I write this now, but just three months ago, I would’ve needed to be the recipient of this post. You see, I’m a chicken… A chicken masked in human flesh, and enabled with a parrot voice. Everything I have done until today has been validated by others. And in cases when it was not validated by others, it was done with skepticism… and more times than not, in secrecy. So to put it plainly, I have always let fear keep me from achieving my goals.
So why am I even writing this now if I have only just come out of my shell? Well, the answer to that is simple… Living in that shell was safe, but it was extremely confining. Living in that shell robbed me of excitement, adventures and experiences that I would never want you to miss.
So consider this a message from your friendly, neighbourhood blogger to do some introspection and get rid of your fears. Well, getting rid of them isn’t actually the objective… rather, grab them by the b***s and face them head on.

The way I see it, we can classify fear into three categories.
The fear of failure:
Related: My biggest fears of starting a YouTube channel
I think everyone is familiar with this one. We always want to be on top of the world, be the best at everything and even be recognised for our achievements. We want… but we don’t always get. What lies on the opposite end of winning is failing, and nobody wants that. So what we end up doing is not trying at all. I mean, how can you fail if you don’t even try, am I right?
But failing to try is failure in itself.
Let that sink in. *Sips tea*
In all my two years alive on this earth, I’ve known many people who just didn’t try. Ironically, they were the cool kids in school, or the cool kids in the graduate programme… Now that I am an adult, I see them for what they were… lazy and afraid. (I’m patenting that for a TV show!)
Don’t be that person!
The fear of success
Yep, you read that right… Some of us fear success probably more so than we fear failure. I have always wanted to be successful in life, but not too successful. I wanted respect, but not too much respect. Oh and don’t get me started on the anxiety of the added responsibilities!
But are you really living if you are only putting half efforts into what you do?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am definitely a hard worker. But I have always been afraid of doing what I really love because I wasn’t sure what I would I do if it actually worked. How would I be able to keep it going? What if the success took so much out of me that I couldn’t recognise myself?
So what happens when a person is afraid to succeed at something they’ve always wanted? They just stick to what everyone else is doing and blend into the background.
Don’t be that person!
The fear of the process
So you’re afraid of what it takes to get started, and fear the end… If that’s all you’re scared of, good on you! You are one down from me on this one.
I have always been afraid of the process of going after my goals. It would be hard work and I would have to juggle so much… It might take longer than I expect… Maybe it would force me to cut out some things (or people) from my life… And would it all be worth it?
These are some of the things that run through my mind with every decision I have to make in life. A third party would easily counter with a “well, what if you love the process and grow as a person?”. But I’m no third party, and that’s as real as it gets.
Don’t be that person!
You may also like: Things that scare me about getting older
Being afraid is human, but how you deal with it shows character
I know you’re expecting me to share some mind-blowing tips on how to deal with the fears, but that’s not what you’re going to find. Unfortunately, such sorcery is reserved for Hogwarts. Instead, I’ll share with you how I have coped with mine and made it work for me. And since I know you get tired of reading, here it is in video form.
Good luck!
Which one of the mentioned fears do you struggle most with?
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Fear can be bad, I would not say it stops me but it can be troublesome.
Im glad you can push through despite fear. That’s a goal many of us would like to reach! 😊
Very insightful, Shelly. As I read it, one of my favourite quotes came to mind. It’s from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” It’s so hard to get outside your comfort zone and try something new, but the rewards are worth it.
I love this! Such a fitting quote 😊
it’s mind over matter and sometimes very hard to overcome
So much to like here, Shelly! First, congratulations on getting out of your comfort zone. It takes courage to go after what you want out of life. Many people let fear or the fear of failure take control of their lives. Overcoming any fear is one of the most empowering things in life and makes us feel good about ourselves. How do we put a price on that?
Sharing your story, as you are doing, is what people will connect with the most. I can see you get that. People don’t want to hear some egotist carry on about how great they are. They connect with us by showing their own vulnerabilities because we’re all afraid of something. Frankly, the blogs that I find the most stimulating all follow that approach.
If I could have one do-over in life, it would be my high school years—not because they were so great, but because I wish I knew then what I know now. If I could go back (this is fantasyland), I wouldn’t be the same person that let fear control me from trying new things.
Fantastic video! Keep doing what you’re doing!
Thanks so much Pete. You always share the kindest messages, and I really appreciate it. Sometimes it feels like people want to be told some sugar coated story, but life is never like that. We all have vulnerabilities and I’m happy sharing mine even if only a few people benefit from it. 😊
Im glad you don’t get a do-over, because you wouldn’t be who you are today if you knew what you know now. Life might’ve taken you in a completely different direction!
I know you’ll see this, but I wanted you to know I followed through. Kudos on getting out of your comfort zone. Your video rocks! https://petespringerauthor.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/overcoming-fear/
Aww thanks Pete! I’ll go check it out now 😊
I do have a massive fear of failure! Also followed your blog too! 😊
Thanks for following!
Most of us fear failure, so you’re not alone. What matters is what you do about it 😉
Such a fitting topic to discuss the first month of the new year when people start to second-guess their goals for the year. Fear is a huge barrier and when we whittle it down, fear is controlled solely by our own mindset- hopefully, change your mindset and you’re free to fly.
I totally get this mentality, being afraid of the unknown. How will people receive this, what will the judgement be, who will think I wouldn’t be able to do it, what if I fail and prove them right? All of these anxious reactions are self-taught and repetitions of our excuses to not reach our potential!
Such a fascinating topic! Thanks for sharing, Shelly! 🙂 Going to check out your video now! 🙂
Thanks for your insights Bossy B. I love that you said that this mentality is self taught, because that means it can also be undone with some work. I personally always pinned it down to my personality and how others have treated me growing up, but at the end of the day, we are the only ones who can set ourselves free!
Oh yeah. There’s no bravery without fear, and every time I feel negative feelings (fear included), I just think of it as something new to overcome. That’s where my level up is. Right behind that negative feeling. If things were smooth sailing, I wouldn’t be growing. Thanks for this post!
Fear of the process holds me back so much!!!!! With my own business I often get so freaked out by some processes that I end up procrastinating on them. I’m trying to overcome it but it is a slow process.
The great thing is that you are aware of it, so you can change it 😊
I’m so proud of you for doing your own thing!
Beautiful post here friend. Two quotes that I like concerning fear are:
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears”.
Philippians 4:13
” I can do all things through him who strengthens me”.
While we can try to do things on our own, God is able to help us in dealing with our fears. God is able to put things in order for us and to make things work out for our good. To overcome fear, we need to put God first. God is the king and there is nothing impossible for him to do.
If anyone reading is interested in building a relationship with God, I have a post on that here: https://christcenteredruminations.wordpress.com/2018/08/29/how-to-build-a-relationship-with-god/
There is much more to know about God. I post frequently on my blog about topics related to God. You are welcome to follow my blog to keep up with my content.
https://christcenteredruminations.wordpress.com/
-All the best. May God bless you.