina Schaeffer
• YouTube: Sabrina Schaeffer Official
• All content is free and ungated.

Final Reflections

The conversation underscores that fear is universal—felt by high-achievers and beginners alike—and that moving forward despite fear is an attainable, transformative skill. Whether your next “fear forward” is showing up on Zoom without makeup or pitching a new product, the critical piece is not the outcome, but the action itself. Start small, repeat, and watch your courage grow.

Host’s closing encouragement:
“If you are inspired by today’s show and you ultimately take a risk that perhaps you didn’t think you would, we’d love to hear about it. Post about it over on LinkedIn. Tag myself, Abigail Pumphrey and Sabrina Schaeffer.”

Useful for:
Entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, and anyone seeking actionable strategies to make fear an ally rather than a roadblock.