In this BIT: A former NASCAR driver, in this Julia Landauer interview you’ll discover how to be resilient and embrace discomfort.
Two-time champion NASCAR racecar driver, Julia has made history in the racing world! At 14, she was the first and youngest female champion of the Skip Barber Racing Series. Since, she’s broken numerous records. Julia has made a name for herself in the racing world. Furthermore, Julia was also a contestant on Season 26 of Survivor. Today, retired from racing, Julia is a sought-after keynote speaker. Her discussion topics range from her learnings from racing applied to daily life. She also discusses how we can succeed in elevating one another. Honing in on self-mastery, and more. Be it racecar driving, public speaking, or simply writing an exam at school, we all face uncomfortable situations or challenges. Below, in this interview with Julia Landauer, she shares her advice on how to embrace discomfort and be resilient. Read through the interview with this former NASCAR driver for actionable and thoughtful hacks!
Sadness. Anger. Fear. Frustration. Happiness. Excitement. No emotion or experience lasts forever. Whether your emotion stems from a breakup, rejection, failure, or wrongdoing, the feeling will go away. Remind yourself, Julia encourages, that nothing lasts forever – and this moment or experience will too pass.
Oftentimes, when we are in an uncomfortable setting or situation, we are tempted to walk away. Simply leave this behind us. Sometimes, this is the right strategy. Other times, however, it’s not the best idea to leave. Ask yourself, Julia shares, “will I regret this? Will I wish that I had tried? What happens if things don’t go my way?” Also, what happens if things do turn out in your favor? Only walk away once you’ve considered all the perspectives of a situation. For instance, in racecar driving – perhaps the race is somewhat stressful or uncomfortable. Yet, the win at the end is worthwhile.
We all need ‘buffering’ or ‘processing’ time. This is the function of your outlet! A space or means for you to work through your emotions. “Maybe that’s journaling with yourself, maybe that’s just writing out… maybe it’s having a family member”. Julia shares. In fact, she describes that “I am very close with my family; my parents, siblings, my husband…vocalizing what I’m feeling [is an outlet].” Best of all, when we share our discomfort and emotional experiences with others, we can gain their perspective and advice – helping reduce feelings of loneliness. Moreover, it increases problem solving capabilities. We all need some mind over matter analysis!
Overall, more than anything, remember WHY you are experiencing discomfort. As Julia shares in her tip for evaluating your potential for regret; you will be stronger after a challenge. Challenges make us more equipped for the future. They get us closer to achieving goals. Just like in a gym (or in sports), pain builds gain – this same applies to life. Of course, if you are experiencing extreme discomfort, seek external help. Not all pain is growth – and it’s okay to take a step back and leave a toxic situation. You know yourself, best. All in all, we hope that this advice on how to be resilient and embrace discomfort (for growth) brings you a Small Bit of Happiness.
Listen to Julia’s full episode here.
Find Julia Landauer here:
Instagram: @julialandauer
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View our NASCAR driver interview with Julia Landauer.
Discover how to be more resilient and learn from a former NASCAR driver in this interview!