Face the fear

  Take a deep breathe and exhale the stress, relax to the rhythm of your heart beat as you read.

I am grateful for facing my fears. Now, I know what you’re thinking “Is she talking about skydiving or something equally wild?” Well, not quite. I haven't taken that big leap yet, but what I have done is a pretty big deal for me, and that’s worth celebrating.

Life has been a rollercoaster of learning, unlearning, and relearning. It’s been exhilarating, terrifying, and oh-so-beautiful. You know, life has this funny way of throwing curveballs at you. What you build with them can either be a castle or a prison. And guess what? I’ve decided to go with the castle, with a little moat for good measure.

I am grateful for the fear that has led to my growth. Fear isn't the villain it’s often made out to be. Sure, it can paralyze you if you let it, but it can also be the very thing that pushes you to become stronger, braver, and a tad wiser. It’s like that friend who gives tough love annoying at times, but you know they have your back.

There have been moments when I felt like throwing in the towel, when the road ahead seemed blocked with no clear way forward. But fear, in its sneaky little way, pointed me in the right direction. It's an instrument that, when used positively, can lead to incredible things.

Sometimes, fear makes us do silly things like clinging to people who couldn’t care less about us. We seek validation from those who don’t even notice our efforts. But here’s the thing I’m grateful for this phase of growth. It has taught me that I don’t need anyone’s validation to know my worth. That’s a liberating feeling, my friend.

Just today, I had a meeting at work. Oh, it was one of those meetings, where you have to address the elephant in the room. You see, some of my colleagues and I are supposed to be working as a team, but they’ve been less than cooperative. Why? Because, as they put it, “We know better in our respective fields.” Sure, I respect their expertise, and I’ve given them full acknowledgment for it. But when it comes to teamwork, cooperation is key.

So, I pointed out that clear communication could resolve our differences if they were willing to work together and set aside emotions for the greater good of the organization. Throughout the day, they kept to themselves while I stayed busy with my tasks. And you know what? By the end of the day, I realized that I wasn’t bothered by whether they liked me or not. What mattered was doing the right thing for the organization’s growth, which, by the way, aligns perfectly with my values.

I’m grateful for fear because it has taught me to communicate my feelings without trampling on someone else’s. It’s tricky because people perceive life differently, but I’ve come to accept that and move on. Fear has also highlighted negative thoughts that I need to reframe. It’s funny how fear can be both a friend and a foe, depending on how you handle it.

Let me take you back to the first time I did a radio presentation. Oh, the nerves! I was so scared I’d mess up like, big time. But instead of letting fear get the best of me, I channelled it into extra preparation. And guess what? I nailed that presentation! Fear and all, it turned out to be awesome. Who knew, right?

Then there was the time my mentor called me up with a surprise request: she wanted me to be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) at a wedding. My first thought was, “How on earth does she know I can pull this off?” But she believed in me, and that was enough to get me on board. I thanked her and immediately started preparing like I was about to host the Oscars! 😂 I even called my friend Umma, trying to be all nonchalant as I asked her to come with me. She probably saw right through me, but she agreed to be my support system. And guess what? The wedding turned out to be amazing, and I nailed the MC job. Fear tried to trip me up, but I turned it into fuel for success.

Fear has been a constant companion on this journey, and I’m learning to embrace it sometimes with a nervous laugh, sometimes with a full-blown giggle. Each time I face fear, I come out a little stronger, a little wiser, and with a story to tell. So, what has been your experience with fear? Share your thoughts in the comments; let’s laugh, learn, and grow together!