Self-Awareness
Overcoming Fear
The loudest alarm we receive from our gut feelings is fear. How many times have you changed a decision because of an inexplicable sense of dread? There’s a great sense of relief when you’re proven right—when you realize fear kept you safe. Like all emotions, fear is a messenger, offering information necessary for making informed decisions. It warns us of danger, helps us avoid harmful people, and can even act as a premonition of something we haven’t fully processed yet. But fear is also an indicator of what matters to us.
Maybe you’re afraid of getting on stage because you understand the weight of your words. Maybe leadership terrifies you because of the responsibility it demands. Maybe you shy away from friendship because of the scars you’re still healing from. These are logical fears shaped by experience. The goal of self-awareness isn’t to eliminate fear but to discern when it is protecting you and when it is limiting you.
Fear has to be one of the most powerful internal motivators. So much so that God repeatedly reminds us in the Bible, “Do not be afraid.” But He doesn’t just tell us not to fear—He also promises to be our strength. Fear is not an emotion we can simply dismiss. It’s often insidious, disguising itself as wisdom or self-protection. How many of our dreams are truly free from fear? And how many have we abandoned because of it?
At some point, fear took root in all of us. Maybe it crept in when we let our guard down. Maybe it was born from past failures, to convince us to avoid risk. Maybe it was a gift we never learned to use wisely. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I do know this: for a time, fear kept me safe. Until it didn’t.
If you’ve ever been afraid of the dark, you know exposure advice doesn’t always work. The idea that walking alone at night will desensitize you to fear ignores a very real threat. Sometimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night, surrounded by inky darkness that felt alive. I knew logically there was no danger in my room, but my body refused to believe it. Fear has a way of making us irrational, negating our every attempt at clinging to logic.
That same irrationality keeps us from our goals. We hesitate, label our dreams as "too crazy," and talk ourselves out of even trying. We fear the embarrassment of failure and the responsibility of success. We settle for hiding. But in doing so, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to learn.
Fear doesn’t just make us run from things; it makes us run toward things—sometimes the wrong things. Fear of change keeps us chained to unhealthy habits. Fear of the unknown keeps us stagnant. Fear of love convinces us that distance is safer. But what is love to you? Has fear distorted your definition of what is good?
Self-awareness begins with naming your fear. Call it out for what it is. Is it protecting you, or is it keeping you small? Be bold enough to take up space in your own life. If fear has already taken the helm, that’s okay. You can take it back, step by step. This is a declaration of reclamation.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Overcoming fear is a decision rooted in bravery. Not a lack of fear, but a choice to move forward despite it. Are you ready?
Tips on Overcoming Fear
1. Strengthen your faith and trust in God.
2. Name your fear – Identify what you’re afraid of and why.
3. Reframe Failure as Learning.
4. Take Small, Consistent Steps to practice exposure in Safe environments.
5. Change your mental diet.
6. Surround yourself with courageous people.
7. Journal and celebrate your progress.
Word Play
A rational fear – A normal response to a real or potential threat. It’s based on facts or experience, and it helps you protect yourself.
Irrational fear – an extreme and persistent fear of an object, situation, or activity that’s not dangerous.
Bible Study
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 56:3
Musings
Thank you for joining me in this tenth post of the Self-Awareness Series! If you’re new here, don’t forget to subscribe for more reflection and resources on self-awareness. For those already part of the community, welcome back!
To help you dive deeper, here’s a free printable journal prompt designed to guide you in exploring self-awareness and emotional health. If you’re ready to take your journey further, check out my eBook How to get Started on Self-Awareness, where I share practical tools and insights to kick-start your self-awareness journey.
Until next time, seek within and rise above.
True we cannot overcome fear if don't speak it out loud and face it.