There are two ways to deal with fear. One is the coward’s path—blissful ignorance. You try to avoid the very thing that makes your heart race and your stomach twist into knots. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when the mere thought of what scares you sends pangs of anxiety through your chest. But still, some manage to suppress the root cause of their fear and carry on. That’s one way to live.
The other way, in my opinion, is far more liberating: you confront it. And to do that, you must know yourself well enough to understand why you’re afraid.
Take public speaking, for instance. Almost everyone feels nervous before giving a speech. But not everyone is scared for the same reason. One person might be anxious because they haven’t practiced enough. Another might simply be uncomfortable being perceived by others. Someone else might fear stumbling over their words. The point is, each fear stems from a different place—and therefore, needs a different solution.
Over the past few days, I’ve felt a growing sense of unease about going back to school. I didn’t know exactly why, so I pushed the thought aside and avoided it. But as the first day inches closer, I’ve realized I can’t keep brushing it under the rug. So, I took a moment to reflect.
And the truth is—I'm not afraid of school itself. I know myself well enough to understand that. What I’m really afraid of is losing the freedom I had during summer to work on the things that matter to me. The fear that once the school year begins, I won’t have time to continue the projects and passions that gave me purpose.
But once I identified that fear, it became easier to manage. I sat down and created a realistic schedule for my after-school hours—something that would give me enough time to focus on my goals while also acknowledging that sacrifices will be needed. Sacrifices I’m willing to make.
And let me tell you—I feel so much better now.
Because fear loses its power the moment you name it. And once you understand it, you can begin to work with it instead of running from it.There are two ways to deal with fear. One is the coward’s path—blissful ignorance. You try to avoid the very thing that makes your heart race and your stomach twist into knots. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when the mere thought of what scares you sends pangs of anxiety through your chest. But still, some manage to suppress the root cause of their fear and carry on. That’s one way to live.
The other way, in my opinion, is far more liberating: you confront it. And to do that, you must know yourself well enough to understand why you’re afraid.
Take public speaking, for instance. Almost everyone feels nervous before giving a speech. But not everyone is scared for the same reason. One person might be anxious because they haven’t practiced enough. Another might simply be uncomfortable being perceived by others. Someone else might fear stumbling over their words. The point is, each fear stems from a different place—and therefore, needs a different solution.
Over the past few days, I’ve felt a growing sense of unease about going back to school. I didn’t know exactly why, so I pushed the thought aside and avoided it. But as the first day inches closer, I’ve realized I can’t keep brushing it under the rug. So, I took a moment to reflect.
And the truth is—I'm not afraid of school itself. I know myself well enough to understand that. What I’m really afraid of is losing the freedom I had during summer to work on the things that matter to me. The fear that once the school year begins, I won’t have time to continue the projects and passions that gave me purpose.
But once I identified that fear, it became easier to manage. I sat down and created a realistic schedule for my after-school hours—something that would give me enough time to focus on my goals while also acknowledging that sacrifices will be needed. Sacrifices I’m willing to make.
And let me tell you—I feel so much better now.
Because fear loses its power the moment you name it. And once you understand it, you can begin to work with it instead of running from it.