Fear Freezes, Hope Motivates

Persuading Others, or Yourself, to Act

This year more than most, fear has been an unwanted guest in our homes-intruding at the dinner table, interrupting our sleep in the early mornings, and inserting itself into conversations with friends and family. Fear is an uninvited companion whispering in our ears as we pass others on the street or pick up a few things at the grocery store.

Fear has many sources: the virus, election uncertainty, wildfires threats, economic worries. The content of its conversation may vary, but most of us have seen and heard more of fear this year than we care to.

This isn’t a post about fear, though, it’s about writing. Because one thing fear does is to shut us down.

The freeze factor

“ Fear freezes, hope motivates. “

I can’t remember where I first read that insight among in cognitive-science based reading. Maybe it was in Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall. Perhaps it was in Jonah Berger’s The Catalyst. There’s consensus among those who write to persuade others-lead with hope if you want people to take action.