Yirah & Pachad: Understanding Two Types of Fear

Have you heard the advice to Just do it scared? First, it's important to understand what kind of scared you're feeling.

As I learned from my teacher Tara Mohr (who learned it from Rabbi Lew), in Biblical Hebrew there are two types of fear: yirah and pachad.  

These are powerful compass points, steering you toward what is meant for you – even when it’s scary – and away from what is harmful. 

Pachad

Pachad is the “danger zone” fear, when you should listen to your gut to get the hell out of there. It doesn’t come with a sense of exhilaration, it is all alarm bells. This is what so many of us think of when we think of being afraid.

When it comes to working with pachad, it's simple: heed its warning and get outta there. 

Yirah

And then there's yirah, the “holy wow” kind of fear. 

I think this type of fear is actually much more common, especially among the people I work with.

People who are stretching, who are trying something new and bold, who are no longer content playing a small, “safe” role and feel called to make a change that excites their most essential self.  

Super glamarous yirah. 

I’ve been feeling a lot of yirah lately. When I submitted my article to FastCompany (what if they reject it out of hand?), when I launched the Sacred Nature Retreat (what if nobody comes?), when I decided to let more of my spirituality and woo-woo stuff come through in what I’m sharing (what if they think I’m too weird?). 

Being able to recognize this as “good fear” – the fear that so often accompanies expansion and growth – has helped me navigate this terrain with compassion rather than taking it as a sign to throw in the towel. 

Working with yirah

So what do you do when you’re experiencing yirah? I am no longer a “grit through it” kind of person. (I used to be. I burnt out. There’s a better way!) 

Here’s what I do instead. 

1. Thank the feeling. It’s giving you valuable information, whispering, “You’re on the precipice.” 

2. Practice nervous system regulation. I wrote about this in The Risks of Playing It Safe, and will be sharing a more robust guide soon.

3. Connect with nature. This is related to nervous system regulation, but it’s such a cornerstone of my spiritual practice and emotional well-being, it warrants its own callout. I walk around the block, or spend twenty minutes weeding my garden. I go to the public gardens nearby, or take a walk in the woods. I “zone out” watching the birds in the backyard, or tend my very forgiving houseplants. It all counts. 

4. Play out the fear. I journal my worst case scenario, which usually ends with me being broke, ashamed, alone, and exhausted. And then I map a specific plan for what I would do if that came to pass.
   
   This does two things. First, once I see the Biggest Fears on the page, I can relax into myself and admit that it is extremely unlikely that I would be broke and alone just because one program didn’t sell. Second, it gives me a roadmap to follow if things don’t go as I’d hoped. If I don’t need that roadmap, great! But if I do, I’m ready. 

5. Work with a coach. I actually have a roster of excellent coaches I’m working with right now.
   
   One is an expert on business marketing. One is an expert on helping women unleash their authentic voice. One is an expert on spirituality and integration. Each is helping me get clear on where I want to go, and supporting, challenging, and witnessing me as I make my way there.
   
   Yes, it’s wildly uncomfortable sometimes. It’s also exciting, and I know I’m getting where I want to go exponentially faster than if I tried to do it alone. That is the power of coaching.