Matt realized that his initial fear would not last forever. Despite feeling very scared at first, his mind automatically shifted away from that emotion, making it impossible for him to remain in a state of terror. This automatic response helped him move forward, even when he was overwhelmed.
He observed that his brain seemed to acknowledge his fear and then quickly directed his focus elsewhere. It was as if his mind was saying, "Okay, you've been scared enough," allowing him to find the strength to continue despite his initial anxiety.