Adventuring With Anxiety: Why Fear Is Part of the Experience

Can you live an adventurous life if you struggle with anxiety?

In this episode of Adventure Is Everywhere, we talk about adventure, anxiety, and how to try new things even when your brain jumps to worst-case scenarios.

If you’ve ever wanted to try something new—travel somewhere unfamiliar, hike a new trail, sign up for a big challenge—but your brain immediately started imagining everything that could go wrong, this episode is for you.

We talk about how you can learn to carry anxiety with you instead of letting it stop you, along with practical strategies for building confidence and embracing adventure in everyday life.

You’ll also hear stories from a recent weekend of microadventures around St. Louis—including a spontaneous hike that ended with a herd of elk blocking the trail, a creative stop on Cherokee Street, tango lessons with my fiancé, and a chaotic hot pot dinner.

Here's what else we'll cover:

• Why anxiety doesn’t mean adventure isn’t for you

• The concept of anxiety as “the dizziness of freedom”

• How to prepare for adventure without spiraling into over-planning

• Why microadventures are a powerful way to build confidence

• The importance of starting small and building evidence that you can handle new experiences

• Why doing adventurous things with friends or guides can help reduce anxiety

• The surprising ways nature can support mental health

  Mentions in the episode:

• Hiking at Lone Elk Park near St. Louis
  https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/lone-elk-park/

• Creative stop at SunSnow Stationery & Studio on Cherokee Street
  https://sunsnowstationery.com/

• Coffee at Good Strangers on Cherokee Street
  https://www.goodstrangersstl.com/

• Hot pot dinner at K-Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (Overland, MO)
  https://thekpot.com/location/overland/

• Kim’s first 29029 Everesting experience in Sun Valley
  https://29029everesting.com/sun-valley/

• 29029 Everesting Mont-Tremblant
  https://29029everesting.com/mont-tremblant/

You don’t have to eliminate fear to live an adventurous life.

You just have to decide that your life is big enough to hold both adventure and anxiety.

Follow along for more everyday adventure ideas and microadventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventure.iseverywhere

Topics in this episode: adventure and anxiety, microadventures, outdoor adventure, mental health and travel, overcoming fear, hiking and nature, building confidence through adventure.