Standing Between Our Thoughts

For Ari Shabat, the real adventure begins at the edge of his comfort zone. The new MoMENtum Men’s Trip Leader, entrepreneur, Spartan Racer, and motivational speaker believes that fear can be a catalyst for growth.

Whether he is testing his mental and physical endurance in all-terrain military obstacle courses, encouraging his family to embrace the uncertainty of new challenges, or inspiring emotional resiliency through the lens of Jewish wisdom, Shabat looks to fear as the motivation for spiritual and physical progress.

“I love the line, ‘Dear fear. Thank you for being here because now I know exactly which way to go.’” It is by contending with fear that Shabat believes we develop the wisdom, courage, and resilience that makes for better parents, partners, and professionals. “When you face your fear and you overcome it… it’s the most empowering feeling in the world.”

Shabat acknowledges that men often struggle to express emotion out of fear or discomfort. “Dudes don’t do emotion,” he said, but he strongly equates emotional and physical resilience, suggesting that one informs the other. Emotional mastery is also one of the Spartan Race codes. “It all comes full circle.” By cultivating emotional intelligence and self-awareness we can lead with authenticity and empathy. “When your thoughts, feelings, and actions are aligned, you’re authentic, and people can recognize that,” he said.

Shabat’s emotional training skills are honed by studying Jewish texts, as well as the writing of research professor Brené Brown. This work has given him permission to actually engage with his emotions, a skill that can be taught, practiced, and mastered. “To be a great leader, to be a great businessman, to have strong relationships, it’s all emotion,” he says,

Now, Shabat looks forward to helping MoMENtum men face their fears and grow. Having first connected with Momentum in Tzfat, Shabat says, “I quickly understood the incredible power that these trips and this organization have,” Shabat said.

Whether leading a group hike up Masada, lecturing on mental toughness and limit-pushing, or conquering the obstacle course, Shabat is always flexing his mental and emotional muscles. “Having permission to fall, to rise, to rumble with your emotions is totally life-changing,” he says.

For more, watch Ari Shabat in conversation with Lori Palatnik here: