As I was having a group discussion with my mentees about fear, we were able to unpack a lot.
First, let me just say—it’s completely normal to feel fear.
We all face it at different points in our lives.
But here’s the thing: when we let that fear overtake us, when it begins to control our decisions and inhibits our growth, that’s when we need to step back and do something about it.
Overcoming fear was not easy for me.
Fear, in general, was deeply rooted in traumatic experiences I had throughout my life.
It took a lot of inner work—through journaling, therapy, and learning about myself—to even begin untangling it.
One of the books that helped me the most was The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
This book truly shifted my perspective, teaching me how to focus on the present and let go of the fears that were holding me hostage.
It’s a book I now encourage my mentees to read, especially those who struggle with overwhelming fear.
When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming a surgeon.
That dream eventually shifted to becoming a doctor, then a trauma nurse, and finally, after having my first son as a single mother, I then decided on becoming a nurse.
It wasn’t just fear of failure—I had this intense fear that I couldn’t do it, that being a single mother meant I wasn’t capable of pursuing my dreams.
That was just the beginning of my fear story.
The fear of not being enough—enough for my child, enough for my career—was paralyzing at times.
Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being able to provide.
Fear, on top of fear, on top of fear, creating a web of self-doubt.
I had to unpack each layer of fear and ask myself, “Is this really true?” What I learned is that none of it was true.
But the process of realizing that took time. It wasn’t an overnight transformation.
I had to keep showing up for myself, even when I didn’t believe in myself fully.
I had to take small steps—studying for exams, working long hours, raising my child—all while carrying that fear.
But the key was that I kept moving forward.
I didn’t let fear stop me, even though it tried to.
One of the biggest moments for me was writing my first book.
After publishing it, I got hit with a horrible review. It was brutal, and for a while, it shattered my confidence.
I stopped enjoying what I loved the most: writing, creating, and educating.
I let that fear of rejection creep in and almost take over.
But then I realized—everyone who’s ever done something meaningful has faced criticism. And that’s part of the journey.
Had I let that fear sink in, it could have killed not just my confidence but my dreams.
I grew tougher skin, learned to move past the rejection, and continued doing what I loved without caring about what others thought.
That’s the power of facing your fear head-on.
You realize it’s not as big or as powerful as you once thought.
So why did I bring this up today?
It’s to be the voice for those who want to get started but are scared because they don’t want to fail.
Failure is simply lessons—welcome them, embrace them.
Don’t let fear kill your confidence and your dreams.
Keep moving forward, because you never know just how close you are to breaking through.
Comments