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Dr Rangan ChatterjeeDr Rangan Chatterjee

The Only Way To Conquer Fear, Build Your Dream Life & Stop Caring What People Think | Sifan Hassan

This episode is brought to you by: AG1: Get 10 FREE Travel Packs and Welcome Kit worth $80 visit: https://bit.ly/43FwxQl BON CHARGE: Save 20% off with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore WHOOP: Get WHOOP 5.0 and your first month free https://join.whoop.com/livemore It’s easy to be inspired by success, but the real lessons often lie in what it took to get there. After all, true strength isn’t just physical; it’s found in how we face change, challenge and the unknown. In this episode of my Feel Better, Live More podcast, I sit down with one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time, Sifan Hassan. Sifan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner, celebrated for her versatility and achievements in athletics. Born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands as a refugee, she is known for competing at the highest level in a wide range of distances, including the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon. She is a two-time World Champion, an Olympic medallist, and holds multiple European Championship titles. Her journey from refugee to Olympic and World Champion has captivated the world, not just for what she’s achieved, but for how she approaches life. Sifan’s story is one of courage, faith, and relentless curiosity. In this wonderful conversation, we explore: ● How growing up in Ethiopia and later seeking asylum in the Netherlands shaped Sifan’s inner strength, perspective and deep appreciation for opportunity ● The role running played in navigating life in a new country, and how it offered focus, purpose and belonging ● Why failure, fear and self-doubt have been central to her journey, and how she’s learned to embrace them as essential parts of growth and performance ● How Sifan continues to find joy in running, despite the pressures of elite sport, and why staying curious matters more to her than winning ● What her training now looks like behind the scenes - including the shifts she’s made to prioritise recovery, longevity and mental balance ● Why she sees rest, sleep and routine as forms of discipline, and how simplicity keeps her grounded ● What she’s come to understand about identity, letting go of perfection, and finding peace with who she is, beyond the medals You don’t need to be an athlete to connect with Sifan’s story; it speaks to something deeply human in all of us. In a world that often celebrates outcomes, this conversation invites us to embrace the process of becoming, adapting, and learning. Sifan’s perspective is a beautiful example of what it means to stay rooted in who we are, even when life takes us far from where we began. #feelbetterlivemore ---- Find out about Sifan: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sifanhassan/ X https://x.com/SifanHassan Facebook https://www.facebook.com/therealsifanhassan/ #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Dr. Rangan ChatterjeehostSifan Hassanguest
Oct 7, 20251h 18mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Sifan Hassan on embracing fear, curiosity, gratitude, and bold risks

  1. Sifan Hassan attributes her global appeal to joyfulness, curiosity, and repeatedly doing what others consider “impossible,” such as moving between track and marathon at the highest level.
  2. She describes a major mindset shift after a low point around 2016, where her faith and deliberate focus on gratitude helped her replace anger and depression with a healthier framework for living and competing.
  3. Through the story of winning the 2023 London Marathon on debut—despite stopping to stretch and being written off—she illustrates how redefining success as “experience” reduces perceived risk and unlocks performance.
  4. Hassan highlights the outsized role of psychology in racing, including how competitors’ fear of her finishing kick affected Olympic marathon tactics and decision-making.
  5. She argues that fear of judgment stops people from trying, and that strength training, varied training, and movement build confidence—especially for women and girls who feel self-conscious about exercising.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Treat “experience” as a valid definition of success.

Hassan reframes risky choices (like debuting at the London Marathon) as low-risk when the objective is learning, which keeps her calm and willing to try bold moves.

Courage is acting while still scared, not eliminating fear.

She repeatedly says she feels terrified and doubtful—even after Olympic medals—but she “does it anyway,” which is her practical definition of conquering fear.

Gratitude can function as performance fuel.

In London 2023, once she accepted the situation and felt grateful just to continue, her energy and morale rose and she finished with a surprisingly powerful sprint.

Ignore both praise and criticism to stay free.

Hassan argues that chasing positive attention is as destabilizing as fixating on negativity, because the same crowd that lifts you up can later bring you down.

Taking more shots increases both failures and wins—so don’t fear the losses.

She frames “trying 10 times and failing 5” as a stronger path than playing safe, because attempt volume is what creates outsized success over time.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Is life all about gold?

— Sifan Hassan

The good thing is actually because we scared, you know why we don't do many things, why we don't try? Because we scared to f- fail. If we fail, and then people gonna judge us.

— Sifan Hassan

Believe me, we all are scared. I'm scared. I'm terrified sometimes. But I just do it. I just win over my fear.

— Sifan Hassan

If you also search for positive, one day they're gonna crush you. If you also search for negative, it, both of them, it's, it's not necessary.

— Sifan Hassan

Maybe 20 thing doesn't go the way they want. You only see the one success thing.

— Sifan Hassan

Curiosity vs playing it safeRedefining success as experience (not gold)Fear of failure and fear of judgmentGratitude and religion as a life frameworkPsychology and tactics in elite marathon racingImmigration, identity, and open-mindedness through travelTraining advice: heavy lifting, speed work, cross-training

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