Fear arrives in many forms. It follows us down every path, and often changes our destination. It haunts the mind of every human being; hiding amongst repaired souls, only to puncture every bone again.
I spent my early years inside a person who was afraid. I offered small words to radiant conversations while giving my attention to monotonous tasks. I was terrified of being myself; I was terrified of feeling rejected by the world. Fortunately, somewhere along the way, I learned that it’s impossible to hide a true soul from the eyes of others.
At the age of fifteen, I began taking risks. With the knowledge that I could indefinitely fail, I began existing for myself rather than others. The inception of this phase of my life began with a backpacking trip through the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. My experience on this trip acted as one of the first times I took a chance that was scary — it was the beginning of putting myself into uncomfortable situations in order to live a true life. As my world was opened to rawness and genuinity, I understood myself more. In turn, I learned to breathe rather than exist.
Today I walk the halls of my high school with the understanding that I’ve made many mistakes in the last few years of my life. Throughout my days, I’ve chosen the wrong priority, picked forgery friends, and entered unpleasant situations. Still, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned; I’m appreciative of the truths that have been unlocked to me.
According to the psychological website Learning Mind, living in fear isn’t a physical circumstance but rather a state of mind that’s destructive to the happiness of being. Additionally, Learning Mind explains that many people aren’t aware they’re living in fear until their health prospers as an effect of it. In my own experience, I didn’t realize how unlively my life was until I began existing freely. I hadn’t been aware of all the things I could do if I just decided to be myself.
My 10 Tips for Success
- Put yourself into as many uncomfortable situations as possible.
- Trust yourself.
- Focus on the positive.
- Know that it’s impossible for everything to be perfect.
- Do the things you want to do.
- Adopt a growth mindset.
- Focus on the now.
- Care about your opinion of yourself more than any other.
- Learn to be okay with change.
- Rejection isn’t a bad thing.
Don’t let fear define your life. Rather, allow yourself to live freely — you’ll be amazed at what you find.
Skyline Learning Center 