Sometimes we let our doubts, anxieties, and our fears get the best of us. A lot of us have the habit of allowing these three simple nouns to confine us and define who we are. I still struggle with my day to day fears and anxieties that deal with just about everyone and everything. When you care so deeply about something or someone, you can't help but feel obligated to make things perfect. But in reality, as hard as it is to admit, nothing is perfect and you yourself are not perfect. There is always room for improvement. Our fear of imperfection can be so suffocating. We may be afraid now, but we can always find ways to persevere.

Here are some things that I have learned when it comes to dealing with fear and anxiety.

You can't fix someone or something that doesn't want to be fixed.

I had a friend tell me this once and I thought she was crazy. I hate confrontation, and I hate when things go wrong, so when dramatic events take place my first reaction is to want to make it better again. What I have learned, however, is that if it is meant to be, it is meant to be. We have to learn to recognize what is worth fighting for. Believe it or not, some things are meant to stay broken, and rather than trying to fix these things, we must simply adjust to them. There's no sense in forcing an issue that isn't worth fixing.

You can't be in control of everything.

Admitting to yourself that something is no longer in your control can be very difficult sometimes. If you are like me, you like being in control for the mere fact that there are no "what-ifs." Being in control all of the time means that you know exactly what's supposed to happen at what time and what place. Stop dwelling on the things that you cannot control. Learn to control what is controllable.

You cannot be the best at everything.

You are perfectly imperfect. Accept the things you can't change and focus on the things that you can. Whether you're top of the crop or at the low end of the spectrum, pursue the things that you love and pursue them fearlessly. As long as you're at your best potential, your best is enough.

Stop expecting so much of yourself.

You are only human and you can only do so much for someone or something. Learn your limits as to what you can handle versus what you can't. You were not meant to carry the weight of the world on your own two shoulders. It is okay to ask for help sometimes.

You are worth something.

You might not know it yet, but you are worth something to someone. In a lot of cases, your worth is apparent to everyone but yourself. You just have to take the time to evaluate your life, and find the worth within you (trust me a number of people, including myself, haven't quite figured this one out yet either).

Stop fearing failure.

I know, easier said than done, but guess what.... It's okay to fail! However, just because it's okay to fail doesn't mean it's okay to fear failure. Believe it or not, you must fail a few times in order to succeed. So take the risks, it's how we thrive as humans.

Lastly...just Breathe.

Remember, you are not your anxiety or your fears. If you are like me, you are probably much braver than you believe, and much braver than you put yourself out to be. When dealing with stressful situations or overwhelming instances in your life, don't forget to take a step back and breathe. You can only do so much for something or someone, and fearing that you aren't enough for them is not worth the physical and emotional stress. Take a deep breathe and prove to yourself how strong you really are.