Marie Forleo on How to Face Your Fear and Get Back up After a Humiliating Face Plant

TL;DR

Marie Forleo says the way to face fear after a humiliating setback is to get back up, proceed slowly, and experience the fear without trying to suppress it. After crashing a scooter within three seconds of starting it in Italy, she chose better instruction and another attempt instead of becoming a passenger. Her story offers a practical reason to read on: setbacks happen in every area of life, but mistakes do not require giving up.

Transcript

josh and i were um on a vacation usually we try at this stage in my life i try and do one adventure with him a year right and so this is a couple years ago and we were so excited to be in italy and it was a particular place where the way you get around is on scooter there's not that many cars on this particular island and i hadn't ridden a scooter ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😨 Overcoming embarrassment and fear is crucial in facing life's challenges and setbacks.
• 🥺 Learning from mistakes and choosing to try again can lead to personal growth.
• 🤩 Resilience plays a key role in moving past embarrassing incidents and fears.
• 😨 Taking things slow and being present can help in overcoming fear and embarrassment.
• 🍂 The choice to get back up after falling is essential in life, no matter the circumstances.
• 🉑 Accepting failures as part of the learning process is crucial for personal development.
• 😨 Seeking guidance and support can aid in conquering fears and challenges.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Marie Forleo face her fear after the humiliating scooter crash?

Marie chose to get back up and learn to ride instead of becoming a passenger. She asked for better instruction, moved slowly, breathed through the fear, and stayed present while experiencing it.

Q: What caused Marie Forleo's scooter crash in Italy?

Marie had not ridden a scooter in about 20 years and received instructions across a language barrier because she spoke little Italian and the rental owner spoke little English. Within about three seconds, she somehow applied the gas and brake fully at the same time, causing the scooter to pop, flip, and land on her.

Q: Was Marie Forleo injured in the scooter accident?

Marie landed on bare skin on the asphalt, but she did not break anything. She described that outcome as a miracle, especially because the scooter landed on top of her.

Q: Why did Marie decide to ride the scooter again?

She did not want fear of scooters, riding, and driving to become fixed in her. She also knew she had ridden before and believed she could do it with better instruction.

Q: What choice did Marie face immediately after the crash?

The rental staff suggested taking back her scooter, giving Josh a bigger bike, and letting her ride as a passenger. Marie saw the moment as a choice between getting back up to learn or remaining a passenger, and she chose to learn.

Q: How did shame affect Marie after the face plant?

Although she had narrowly avoided serious injury, Marie felt engulfed by shame, embarrassment, and humiliation. She was also physically shaken, describing her body as vibrating after the accident.

Q: What practical steps helped Marie ride again after falling?

Marie had the rental staff explain the scooter more clearly and then took the process very slowly. She breathed through the fear, became present, and allowed herself to experience the emotion instead of trying to make it disappear.

Q: What lesson did Marie Forleo draw from the scooter incident?

Marie said everyone eventually wipes out or face-plants physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or creatively. The important question is not whether a setback will happen, but whether a person will get back up and ride again.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• On vacation in Italy, attempted scooter ride led to embarrassing crash.

• Faced shame and fear but chose to learn and ride again.

• Highlighted the importance of getting back up after life setbacks.