We all have things we are afraid of. However, please allow me to start this post with a personal story of mine and how I managed to overcome some of my fears.
What Caused my Fear – The Accident and The First Challenge
The story begins many years ago. It was before I had my final exams to enter university. During that time I had a bad accident and had to spend 3 months in hospital with my doctors questioning whether I would ever be as I used to be and whether I would ever walk again. It all happened around Christmas and my final exams to enter University were in June.
Related: Making the Right Decision? How to Be Sure About it.
The First Daring Choice – The Exams
As you can understand, when June arrived I was not in a condition to take those exams. However, I did. As expected I scored really low. But at that time I did not take those exams to get a high score. I did it because honestly I felt terrified that I might not even be able to get to the exam center.
I was afraid that even if I finally got to the exam center, I might not be able to climb up the stairs to the first floor. That I wouldn’t be able to write not even those few things that I had the time and energy to study. And the reason why I wouldn’t write them would be that I would not manage to sit on a chair for too long. I was afraid that I would easily collapse. See, my physical condition was really bad back then.
Once I finished the exam, I felt exhausted, but so happy for myself just because I did it. I was happy because I went there, climbed up the stairs, and took those exams. I could have decided not to. Nobody would blame me if I did. But at the time it felt like I would be giving up if I didn’t.
Finally, even if my score was low I managed to be accepted into one school. It was of course one of my very last choices but it still was one school of my choice. After all, that time it was not about entering a school anyway.
That school was “Landscape architecture” and I decided not to study at it. I decided to take the exams again the following year, as I did. That year I entered a school that was my third choice.
A New Challenge – Another Fear to Overcome
It was a year and a half after my accident, but I still hadn’t recovered completely. The school that I entered was 450 Km away from my home city. My parents were terrified to even think about the possibility of me moving so far away. I was still in need of medication and medical supervision. Who would be cooking for me? Who would be looking after me?
“He who is not every day conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Related: My 4 Greatest Advantages as a Hyper Sensitive Person
The Second Daring Choice – Moving Away
Well, they were right. Moving so far away from home, living alone at the age of 18, and having all the issues I had at the time, meant only one thing. That there was nobody else to take care of me but me.
I have to admit that at the beginning it was hard and scary. There was nobody I knew. I had never been to this big city before and I had no idea where everything was. I felt like the fish out of the water.
At this point, I have to mention that in my home town is situated one of the biggest universities in the country. And as a matter of fact, it also had the same school I entered back then. The thing is that I never chose the school that was near. Not because it was not good enough for me, but because if I stayed I would not have become good enough for me.
All the schools I chose back then were situated at least 300 Km away. I wanted to challenge myself to do all those things that my parents were afraid of. I wanted to challenge myself to do all those things that I was terrified of.
There was a chance that they would prove right. There was a huge chance I would be unable to manage it on my own. It could have been a wrong decision, a mistake. Maybe I would have to give up and move back home.
But I didn’t. I stayed there, I fought, and finally made it. I managed to overcome my fears through daring choices and I did it all by myself.
“There is no illusion greater than fear.”
Lao Tzu, Tao Teh Ching
How to Overcome Your Fears
1. Overcome Your Fears by Identifying them
What is that that is causing you fear? Try to identify it clearly. Use words and put them down in a clear sentence. Because just thinking about it might not be clearly stated try to write it down in one sentence.
For me, when I decided to take the exams for the first time, was my bad physical and medical condition. The second time was the fear of the unknown. The fear that I will not make it on my own.
2. Overcome Your Fears by Identifying The Logic Behind Them
Is your fear a logical fear or something else? The fear that is holding you back is there to protect you or is it just an idea inside your head?
In my case, when I decided to take the exams for the first time I was afraid that I might collapse during them. This was a logical fear since I was still in a really bad physical condition. The fear was there to remind me to be cautious and take things easy.
The second time, when I decided to move away, my fear was the fear of the unknown. This fear had no actual logic behind it. If you think about it better, every single day of our life includes the unknown. We can never know what tomorrow might bring in our lives but yet we continue living.
3. Overcome Your Fears by Creating a Safety Net
Let us be reasonable. I would never suggest you jump out of an airplane without a parachute. Even at the most daring choices, you must have a little plan in case everything is fucked up.
In my case, for my first fear of collapsing during the exam, what I made sure of was that I took my exams in a special examination center for kids with health issues. This meant that there was an ambulance in front of the building and a nurse inside each class, just in case something happened. It was a reasonable fear and had to deal with it accordingly. With reasonable actions if needed.
About my fear of moving away and dealing with the unknown, I just believed a bit more in myself and showed some trust that nothing terrible will happen. Ah, and also tried to find doctors and health check centers within the first week I moved, just in case…
4. Overcome Your Fears By Taking That Daring Decision and Trusting Yourself
Nobody knows if fear can be left behind until actually tries it! If you know what is that you are afraid of and why you are afraid of it you can start creating your safety net. Once you are done just do it! Worst case scenario you will just fall on your safety net. Best case scenario …..Who knows?!
Related: Do you Lack Self-Confidence? 5 Tips to Boost it
Final Thoughts on How to Overcome Your Fears Through Daring Choices
Looking back at my story I am so glad I made those choices. I know I was afraid. Certainly, I can still remember my legs shaking as I was climbing up the stairs to the exam center that first time. I can also recall the pain I felt all over my body after the three hours of the exam duration. But what I remember most is the feeling of satisfaction after beating my fear.
It might have been tough but I decided to think about them all as a big lesson. Thinking about it now I am glad all these happened because they helped me find out how to overcome my fears.
Yes, fear of the unknown is huge and always our decisions might turn out as big mistakes, but, what are we if we do not make mistakes? If we do not make hard decisions that might change our lives forever? If we don’t push ourselves to our limits?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
What about you?
What was the most daring choice you had to make in your life?
Read also: Try to Fit in This World? Why People Persistently Do So?
Great story! I think one of my most daring choices was hopping on a plane for a job without first signing any contract. The job did go south, but hey, at least I made lotsa friends on the journey. Anyway, thanks for this post!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Yes, daring choices involve risk taking but even when they prove not right there is always something that we gain out of them. In your case that was friends 🙂
To me is the biggest gain out of this kind of choices is always the fact that we answer our “what if” question.
It was nice hearing from you!
Great post! This was definitely inspiring to read – sometimes we just have to take that leap of faith! Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
This is a great post! I need to get over my fears and discomfort by getting out of my comfort zone sometimes- and it’s usually worth it! Thank you for sharing these tips x
This is such a great post. I’m so pleased that pushing yourself that little bit harder made you overcome those fears and prove everybody wrong.
I did something like this once. Where I left my job due to mental health reasons. Now I found blogging and I love it. It’s good to sometimes take that leap of faith.
Great story! I think one of my most daring stories was quitting a job as I was unhappy without a new job in sight xx
Sorry to hear about accident resulted in your having to change your plans and you with difficulties that you otherwise wouldn’t have had. How come your first and third choice university’s were for two very different topics of study?
I’m sorry to hear about your accident! This is such an inspiring post, thank you for sharing your story
Sorry to hear about your accident! It’s a really brave/inspiring choice to live so far away from home. Having a safety net is definitely the most important thing x
I think there should always be some kind of a safety net. Thank you Caroline!
There’s a difference between making a daring choice and an impulsive one. It sounds like you put a lot of thought into the daring choices you made and I’m glad they worked out to help you overcome fear. Great post!
There is indeed a huge difference between those two. Thank you so much for taking time to read and share your opinion!
These are great ways to overcome your fears. In my opinion, the first and last tips you mentioned are most crucial. It is very important to identify your fear. You can’t overcome your fear if you don’t know what exactly it is you are scared of. Facing your fears and deliberately pushing yourself to do that thing you are scared of is one of the most effective ways to get rid of that fear. Fab post.
Thank you Ruth! As they say the best way to win a fear is to look at it straight in the eyes 👁️
Glad you liked it 🙂
What a great post. The fact that you came back from your injury and moved to uni miles away is very courageous! For me, I went backpacking with a friend of mine to Australia, and I decided to stay here, and she went home. I was very lonely for a while, and missed my family, but knew I was making the right decision. Some great tips here too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This decision of yours was daring! I know the feeling of loneliness but when you have your reasons everything turns out well in the end 🙂
Glad you liked this post and I am so thankful for taking time to comment and share your experience!
Thanks for sharing your story with us! This was so inspiring to read. I’m so sorry you had to go through this pain at such an early age. Let me tell you how proud I am of you for not giving up. So happy that your daring choice finally paid off. You’re so right about creating a safety net as we don’t know what may lie ahead. Life is truly a daring adventure!! x
It truly is! Thank you for taking time to read and comment 🙂
Recently I have been trying to overcome my fears. This year was the first time I went on a rollercoaster and I am so happy I did. Its good to overcome fears. It really is life changing.
It really is! As I said fear alone does not kill us. To overcome a fear is always a small or huge victory. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Great advice for overcoming fear. I am like this to. I just recertified my QMAP for work, I didn’t think I would pass and I got an 95%. I worry and am fearful but I need to think it through because sometimes I worry for nothing.
Sometimes what we are afraid the most lives only inside our head. Worrying alone never fixes anything. Starting doing actions towards what we want or what we are afraid of can fix something. Thank you ❤️
This is great advice. I definitely have a lot of fears that I must battle daily. Thanks for sharing the story behind the process you used to come up with these tips!
I am glad you liked it Laura. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I think it’s amazing that despite medical/physical challenges you overcame your own fears; this was really inspirational and motivational to read about. I know I have some fears I need to overcome and they have held me back for so long — thank you for your advice; it’s much needed!
We all have fears we have to overcome every day of our lives. It is good to know you found me advice helpful. Thank you for reading and commenting!
You’ve come so far, and you’re doing incredibly!
I like how you’ve laid out the steps: identifying, examining, preparing, overcoming.
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Thank you lovely ☺️
Fear is in our mind. Actions do beat those. The way the mishap is presented and positive shown out of it gives strength to the readers. Thanks for sharing.
I am glad you liked it. I do believe that most of our fears live only inside our minds. Thank you for commenting!
I did a daring choice once in 2015. Minutes climbed the Broga hills. And it’s now one the best memories of my life. Yay!!!!!!
This sounds like a great experience! Thank you for commenting Fadima ❤️
Well done! You should be so proud of how far you’ve come! I’ve started to face my own fears bit by bit.
Thank you 💞
It’s always difficult to put yourself out there and describe situations like this so kudos on that. This post definitely made me think about what my fears are. I think failure? But who isn’t afraid of that. I see some journaling on this topic in my future…
Thank you Paul! I am glad it made you think of your own fears and how you can overcome them.
Facing and overcoming our fears are the key to successfully moving from one stage of our lives to another. Well done.
Thank you 💗
Powerful example of perseverance, being cared, taking chances, and accomplishing things that yummy could have never if you had succumbed to fear .
Thank you! Really appreciate your comment 🙂