“Feel the fear and do it anyway” – Susan Jeffers.

Everyone is afraid of something, whether it’s heights, public speaking, commitment, or just trying something new. But what if I told you that fear doesn’t have to hold you back?

Fear is our brain’s way of keeping us safe. It’s an alarm system that warns us of danger. But sometimes, that alarm gets triggered even when we’re not in danger. Sometimes, we’re not afraid of the thing itself; it’s what might happen that we’re so scared of. The unknown makes fear feel more significant and scarier than it is. It grows the more you avoid it, preventing you from overcoming those fears and potentially limiting your life experiences. So, what can we do to stop fear from controlling us?

While avoiding your fears feels like the easiest and safest option, it lets the fear grow stronger. So, how do we shrink it down? Could you just face it? Facing your fears is essentially a process called “exposure therapy.” It’s when you gradually and repeatedly expose yourself to what you fear the most, letting your brain learn that the situation isn’t bad.

So, if public speaking is your fear, start practicing in front of a mirror. Or if you’re afraid of heights, begin by standing on a step stool. When you face your fear, you learn that fear doesn’t control you; you control how you respond to it. Practicing this process makes you stronger and more confident. Things that felt impossible started to feel doable. You’d begin to grow mentally and emotionally. 

I’ve always had fears, but public speaking was one of the biggest. Presenting was just something that I dreaded and feared every day. In my English 3 class, I was forced to show up almost every day, and at first, I hated it, but over time, I got used to it. I realized that it wasn’t as terrifying as I once thought, and now, it’s something that I feel confident in.

As my senior year started, I knew I couldn’t experience something like this again. It’s the last year of my youth, so I decided to make the most of it. Ever since I was a little girl, I struggled with expressing myself, worrying too much about what others would think. Slowly, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and began to understand that people weren’t judging me as harshly as I imagined; it was all in my head. It took a lot of courage, but the growth I’ve experienced has been worth every bit of effort. Facing this fear has made me a stronger person.

Fear feels vast when you run from it but shrinks when you take steps towards it. You don’t have to do everything at once; start small. One step at a time is all it takes to show yourself how brave you are. Remember, you only live once.