Fear is something I struggle with daily: Fear of the future. Fear of failure. Fear of new relationships. I am constantly afraid to love with my whole heart and pursue things with all that I have.
When I was six, I discovered theatre and it quickly became my life. But when the time came for me to figure out college plans, I choked. I didn’t apply for competitive programs and I settled for less than what I truly wanted. I was afraid of failing and of not “making it.”
Whether it’s a big move to another state or a scary relationship, go for it! Your entire life will not hinge upon one decision. And if things don’t turn out the way you planned, then so what? At least you can say you tried. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is not go for something, because you’ll regret never having given it a chance.
I realized a long time ago that I must not let fear and hesitation rule my life. I should not be governed by the “what ifs.” I wish that I could say I don’t think about the “what ifs” in my life. What if I had auditioned for more competitive programs? What if I had gone to a different school and led a completely different life? But, as cliché as it may seem, every decision I have made has led me to this crazy beautiful mess of a life I lead right now: A life in which I fail daily and those small failures craft me into a future self I will be proud of.
Every moment has led me to the next, no matter how painful or scary this journey has been. I am proud of my missteps because they have gotten me this far. But I hope that in the future those missteps are not due to fear. There is nothing wrong with protecting yourself, but there is a problem with not doing something simply because you are afraid of what the outcome might be.
You are a capable person. You have so much potential, no matter how old you are, there is an entire world waiting for you to explore. And if you do something out of fear of failure, you are automatically afraid to succeed.
