It’s safe to say everyone has a fear. The most common fears are public speaking, heights, and a fear of what's unknown. Sometimes these fears can be so crippling to the point where an individual can’t seem to function throughout their day to day life. I was once that person with the constant fear that halted me from having peace.

I was a shy and timid guy who detested the idea of having to speak in public. I spent my time finding different ways to express myself. From playing an instrument to writing short stories in order to distract myself from social interactions. I rarely ventured off into uncomfortable situations and I didn’t blend well with many of my classmates. In my world, I was fine and felt in complete control of my life.

However, like most people who stay secluded from others, I was unable to grow as a person and I was never able to reach my fullest potential. So I took a chance, going against my gut, and I did what every introvert wouldn’t dare dream of…public speaking.

Here is what I learned from my experience.

Self-proclaimed geniuses don’t exist.

As an introvert, it is easy to think that your way is the best way. I always wanted to be in control of every single aspect of my life and I never wanted to seem vulnerable or weak. When you live life like this, you can begin to shut yourself out from new opportunities because you couldn’t be in complete control.

I had to learn that someone else is smarter, older, and wiser than I am. I had to learn that it is okay to be wrong and that it doesn’t make you less of a person to take someone else's advice. It makes you human and humans are allowed to make mistakes.

Friends are friends for a reason.

I know what you are thinking, the thought of hanging out with other living, breathing humans makes you never want to leave your safe haven full of binge-watching and your favorite snacks. However, making new friends can be very important for your personal growth.

You can learn an entirely different perspective on issues which will help to enhance your understanding. You can also learn how to enjoy the good things in life and create lasting memories that will live on forever. When I was a kid, I was always afraid to allow myself to be vulnerable with the fear of being hurt. I had to learn that life isn’t perfect and neither are people but that doesn't mean I should stop giving people a chance.

Taking risks can be rewarding

When people think about risks, they often think of adrenaline pumping experience like driving at 100 mph during a snowstorm without a seatbelt on. In this case, you don't have to be that extreme. Taking a risk may be speaking in front of your class during a class project or raising your hand to answer a question. For some people, this can be a huge step in gaining confidence in yourself. It's the little things that can make a big difference in the long run.

Life can be very fulfilling if you learn to break out of your comfort zone. Make a decision today to meet someone new or learn a brand new skill. It will be extremely uncomfortable at first but with time it will become your new normal and then you'll be on to the next new chapter of your life. Learn how to become comfortable with the uncomfortable.