Amygdala is a Latin word based on Greek that means “almond.” Named for its almond shape, your amygdala is a group of neurons in the brain that has tremendous power over your perceptions and actions. The amygdala senses potential and real stress and orders the release of neurotransmitters in response, causing you to feel doubt, fear, and anxiety.

When you are growing or moving to the next level of success in any area of your life, the doubt, fear, and anxiety are absolutely normal. They’re caused by the release of a chemical in your brain. When you understand why it’s happening, you can recognize it as normal and realize that your brain is doing what it’s supposed to do: sending you signals so you can make decisions, not trying to stop you in your tracks.

Highly successful people feel the same feelings of fear, doubt, and anxiety that everyone else feels. It’s what they do about them that makes them different. When they come up against failure or something that doesn’t work, they don’t take it personally. They try something different and they move on.

From “Having It All” by John Assaraf