Unmasking Fear - by Guryan Tighe (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Imagine the possibilities if instead of avoiding the things you feared, you approached them with courage and curiosity.

When we are in the grip of fear, our world can get very small and for many of us, the number of choices shrink to just four basic reactions: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. That's not a lot of options. On a collective level, elements of our society like governments, religions, and businesses sometimes instill fear to divide and control--to keep us feeling dependent on them instead of ourselves. On an individual level, fear can be the reason we're living a life that's not reflective of our truth or potential. It's what keeps us feeling stuck and holds us back. What most of us don't realize is that fear has much to teach us.

"Fear Technician" Guryan Tighe reframes the way we approach fear from the goal of conquering it to a goal of learning from it by providing readers three gateways to look at fear in a way that frees us: curiosity, gratitude, and purpose. She shows us how to interrupt our initial reaction, pause, check in with ourselves, and rewrite the patterns we use to respond to that which we fear. With this shift in thinking and how to engage it, readers will find new pathways forward as they shift from unintentional reactions to intentional responses.

When we change our relationship to fear, we gain valuable insights that inform our growth and development, connecting us more deeply to our truth. This different approach to fear doesn't just transform our relationship with ourselves but can also unite us with others through empathy and shared purpose. What has the power to separate us from ourselves and each other--fear--also has the power to unite us. Unmasking Fear shows us that fear is courage unrealized and understanding our fears frees us to pursue the life we want.

Review Quotes

"For many of us, our internal fears and dialogues--both conscious and unconscious--hold us back from achieving our full potential. Guryan artfully unpacks the cause of these self-limitations using a combination of science, art, and empathy. She is an insightful guide to find what you want to be and how you want to show up in the world. She does this by teaching us how to confront our fears and truly listen to ourselves and others through practical interactive reflections, activities, and practices. A must read for anyone who wants to improve their life and reach their self-defined potential."
--Josh Wright, behavioral science expert and entrepreneur

"As someone who has studied leadership dynamics for decades, I find Guryan Tighe's Unmasking Fear revolutionary in its approach to one of humanity's most fundamental challenges. Rather than offering simplistic strategies to 'overcome' fear, Tighe provides a sophisticated framework that transforms fear from obstacle to opportunity. Her three gateways of curiosity, gratitude, and purpose offer practical pathways that leaders at all levels can implement to create more authentic organizations and lives. This book brilliantly bridges personal development with collective transformation--exactly what our divided world needs. I will be recommending it to both my executive clients and university students as essential reading for anyone seeking to lead with greater purpose and authenticity."
--Dr. Denise M. Lucy, professor and executive director, Institute for Leadership Studies, Dominican University of California

"Reframing our relationship with fear and looking for ways fear can benefit self-development would seem to be a high order of aspiration. Yet Guryan Tighe's revelatory work highlights how fear, though it can cripple, can also enlighten and be used as an ally and a tool to open doors to greater authenticity notwithstanding real and palpable terror. There is wisdom, light and candor in Tighe's analysis, distilled from a wide range of personal and professional experiences. She shows--no small feat--how fear, which can often hold us back, can also illuminate and liberate."
--Michael Krasny, PhD, author of Off Mike, Spiritual Envy, Sound Ideas and Let There Be Laughter

"Wisdom for our times: Fear is one of the most misunderstood emotions, yet one of the most influential. Unmasking Fear is a guide to working with the energy of fear and using it as a catalyst for creating a better life, especially useful during this period of uncertainty. Using transformational practices and thought-provoking reflections, Guryan Tighe charts a pragmatic, comprehensive, and insightful path to developing greater agency in a changing world. For anyone in the grip of fear, or longing for deeper connection to themselves and others, this book will propel you towards greater clarity, confidence and peace."
--Randy Taran, author of Emotional Advantage and founder/CEO of Project Happiness.org

About the Author

Guryan Tighe is an experienced leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and communications strategist whose clients describe her as a "Fear Technician". She founded her company, FOURAGE, on the belief that understanding and working with our fears, rather than trying to conquer them, yields more professional success and personal fulfillment. She's served in several roles over the years to enhance interpersonal relationships, leadership development and organizational change, including serving as a Chief Culture Officer and workshop facilitator. She also has experience in influencer relations, messaging and positioning, and internal communications. In addition to coaching private clientele, Guryan continues to educate senior executives and help them reorient their relationship with fear as a recurring speaker with the Stockholm School of Economics Executive MBA program and a trainer and executive coach at Dominican University of California's Institute for Leadership Studies, through its office of executive education.