Here is the full transcript of Benjamin White’s talk titled “What Motorcycling Taught Me About Dealing with Anxiety” at TEDxBlinnCollege conference.
In his talk, “What Motorcycling Taught Me About Dealing with Anxiety,” Benjamin White explores the unexpected therapeutic effects of motorcycling on his anxiety. He illustrates how the focus and presence required to ride safely mirror effective strategies for managing anxious thoughts.
White shares personal anecdotes that demonstrate the importance of preparation, protective gear, and mindfulness, drawing a compelling analogy between motorcycling’s physical demands and mental health management. His experience reveals a profound connection between the discipline of motorcycling and improved anxiety control, highlighting an innovative approach to mental wellness. Through his talk, White inspires others to find unique pathways to confront and mitigate their anxiety.
Listen to the audio version here:
TRANSCRIPT:
I have anxiety. I also ride a motorcycle. Not the most likely of combinations, I know. In the summer of 2017, when I embarked on my journey to learn how to ride a motorcycle, I thought doing so would make me nervous, scared, and anxious. And it did. What I did not expect to learn was that in learning to ride a motorcycle and practicing those skills, I would get a better handle on how to better deal with my anxiety.
The Brain and the Motorcycle
Now, there are two machines I want to talk about, one of which is a motorcycle, the other is our brain. The brain, to me, is one of the most fascinating things in the world. It’s the most complex thing in the entire known universe. It’s essentially a what-if machine. It allows us to remember the past and think about the future. This can lead to insight, joy, wonder, and innovation. But sometimes it gets out of control.
There’s a couple of phrases in the motorcycling community, and one of them is this: “All the gear, all the time.” To put it simply, it means wear all your gear all the time.
It’s important to stay protected because as a motorcycle rider, we never know what’s going to happen. There’s very little separating us from the pavement, and wearing your gear is going to mean that should something unfortunate occur, you’re at least going to save some skin, if not possibly save your life.
What this means in terms of anxiety is we can plan ahead. Before I leave for a ride, I have to think, what do I need? What do I need to wear to keep myself safe? How do I need to think to keep myself safe? By planning ahead, I can get rid of some of the anxieties that I have, some of the what-ifs. I don’t have to worry, if I don’t wear a helmet, what would happen if I get in a crash? Because I wear a helmet.
The What-If Machine
In terms of dealing with our anxieties, sometimes we’re what-if machines conjure up a bunch of scenarios, and some of them are likely. If we have a plan going forward, we worry less about what might happen, and we can spend more time grounded in the present moment. Sometimes our anxieties spiral out of control. Our what-if machine works overtime. It conjures up image after image, and it dominates our mental landscape.
You’ve all probably had this experience. You’re driving down the road, and all of a sudden, a muffler appears in the middle of your lane. You stare at it. You fixate on it. You cannot take your eyes away from it. You’re setting yourself up on a collision course for the muffler. Luckily, you’re driving a car or truck or SUV. Chances are, you’ll drive right over the top. But as you’re clenching that steering wheel and looking in your rearview mirror, your what-if machine is still thinking, what if I hit it? What would have happened then?
Motorcycle vs. Car
On a motorcycle, this muffler is all the more hazardous to us. We don’t have the luxury of two wheels on either side. One of the things about riding a motorcycle is you go where you look. In a car, we maneuver it by using the steering wheel and steering the wheels. On a motorcycle, we have to lean. Because you go where you look, if you are staring at that muffler, you’re going to set yourself up on a collision course.
This is something called target fixation, and it’s something we experience as drivers, motorcycle riders, and even pilots. But on a motorcycle, staring at that muffler will mean we’re going to collide with it. What if instead of prioritizing the problem, we prioritize the solution? We need to think about where it is that I need to go. Where do I want to go? Where is safe? Hitting that muffler is not a good option. Going around it is.
We can use this to deal with our anxieties as well. Sometimes our what-if machine conjures up images, and it’s terrifying, and it’s anxiety-provoking, and we cannot look away from them. But if we can slow down a little, breathe deep, we can focus on the solution, not the problem, and we can avoid that anxiety altogether. One of the things that helps in terms of avoiding these types of situations is grounding ourselves in the present moment.
The Importance of Being Present
We have a need to be present and in the moment when we’re driving and we’re riding a motorcycle. However, our what-if machines don’t always have the same idea. We often get behind the wheel of a car, and we think about a myriad of things. We’re distracted from things outside of the vehicle and sometimes within the vehicle as well. But when we drive a car or truck or SUV, we have seatbelts, airbags, and a steel roll cage to protect us in the event something unfortunate should occur.
On a motorcycle, however, we don’t have the luxury of seatbelts, airbags, and steel roll cages. We’re vulnerable. We’re a small object on the road, much smaller than the cars. Pound for pound, we can’t contend with that. So what we need to do as motorcycle riders is be aware. One of the best pieces of safety equipment we can use are our brains, our very what-if machines.
When we think about what’s going on and we identify obstacles in the road, we can figure out how best to avoid them. When I’m riding my motorcycle, I have to be aware of what’s around me. I have to think, does that car see me? Where do I need to be in the lane? Is there something in the road? How can I make myself safer on the roadway?
Confronting Anxiety
When I first started learning to ride a motorcycle, I figured I’d be nervous and anxious, and I was. What I didn’t expect was that doing something that caused me anxiety could teach me so much about how to better deal with the anxieties that I feel. When we’re able to think ahead and make plans, we can reduce our anxiety in the present moment. When our mind works overtime and we’re super anxious about something, if we prioritize the solution and not the problem, we can disengage from that anxiety and move in a direction of our own choosing.
Learning to ride a motorcycle isn’t easy, and neither is dealing with anxiety. But I’ve found that by confronting it head-on and by learning these lessons, I’m not only able to enjoy my ride more, but I also feel less anxiety. When we focus on the journey, we can focus on the here and now while still keeping our destination in mind. Thank you.