‘Take Your Foot Off the Brake’

Stephen M.R. Covey

There are times when it comes to progress and success where it is less about following a checklist and more about ceasing certain thinking and behaviors.

“Sometimes the fastest way to achieve results is to simply take your foot off the brake,” is a Stephen M.R. Covey (author: “The Speed of Trust”) quote that points this belief out.

What was said before that is also important to consider.

“...you need to remove restraining forces. If you don’t, it's like trying to drive a car with one foot on the gas pedal and the other foot on the break,” Covey communicates.

This obviously is not ideal and can be a costly obstacle to overcome.

Jeremy Ross

“The brake is often the excuse we make,” says Jeremy Ross, a publicist, public speaking coach and keynote speaker at Prestige Public Relations and Marketing. “The obstacles and negative habits that prevent us from moving forward are usually rooted in self-imposed fears.

“It’s crucial to identify them and make a conscious effort to overcome. The reality though, is that our foot can get pretty heavy when it comes to facing fears. If a person is able to honestly identify a limiting belief or habit, their foot can get lighter and they can begin to remove that restraining force.”

Nandita Gupta

People can struggle cognitively to make the smart situational decision to move past hesitancy. Maybe a mantra can be useful to inspire a reframing of a challenging experience.

“It takes me back to my martial arts training with Wing Tsun,” says Nandita Gupta, an accessibility product manager, AI accessibility product expert and a TEDx speaker. “‘Go with the flow,’ was a common phrase used by my Sifu, as well as ‘Don't fight force with force, yield and move faster.’”

She admits keeping our foot on the brake, figuratively speaking, is natural, even if remains troublesome.

“There are times in our personal and professional lives when we may sometimes question our gut as well as fixate on an issue and solution for too long,” Gupta says.

AnnLee Allen

The obstacle is deep inside our psychology.

“In our personal lives, the analogy of taking one’s foot off the brake encourages reflection on the habits, beliefs or situations that may be holding us back,” says AnnLee Allen, a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Therapy For Her, which helps women to explore their curiosity about themselves.

“It prompts thoughtful consideration of what changes can be made to facilitate progress, understanding that sometimes the most significant strides come from allowing ourselves the freedom to move forward unencumbered.”

Michael Mapes

Without understanding, beneficial movement can stall.

“Removing the forces holding us back involves understanding the underlying attitudes and beliefs that hinder progress,” says Michael Mapes, the founder of Let Us Help You Launch, a marketing agency for conscious entrepreneurs.

He has created a name for the problem,

“I refer to these as the Cycle of Unsuccess, a set of behaviors that act as roadblocks on our journey to success,” Mapes says.

“These behaviors include: procrastination, stop-start patterns, overanalyzing or indecision, refusal to invest wisely, perfectionism and victimhood,” he explains. “Understanding and dismantling these behaviors is key to unleashing the potential for achievement and growth.”

Emotions and psychology can be perplexing and difficult to understand to successfully manage and move forward by releasing the brake.

“This is the fight-or-flight response that kicks in and wants to keep us safe,’ Gupta says. “In many ways, we are programmed to do so as humans and this is a good thing overall. That being said, we do need to recognize it, especially when it is stopping us from progress.

“In many cases, our previous lived experiences also tie into our responses of how hard we may keep the foot on the brake. If one may have had distressing experiences that have made one cautious, it may be harder to let go of the foot from the brake.”

“Fear of the unknown, self-doubt, past traumas and ingrained belief systems can act as powerful restraining forces,” Allen says. “In the professional realm, fear of failure, imposter syndrome or workplace stressors may contribute to the desire to maintain the status quo.

“In personal lives, comfort zones and the fear of change or vulnerability can lead to self-imposed limitations.

“Additionally, societal expectations, external judgments and cultural influences may play a role in the decision to keep the foot on the brake.”

Gaining awareness of it is vitally important for progress.

“Recognizing and understanding these factors is a crucial step in therapy, as it allows individuals to explore and address the root causes of their self-limiting behaviors,” Allen states. “Through this process, individuals can gradually release these restraints, fostering personal and professional growth.”

What our brains have learned and trust can act as impediments.

“We’re often taught that a brake prevents a mistake,” Ross points out. “Sometimes that’s prudent, but again, it’s often just fear. Fear of being rejected for a raise, having our opinions ridiculed or getting shot down by a romantic interest. And that is often rooted in allowing others to dictate our self-worth.

“In public speaking, for example, some people have deeply rooted fears of being evaluated by others. This can be the result of things that happened in childhood or traumatic experiences that are essentially faulty parts under the hood. These negative thoughts and emotions can create a mental block that prevents them from taking action.”

People can come to subconsciously act contradictory to stated objectives.

“We keep our foot on the break, even when we claim to want change because of deep-rooted attitudes, such as a fear of failure or the unknown, a lack of self-confidence or the need to conform,” Mapes asserts.

“Many people claim they want to make more money but refuse to take the actions that would improve their financial situation. The thought, ‘I want to make more money,’ is quickly replaced by a series of negative thoughts like ‘wealthy people are greedy’ or if ‘I made more money I’d lose my freedom,’ which gets in the way of actually doing the things that would result in making more money.”

A way forward to prevent or overcome this thinking-and-behavior practice is therefore possible.

“Create safe spaces or identify safe situations where one might practice this action of letting go and over time, this is a behavior that becomes more acquired,” Gupta says.

One-on-one assistance to respond to complexities can provide helpful.

“Facilitating the process of overcoming the practice of keeping one’s foot on the brake involves a multifaceted approach,” Allen says.

“First and foremost, promoting self-awareness is key, encouraging clients to identify and understand the limiting beliefs contributing to their self-imposed restrictions.

“Challenging negative thought patterns, exploring underlying fears, and addressing resistance are pivotal steps in dismantling these barriers.

“Collaboratively setting realistic goals and breaking them down into manageable steps helps alleviate the overwhelm associated with change.

“Fostering self-compassion, cultivating a growth mindset and developing coping strategies contribute to a supportive framework for clients.”

Getting comfortable with the reality of shared human experiences is beneficial to remember.

“First of all, understanding that this is a normal part of life. We all make tough decisions that have risks and rewards,” Ross says. “But it’s crucial to become aware of any negative thoughts and emotions that are holding us back unnecessarily. Once we recognize them we can begin to challenge them.

“I like to remind people that one person's fear is another person's rush. Adrenaline junkies attack their fears in extreme sports to experience the same sensations that another person is trying to protect themselves from.”

He speaks to public speaking to further illustrate.

“Getting out on a stage or pursuing and ambition is not jumping out of an airplane or white-water rafting,” he begins. “Do we want the rush that comes from personal or professional growth? Embrace the rush. It may happen quick but it probably won’t kill you to take your foot off the brake.”