ReThinking: Facing your fears with cliff diver Molly Carlson

What It Covers

Canadian high diver Molly Carlson, who hits water at 80 kilometers per hour from 20-27 meter platforms, discusses managing fear in extreme sports, overcoming an eating disorder triggered by coaching abuse at age 15, and founding Brave Gang, an online mental health community with over one billion hashtag views on TikTok.

Key Questions Answered

• •Fear management technique: Instead of eliminating fear before a dive, visualize it as a piece of paper in front of your vision, then gently shift it to the side where it can exist without consuming your full attention. This allows fear to serve its protective function while freeing mental energy to focus on executing the task safely and effectively.
• •Routine over willpower: Create a rhythmic pre-performance routine that becomes muscle memory, eliminating decision-making in high-pressure moments. Count to three, take one specific breath pattern, and let your body execute automatically. This prevents overthinking and mental blocks by transforming the action into an unconscious physical sequence rather than a conscious choice requiring courage.
• •Exposure therapy for anxiety: Spend 30 minutes sitting on the platform before attempting dives to normalize the height and reduce anticipatory fear. Gradual exposure to the fear-inducing environment makes it less shocking when performance time arrives. Visualization during this period helps the brain accept the scenario as manageable rather than catastrophic, reducing the physiological stress response.
• •Boundary setting in advocacy: When sharing mental health struggles publicly, establish clear boundaries to avoid taking on others' burdens as your own. Responding to every message creates unsustainable emotional labor. Instead, focus on creating a safe space for people to share their experiences while recognizing that solving individual struggles is not your responsibility, even when you empathize deeply.
• •Body positivity in judged sports: Combat appearance-based criticism by reframing physical attributes as evidence of capability rather than flaws. Cellulite, bloating, and body changes become proof of what your body can accomplish rather than reasons for shame. This mental shift transforms perceived weaknesses into sources of pride, particularly when performing at elite levels that critics cannot match.