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How to Overcome Our Fears

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Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 367 | Page: 1 | 2 min read

Fear Essay: Hook Examples

• The Fear Factor: “Fear – the invisible force that keeps us from realizing our full potential. Are you ready to conquer it and unlock your life’s true force?”
• Breaking the Chains of Fear: “Fear is the silent prison that many never escape. Let’s explore how to break free from its grip and unleash the power within.”
• From Fear to Freedom: “In a world where fear holds so many hostage, it’s time to discover the path from fear to freedom. Join us on this journey of transformation.”
• The Fear Paradox: “Fear, like a shadow, follows us closely, yet it can be our greatest teacher. How can we turn fear from a foe into a friend on our journey to self-discovery?”
• Unlocking Your Inner Courage: “Within every person lies an inner wellspring of courage waiting to be tapped. Learn how to unlock this courage and face fear head-on.”

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Turning Fear into Confidence—A Personal Essay

October 14, 2020

Facing obstacles throughout your life is inevitable, and the obstacles you overcome can define who you are as a person. Not only will this build character and self-confidence, it will show others how strong you remained and inspire them to overcome their own challenges.

But overcoming obstacles is no simple task. Most obstacles are incredibly hard and testing. Yet, by overcoming them, you will come to understand why they are important. The significance of overcoming obstacles in life is to make you more grounded, courageous, and wise. For me, one of these life-altering obstacles emerged during my undergraduate years.

I had a serious fear of public speaking. There were times where I would struggle with presentations and in-class discussions. When these sessions would take place, my fear built up in a pressure cooker of discouragement and convulsive anguish. I felt humiliated before my teachers, partners, and most of all, my close friends. I soon realized, however, that the same people who seemed to be the source of my fear became my lifeline, their inspirational words filling my mind and heart with positive thoughts.

Seeing my struggles, my peers tried to build me up, to increase my confidence in myself and convince me that anything, including overcoming my fear of public speaking, could be accomplished with enough enthusiasm and belief in oneself.

The obstacles we face in life can distort how we see ourselves and cripple our ability to face our fears. By facing these conflicts head on, though, we can completely flip their effect on us, transforming them into experiences that strengthen our resilience and push the boundaries of what we think is possible to achieve.

Taking everything into account everything I’ve learned from this experience and many others like it that I’ve encountered in my life, it’s clear that obstacles are impossible to avoid, and when you do encounter them, you must view them as learning opportunities. You might just surprise yourself at how easily you overcome them.

This post was written by Duke TIP’s outgoing Marketing & Communications intern, Christina Gordon. Christina graduated from North Carolina Central University in the spring of 2020.

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How to Face Your Fears When You Want to Tackle Them Head-On

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

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Evaluate Risks

Create an action plan, seek a therapist, avoiding vs. facing your fears.

A little bit of fear is normal. In fact, fear helps you instinctively protect yourself from harm. Your fear might help you to recognize when you’re about to do something dangerous, and it could help you to make a safer choice.

But, you might find yourself fearful of things that aren’t actually dangerous, like public speaking . Your fear of public speaking might prevent you from advancing in your career or participating in traditions like giving a toast at your best friend's wedding.

If you really want to go on a vacation to Europe, but your fear of flying gives you pause, you might feel like your fear is stopping you from living your dream. If you find that your fear holds you back or creates bigger problems in your life, facing your fear may help you learn to better cope with the fear and ultimately overcome it.

At a Glance

Common ways of facing your fears are evaluating the risks, creating an action plan, seeing a therapist, and being sure not to completely avoid your fears. However, you may need to first decide whether it’s necessary to face your fear if it is not part of your daily life.

Sometimes, fear comes from simply not knowing very much about the thing you fear.   For example, you might be afraid of airplanes because it seems like you have heard about a lot of in-air incidents that lead to injury or death.

However, if you look into the statistics, you might learn that the probability of death on a U.S. commercial jet airline is 1 in 7 million (in comparison to 1 in 600 from smoking).

You can also learn more about what causes those bumps and jolts during turbulence on an aircraft—it’s simply the movement of air having an effect on the aircraft and, if you’re buckled in properly, poses very little threat to you.

Of course, less tangible fears, such as being afraid of public speaking, don’t necessarily have statistics to help you learn more about the risks you perceive. But you can read about other people’s successful public speaking ventures, or learn more about the successful public speaking strategies, to help you feel more confident.

Keep in mind that just because something feels scary, it doesn’t mean it’s actually risky. Educate yourself about the facts and the risks you actually face by doing the things that scare you.

The key to facing your fears is to take one small step at a time. Going too fast or doing something too scary before you are ready can backfire.

But it’s also important to keep moving forward. A moderate amount of anxiety is OK. Don’t wait for your anxiety to disappear before taking a step forward, or you may find yourself waiting for a change that isn't going to come on its own.

The best way to create an action plan is to create a fear hierarchy made up of small steps. Here’s an example of how someone might face the fear of public speaking one step at a time using a form of exposure therapy:

• Stand in front of a mirror and give a two-minute talk.
• Record yourself giving a talk and watch it back.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner and family member.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner, family member, and one friend.
• Practice the talk in front of a partner, family member, and two friends.
• Give the talk in a meeting at work.

In some cases, virtual reality treatment may be an option to provide exposure therapy. The treatment has shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If your fears are debilitating, you aren’t having much success facing them on your own, or your fear is related to a specific health condition, like an eating disorder, social anxiety disorder, or PTSD, you can seek the help of a trusted mental health professional. If you have a specific phobia , which is a persistent, diagnosable anxiety disorder, you may not feel prepared to conquer your fears on your own.

A cognitive behavioral therapist can help desensitize you to your fears one small step at a time. Most mental health professionals are comfortable treating a variety of fears and phobias ranging from the fear of public speaking to arachnophobia.

Treatment may involve talking about the thing that scares you, practicing relaxation strategies, and managing your anxiety as you face your fears head-on. A therapist can help you go at a pace that is comfortable and healthy for you.

Fear-facing treatment may include:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) : ACT involves accepting your fears in order to make them less threatening and less impactful on your life.
• Exposure therapy (immersion therapy) : The underlying principle of exposure therapy is that through practice and experience, you will become more comfortable in situations that you would otherwise avoid.
• Psychoanalytic theory : Psychoanalysis aims to cure the fear or phobia by rooting out and solving the original conflict.

While avoiding the situations you fear might make you feel better in the short term, avoidance can cause increased anxiety in the long term. When you completely avoid your fears, you teach your amygdala (the fear center in your brain) that you can't handle them.

On the contrary, gradually facing your fears, in small doses that don't overwhelm you, may help decrease anxiety "habituating" your amygdala, or letting your brain become accustomed to the fear.

According to an animal study published in the journal Science , the brain has to experience repeated exposure to fear in order to get over it. Researchers placed rodents in a small box and gave them a mild shock. Then, over a long period, they place the same rodents in a box without administering shocks. At first, the mice froze but with repeated exposure, they were able to relax.

While animal research isn't directly applicable to humans, the thought behind facing your fears aims to achieve a similar outcome.

Should You Face Your Fear?

You don’t need to conquer every fear you have. A fear of tsunamis may not be disruptive to your everyday life if you live 1,000 miles away from the ocean. But it may be a problem if you live on the coast and panic every time you hear about earthquakes, storms, or high tides because you think you might be in danger, or you avoid going on a vacation you'd otherwise enjoy in an effort to avoid getting close to open water.

Have an internal conversation with yourself about what your fears are stopping you from doing, and consider whether it’s a problem that you need to confront. Are your fears causing you to lead a less fulfilling life than the one you hoped for?

• Consider the pros and cons of not facing your fear. Write those down.
• Identify the pros and cons of tackling your fears head-on.
• Write down what you might achieve or how your life might be different if you overcome your fear.
• Read over the lists to make a clearer decision about what to do next.

Fear vs. Phobia

When determining whether you should face your fear on your own, it's important to understand the distinction between a normal fear and a phobia. When psychologists distinguish between fears and phobias, the key difference is the strength of the fear response and its impact on the person's life.

You also might watch videos about airplanes, or park your car near an airport in an area where you can watch flights land and take off. Learning more about planes and being near them may help ease your fear over time. 

If you can’t actually do the thing that scares you to practice, you might use imagined exposure. For example, while it’s difficult to practice flying on an airplane one step at a time, you might be able to induce a little anxiety by imagining yourself getting on a plane. Think about how it would feel to take your seat and how you would handle feeling the plane take off.

Both fears and phobias generate an emotional response, but a phobia causes anxiety that is disproportionate to the perceived threat so much so that it interferes with a person's ability to function. For example, while a fear of flying may make you anxious about an upcoming trip or have you considering an alternate means of travel, if you have aerophobia (a specific phobia surrounding flying), your phobia may impact your daily life, including:

• Spending an inordinate amount of time worrying about flying (even when a trip isn't imminent)
• Avoiding airports
• Becoming anxious when planes fly overhead
• Having an inability to board a flight, or experiencing a serious physiological response like sweating, shaking, or crying if you do board a plane

While treatment for phobia may very well include an element of facing the fear in the form of guided therapy, it may also include medication or alternative therapies.

What This Means For You

The best way to conquer a fear is to face it head-on, but it’s important to do so in a healthy manner that helps you move past the fear rather than in a way that traumatizes you. If you're having difficulty on your own, a mental health professional can guide you gradually through the situations that you fear, being sure to first work on the thought patterns that keep you stuck.

Seif, M. Eight Steps to Overcoming Your Fear of Flying . Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. What Is Exposure Therapy? . American Psychological Association (APA), Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology).

Pachana NA, Woodward RM, Byrne GJ. Treatment of specific phobia in older adults . Clin Interv Aging . 2007;2(3):469-76. PMID:18044196

Khalaf O, Resch S, Dixsaut L, Gorden V, Glauser L, Gräff J. Reactivation of recall-induced neurons contributes to remote fear memory attenuation . Science . 2018;360(6394):1239-1242. doi:10.1126/science.aas9875

By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

Fear: Definition, Effects, and Overcoming Essay

Effects of fear, how to overcome fear.

Webster’s dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, sometimes strong emotion caused by an anticipation or awareness of danger” or “anxious concern” Fear is a feeling that causes agitation and anxiety mostly caused by presence or imminence of danger. It is a state or condition marked by feeling of agitation or anxiety. It can also be described as a feeling of disquiet. Fear is an abstract concept and may have different meanings. Holder (2007) adds that fear is more pervasive when there is lack of faith that we have greater significance in the universe than what we own or how others perceive us.

Fear is manifested in many ways in human beings. It may manifest as showing signs of withdrawing or by cowering. But the most profound manifestation of fear is anger and hatred. People acts out their insecurity as anger which shows that they are the most fearful people.

Effects of fear have been documented in many studies. Fear has been documented to case mind paralyses, heart attacks and closure of fallopian tube due to fear of pain during child birth (Jim Rohn, 2004), describes fear, indifference, indecision, doubt, worry and timidness as the five greatest enemies within us which can destroy our lives completely. Fear may manifest itself in physical short term effects or affect your whole life. It will affect both he physiology of the body and the brain. Fear generates stress which manifests itself physically in many signs physically and emotionally. It causes judgmental errors and affects our reasoning that most of time when we are in a fearful situation; we tend to take the wrong action.

According to Sidney B., (1988), fear is a great paralyzer. It will keep you from making positive changes in your life and thus retard your recovery from depression. He continues to argue that fear persuades you to set easier goals and do less than your capability. It will also cause internal defense system fooling you that you have good reasons not to change. Fear of failure reduces the available alternatives you can pursue because you cannot stand by the outcome of what you do. You always feel that you cannot succeed in anything you try. It will keep you away from seeking help because you don’t want others to see you as a failure. Fear has been identified by psychologist as what causes people to give up when they are one step short to their goal. It will keep you stuck or make you develop unhealthy habits and behavior problems. Most of all fear keeps many people from taking risks.

Rim Rohn, (2004), argues that we are not born with courage, neither are we born with fear. He argues that some of our fears are brought on by our own experiences by what someone has told us or what we read in papers and books. Sri Swami Sivananda, (2007), describes fear as an illusion that cannot live. He suggests that to overcome fear we should always feel the presence of a Supreme Being watching us, by meditating and developing positive thoughts all the time. We should devote ourselves to eradicating fear. Since we have seen that fear is developed within our minds, it can also be eradicated within our mind and hence it is just a matter of reconditioning our minds that will help us overcome fear. It is also suggesting that we should share with others our fears. In this way they will help us find solutions to the cause of fears. President Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but the fear itself” hence fearing fear starts and ends with us.

Holder P. (2007): FEAR… YOUR WORST ENEMY . Web.

Rohn, J., (2004). Build courage to face the enemies within. Web.

Sidney S., (1998). Getting Unstuck: Breaking through Your Barriers to Change . Web.

Sri Sivanand, S. (2007). The Divine Life Society: How to overcome fear. Web.

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How to Write the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay + Examples

What’s covered:.

• What is the Overcoming Challenges Essay?
• Real Overcoming Challenges Essay Prompts
• How to Choose a Topic
• Writing Tips

Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

• Where to Get Your Essay Edited

While any college essay can be intimidating, the Overcoming Challenges prompt often worries students the most. Those students who’ve been lucky enough not to experience trauma tend to assume they have nothing worth saying. On the other hand, students who’ve overcome larger obstacles may be hesitant to talk about them.

Regardless of your particular circumstances, there are steps you can take to make the essay writing process simpler. Here are our top tips for writing the overcoming challenges essay successfully.

What is the “Overcoming Challenges” Essay?

The overcoming challenges prompt shows up frequently in both main application essays (like the Common App) and supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays allow students to provide schools with additional information, applicants should be sure that the subject matter they choose to write about differs from what’s in their main essay.

Students often assume the overcoming challenges essay requires them to detail past traumas. While you can certainly write about an experience that’s had a profound effect on your life, it’s important to remember that colleges aren’t evaluating students based on the seriousness of the obstacle they overcame.

On the contrary, the goal of this essay is to show admissions officers that you have the intelligence and fortitude to handle any challenges that come your way. After all, college serves as an introduction to adult life, and schools want to know that the students they admit are up to the task. 

Real “Overcoming Challenges” Essay Prompts

To help you understand what the “Overcoming Challenges” essay looks like, here are a couple sample prompts.

Currently, the Common Application asks students to answer the following prompt in 650 words or less:

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

For the past several years, MIT has prompted students to write 200 to 250 words on the following:

“Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?”

In both cases, the prompts explicitly ask for your response to the challenge. The event itself isn’t as important as how it pushed you to grow.

How to Choose a Topic for an Essay on Overcoming Challenges

When it comes to finding the best topic for your overcoming challenges essays, there’s no right answer. The word “challenge” is ambiguous and could be used to reference a wide range of situations from prevailing over a bully to getting over your lifelong stage fright to appear in a school musical. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting an essay subject.

1. Avoid trivial or common topics

While there aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for choosing an essay topic, students should avoid overdone topics.

These include:

• Working hard in a challenging class
• Overcoming a sports injury
• Moving schools or immigrating to the US
• Tragedy (divorce, death, abuse)

Admissions officers have read numerous essays on the subject, so it’s harder for you to stand out (see our full list of cliché college essay topics to avoid ). If events like these were truly formative to you, you can still choose to write about them, but you’ll need to be as personal as possible. 

It’s also ideal if you have a less traditional storyline for a cliché topic; for example, if your sports injury led you to discover a new passion, that would be a more unique story than detailing how you overcame your injury and got back in the game.

Similarly, students may not want to write about an obstacle that admissions committees could perceive as low stakes, such as getting a B on a test, or getting into a small fight with a friend. The goal of this essay is to illustrate how you respond to adversity, so the topic you pick should’ve been at least impactful on your personal growth.

2. Pick challenges that demonstrate qualities you want to highlight

Students often mistakenly assume they need to have experienced exceptional circumstances like poverty, an abusive parent, or cancer to write a good essay. The truth is that the best topics will allow you to highlight specific personal qualities and share more about who you are. The essay should be less about the challenge itself, and more about how you responded to it.

Ask yourself what personality traits you want to emphasize, and see what’s missing in your application. Maybe you want to highlight your adaptability, for example, but that isn’t clearly expressed in your application. In this case, you might write about a challenge that put your adaptability to the test, or shaped you to become more adaptable.

Here are some examples of good topics we’ve seen over the years:

• Not having a coach for a sports team and becoming one yourself
• Helping a parent through a serious health issue
• Trying to get the school track dedicated to a coach
• Having to switch your Model UN position last-minute

Tips for Writing an Essay About Overcoming Challenges

Once you’ve selected a topic for your essays, it’s time to sit down and write. For best results, make sure your essay focuses on your efforts to tackle an obstacle rather than the problem itself. Additionally, you could avoid essay writing pitfalls by doing the following:

1. Choose an original essay structure

If you want your overcoming challenges essay to attract attention, aim to break away from more traditional structures. Most of these essays start by describing an unsuccessful attempt at a goal and then explain the steps the writer took to master the challenge. 

You can stand out by choosing a challenge you’re still working on overcoming, or focus on a mental or emotional challenge that spans multiple activities or events. For example, you might discuss your fear of public speaking and how that impacted your ability to coach your brother’s Little League team and run for Student Council. 

You can also choose a challenge that can be narrated in the moment, such as being put on the spot to teach a yoga class. These challenges can make particularly engaging essays, as you get to experience the writer’s thoughts and emotions as they unfold.

Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to have succeeded in your goal for this essay. Maybe you ran for an election and lost, or maybe you proposed a measure to the school board that wasn’t passed. It’s still possible to write a strong essay about topics like these as long as you focus on your personal growth. In fact, these may make for even stronger essays since they are more unconventional topics.

2. Focus on the internal

When writing about past experiences, you may be tempted to spend too much time describing specific people and events. With an Overcoming Challenges essay though, the goal is to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

For example, rather than detail all the steps you took to become a better public speaker, use the majority of your essay to describe your mental state as you embarked on the journey to achieving your goals. Were you excited, scared, anxious, or hopeful? Don’t be afraid to let the reader in on your innermost emotions and thoughts during this process.

3. Share what you learned 

An Overcoming Challenges essay should leave the reader with a clear understanding of what you learned on your journey, be it physical, mental, or emotional. There’s no need to explicitly say “this experience taught me X,” but your essay should at least implicitly share any lessons you learned. This can be done through your actions and in-the-moment reflections. Remember that the goal is to show admissions committees why your experiences make you a great candidate for admission. 

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the g arb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This essay is an excellent example because the writer turns an everyday challenge—starting a fire—into an exploration of her identity. The writer was once “a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes,” but has since traded her love of the outdoors for a love of music, writing, and reading. 

The story begins in media res , or in the middle of the action, allowing readers to feel as if we’re there with the writer. One of the essay’s biggest strengths is its use of imagery. We can easily visualize the writer’s childhood and the present day. For instance, she states that she “rubbed and rubbed [the twigs] until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers.”

The writing has an extremely literary quality, particularly with its wordplay. The writer reappropriates words and meanings, and even appeals to the senses: “My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.” She later uses a parallelism to cleverly juxtapose her changed interests: “instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano.”

One of the essay’s main areas of improvement is its overemphasis on the “story” and lack of emphasis on the reflection. The second to last paragraph about changing perspective is crucial to the essay, as it ties the anecdote to larger lessons in the writer’s life. She states that she hasn’t changed, but has only shifted perspective. Yet, we don’t get a good sense of where this realization comes from and how it impacts her life going forward. 

The end of the essay offers a satisfying return to the fire imagery, and highlights the writer’s passion—the one thing that has remained constant in her life.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

While the writer didn’t succeed in getting the track dedicated to Coach Stark, their essay is certainly successful in showing their willingness to push themselves and take initiative.

The essay opens with a quote from Coach Stark that later comes full circle at the end of the essay. We learn about Stark’s impact and the motivation for trying to get the track dedicated to him.

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The essay goes on to explain how the writer overcame their apprehension of public speaking, and likens the process of submitting an appeal to the school board to running a race. This metaphor makes the writing more engaging and allows us to feel the student’s emotions.

While the student didn’t ultimately succeed in getting the track dedicated, we learn about their resilience and initiative: I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Overall, this essay is well-done. It demonstrates growth despite failing to meet a goal, which is a unique essay structure. The running metaphor and full-circle intro/ending also elevate the writing in this essay.

Where to Get Your Overcoming Challenges Essay Edited

The Overcoming Challenges essay is one of the trickier supplemental prompts, so it’s important to get feedback on your drafts. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Conquering Fear

Four ways to make fear work for us..

Posted December 26, 2020

• What Is Fear?
• Find a therapist to combat fear and anxiety

Conquer is a strong word. It describes overcoming an obstacle, an enemy. I find that fear is a formidable enemy, so conquering is the right way to look at it.

In my last blog post I wrote about fear that is manufactured to keep us scared, angry, and divided. Such false fear is different from the fear we face in life that warns us against danger or keeps us from being reckless and making bad decisions. The task I previously proposed is to differentiate between manufactured fear and helpful fear by embracing fear that helps us stay safe and diminishing fear that blocks us from thinking clearly and caring about others. In this post, I expand on the ways that we can overcome fear.

Fear can be productive — strive to use it that way

Fear serves the valuable purpose of helping us survive by making us alert to dangerous situations. This is positive fear. Honor it, use it to make decisions that promote life. Sometimes productive fear is difficult to recognize. For example, there is fear that serves as motivation to take on a challenge and there is fear that keeps us from trying new things and reinforces a sense of failure. 1 This is a great distinction. Fear that is challenging is positive; fear that is paralyzing is negative. That means we need to embrace challenges, even when we feel nervous, anxious , or afraid. How many successful actors and musicians admit that they have moments of fear before they perform, yet you would not know it by the strength of their performance? This is a productive use of fear. On the other hand, fear that keeps us from trying new things reinforces a sense of failure. This fear is not productive.

Fear that is used to frighten us

There is another type of unproductive fear, the fear that is used by others to scare us. Warnings that arouse fear in exaggerated or dramatic ways can be counter-productive. For example, public service announcements that elicit fear to scare you are actually less persuasive than images shown to elicit empathy. 2 An example of this is the difference between showing graphic pictures of people on drugs meant to convince you that using drugs is a bad choice compared to showing pictures of people needing assistance and working to overcome their addictions. In fact, the negative images can increase our anger with those at-risk of the undesired behavior. Using fear to create scare tactics can actually be counter-productive.

Four ways we can make fear useful

So how do we make fear work for us? Fear is designed to get our attention so that we react. That initial rush of fear is helpful because it could save our lives. However, prolonged fear tends to be draining and is not helpful. The task is to face our fears and interpret them in ways that help us to develop and grow stronger. We can do that when we:

• Make fear productive . We are hard-wired to physically feel fear. That immediate flood of fear can propel us to take action to make us safe. The challenge is to interpret those fearful feelings in ways that are useful. Honor the power of fear to keep us away from danger and protect us from reckless behavior.
• Maximize productive fear . Recognize fear that challenges us to master difficult tasks. It can help us to set goals for achievement. This is positive fear and can propel us to do things we thought we could not do. Productive fear can lead us to accomplishments, and mastering those challenges builds our self-esteem .
• Recognize manufactured fear , the kind of fear that is designed to manipulate us. Fear is a powerful trigger and can be purposely used to push us emotionally. This is negative fear that promotes someone else’s agenda, not ours.
• Learn about things we fear . Knowledge is power and helps us gain understanding to confront things that are frightening because they are foreign to us. Instead of being frightened and paralyzed, we gain expertise and control.

The best way to conquer fear is to recognize when fear is useful and when it is not. Understanding why we are afraid can give us power to act on that knowledge. Let fear motivate us to be safe and take challenges rather than stop us from moving forward.

1. Putwain, D.W., Symes, W. & Remedios, R. (2016). The impact of fear appeals on subjective-task value and academic self-efficacy: The role of appraisal. Learning and Individual Differences , 51, pp. 307-313.

2. Peng, L., Shen, L., Vanderbilt, R.R., Kim, Y. & Foley, K.A. (2020). The impact of fear versus state empathy on persuasion and social stigma. Media Psychology , 23, 1, pp. 1-24.

Elizabeth A. Segal, Ph.D. , is a professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University.

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Overcoming Fear Essay

Table of Contents

Introduction on Overcoming Fear Essay

Fear is an emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety, phobia, and panic attacks. Fear can hold us back from pursuing our dreams, taking risks, and experiencing new things. It is essential to learn how to overcome fear to achieve success and fulfillment in life. This essay will explore the different ways to overcome fear, including facing your fears, changing your mindset, seeking support, and using relaxation techniques, with the potential aid of essay writing help to further understand and articulate these methods effectively.

Facing Your Fears

The most effective way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. It may seem daunting, but confronting your fears can help you gain control over them. For instance, if you have a fear of public speaking, you could start by speaking in front of a small audience, such as friends or family members. Gradually increase the audience size until you feel comfortable speaking in front of a larger group. Similarly, if you have a fear of heights, you could try bungee jumping or skydiving to confront your fear.

Facing your fears can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. It can help you build confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. Moreover, it can expand your comfort zone and open up new opportunities. For example, if you overcome your fear of public speaking, you may be able to advance in your career, deliver more effective presentations, and communicate more confidently with others.

Changing Your Mindset

Another way to overcome fear is to change your mindset. Fear is often the result of negative thinking patterns, such as catastrophizing, black-and-white thinking, and mind-reading. These patterns can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where you believe the worst-case scenario will happen, and you act accordingly, which reinforces your fear.

To change your mindset, you need to challenge your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. For example, if you have a fear of failure, you could challenge the thought that “I will never succeed” by asking yourself, “What evidence do I have to support this thought?” You may realize that you have succeeded in the past and that failure is a natural part of the learning process.

Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can help you feel more optimistic, hopeful, and confident. It can also help you develop a growth mindset, where you view failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. This mindset can help you overcome fear and achieve your goals.

Seeking Support

Overcoming fear can be challenging, and you may need support from others. Seeking support from friends, family members, or a therapist can help you cope with your fears and develop effective strategies to overcome them.

Talking to someone who understands your fears can provide a sense of validation and empathy. Moreover, they may offer practical advice, such as relaxation techniques or exposure therapy, that can help you overcome your fears. For example, if you have a fear of flying, a therapist may suggest exposure therapy, where you gradually expose yourself to flying-related stimuli until you feel more comfortable flying.

Using Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques can help you manage your fear and anxiety. These techniques can include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga. They can help you reduce physical tension and calm your mind, which can help you feel more relaxed and less fearful.

Deep breathing involves taking slow, deep breaths through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. This technique can help you reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, which can help you feel more relaxed.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in your body. This technique can help you release physical tension and reduce anxiety.

Meditation involves focusing your attention on your breath or a specific object or mantra. This technique can help you clear your mind and reduce stress and anxiety.

Yoga involvesstretching and holding poses while focusing on your breath. This technique can help you improve your flexibility, balance, and strength while reducing stress and anxiety.

Using relaxation techniques can help you manage your fear and anxiety in the moment, but it may not be enough to overcome your fear in the long term. However, combining relaxation techniques with other strategies, such as facing your fears, changing your mindset, and seeking support, can be more effective.

Examples Of Overcoming Fear

Many people have overcome their fears and achieved success in their personal and professional lives. For example, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, overcame her fear of failure and rejection by persevering through multiple rejections from publishers before finding success. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey overcame her fear of public speaking by facing her fears and becoming one of the most successful and influential media personalities in the world.

Athletes also frequently overcome fear to achieve success. For instance, Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, has spoken about her fear of the “twisties,” a condition where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness mid-air. Despite experiencing the twisties during the 2021 Olympics, Biles returned to competition and won a bronze medal on the balance beam.

Why Is Overcoming Fear Important In Life?

Overcoming fear is important in life for several reasons. Firstly, fear can hold us back from pursuing our goals and dreams. For example, if someone has a fear of public speaking, they may avoid giving presentations or speaking in front of groups, limiting their opportunities for career advancement or personal growth. Overcoming this fear can help them unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

Secondly, fear can lead to anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions that can affect our mental and physical health. Overcoming fear can help us reduce these negative emotions and improve our overall well-being.

Thirdly, fear can prevent us from experiencing new things and taking risks. Overcoming fear can help us expand our comfort zones and try new things that can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

Finally, overcoming fear can help us build resilience and self-confidence. By facing and overcoming our fears, we can develop a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem that can help us tackle other challenges in life with greater confidence.

In summary, overcoming fear is essential for personal growth, achieving our goals, and improving our mental and physical well-being. By facing our fears and developing effective strategies to overcome them, we can unlock our full potential and lead more fulfilling lives.

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What Can We Learn From Overcoming Fear?

Overcoming fear can teach us many valuable lessons that can help us in various aspects of our lives. Here are some of the key lessons we can learn from overcoming fear:

Courage and resilience:  Overcoming fear requires courage and resilience. By facing our fears and persevering through the discomfort and uncertainty, we can develop a stronger sense of these qualities, which can help us tackle other challenges in life.

Self-awareness:  Overcoming fear requires us to be aware of our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Through this process, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our triggers, and our coping mechanisms, which can help us manage future fears and challenges more effectively.

Growth mindset:  Overcoming fear requires a growth mindset, which is the belief that we can learn and grow from our experiences, even when they are uncomfortable or challenging. This mindset can help us approach future challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and adapt.

Empathy:  Overcoming fear can also help us develop empathy for others who are facing their own fears and challenges. Through our own experiences, we can better understand and relate to others who are struggling, and offer support and encouragement.

Gratitude:  Overcoming fear can also teach us to appreciate the positive aspects of our lives and the opportunities we have to grow and learn. By focusing on the positive outcomes of our efforts, we can develop a sense of gratitude that can help us maintain a positive outlook and cope with future challenges.

In summary, overcoming fear can teach us valuable lessons about courage, resilience, self-awareness, growth mindset, empathy, and gratitude. By applying these lessons to other areas of our lives, we can become more resilient, adaptable, and empathetic individuals.

In conclusion, fear is a common emotion that can hold us back from pursuing our goals and experiencing new things. However, there are many ways to overcome fear, including facing your fears, changing your mindset, seeking support, and using relaxation techniques. Overcoming fear can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding, helping you build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. With persistence and determination, anyone can overcome their fears and achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

List Of Few Topics On Overcoming Fear Essay

• The role of mindfulness in conquering fear
• How to overcome a fear of public speaking
• The benefits of facing your fears head-on
• The psychological origins of phobias and how to overcome them
• Overcoming the fear of failure
• The power of positive thinking in overcoming fear
• The role of therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of heights
• The role of physical activity in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of flying
• The importance of support from loved ones in overcoming fear
• The role of visualization in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of the dark
• The role of self-affirmation in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of needles or injections
• The role of hypnotherapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of water
• The role of exposure therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of snakes or other animals
• The role of cognitive-behavioral therapy in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of clowns or other phobias
• The role of neurolinguistic programming in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of public transportation
• The role of meditation in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of speaking in front of large groups
• The role of affirmations in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of the unknown
• The role of goal-setting in overcoming fear
• How to overcome a fear of heights or bridges
• How to overcome a fear of the ocean or deep water

Cooper Robinson

Hi, I am Cooper Robinson. I am a full-time academic writer with expertise in essay writing. Having completed my Master's degree, I worked as an English professor. For six long years, I had been reading hundreds of essays with repetitive content, zero creativity, and full of copied facts. Listing Now, I am on a mission to make all those dull essays sparkle, so that students do not miss out on top grades. I'veI've written a couple of guest posts on essay writing for prominent academic writing sites. Apart from English essay writing, I love coffee and sushi. When I am not making essay warriors out of students, I am probably off to some fishing or biking adventure. 

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Essay on Fear

Students are often asked to write an essay on Fear in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Fear

Understanding fear.

Fear is a basic human emotion that alerts us to the presence of danger. It is fundamental to our survival, making us respond quickly when we sense a threat.

Fear’s Role

Fear helps us make decisions that protect us from harm. It triggers our ‘fight or flight’ response, preparing our bodies to either confront or escape danger.

Overcoming Fear

Fear can be overcome by understanding and facing it. When we challenge our fears, we learn to control them, reducing their impact on our lives.

The Positive Side of Fear

Fear can also be positive, motivating us to push beyond our comfort zones, leading to personal growth and achievement.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Fear
• Speech on Fear

250 Words Essay on Fear

Fear is an innate emotional response to perceived threats. It is evolutionarily wired into our brains, acting as a survival mechanism that alerts us to danger and prepares our bodies to react. While fear can be a beneficial response, it can also be debilitating when it becomes chronic or irrational.

The Physiology of Fear

Fear triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including the release of adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare the body for the ‘fight or flight’ response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. This process, while crucial for survival in threatening situations, can lead to health problems if sustained over a long period.

Fear and the Mind

Psychologically, fear can be both a conscious and subconscious experience. It can be based on real threats or imagined ones, leading to anxiety disorders and phobias. Fear can also influence decision-making, often leading to risk-averse behavior. Understanding the psychological aspects of fear is essential for effective mental health treatment.

Overcoming fear involves recognizing and confronting it. Techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction can be effective. These strategies aim to change the thought patterns that lead to fear and teach coping mechanisms to manage fear responses.

Fear in Society

Fear also plays a significant role in society, influencing politics, economics, and social interactions. It can be used as a tool of manipulation, or it can drive societal change. Recognizing the societal implications of fear is crucial for fostering a more understanding and empathetic society.

In conclusion, fear is a complex emotion with profound impacts on individuals and society. Understanding its mechanisms and implications can help us navigate our fears and use them as catalysts for growth.

500 Words Essay on Fear

Introduction.

Fear is a universal human experience, an essential part of our biological makeup that has evolved over millions of years. It is a complex emotion that can be both protective and paralyzing, serving as a warning signal for danger while also potentially hindering personal growth and exploration. This essay explores the multifaceted nature of fear, its psychological implications, and its role in shaping human behavior and society.

The Biological Basis of Fear

Fear is fundamentally rooted in our biology. It is a response triggered by the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain that processes emotional stimuli. When we perceive a threat, the amygdala activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened alertness. This response is adaptive and has been crucial for human survival, allowing us to react quickly to potential threats.

The Psychological Aspect of Fear

Psychologically, fear is a multifaceted emotion with wide-ranging implications. It can be both acute, as in the immediate response to a threat, and chronic, as in the long-term fear associated with anxiety disorders. Fear can also be learned through conditioning or observation, which explains why different individuals may have different fear responses to the same stimulus.

Fear can lead to avoidance behavior, where individuals steer clear of situations that they perceive as threatening. While this can be protective, it can also be limiting, preventing individuals from pursuing opportunities and experiences that could lead to personal growth.

Fear and Society

On a societal level, fear can be both a unifying and a divisive force. It can bring people together in the face of a common threat, but it can also be exploited to manipulate public opinion and justify oppressive policies. Fear can lead to stereotyping and discrimination, as individuals or groups are scapegoated as threats to societal safety and order.

Overcoming fear involves recognizing and understanding it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one effective method, as it helps individuals reframe their fearful thoughts and gradually expose themselves to feared situations. Mindfulness and meditation can also be beneficial, allowing individuals to stay present and focused rather than getting caught up in fearful thoughts.

In conclusion, fear is an integral part of the human experience, with deep biological roots and far-reaching psychological and societal implications. While it can be protective, it can also be limiting and divisive. Understanding and managing fear is therefore crucial, not just for individual well-being, but also for societal harmony and progress. As we navigate through an increasingly complex and uncertain world, the ability to confront and overcome our fears will be more important than ever.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Family
• Essay on Ethics
• Essay on Equality

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What Students Are Saying About Rejection, Overcoming Fear and Their ‘Word of the Year’

Teenage comments in response to our recent writing prompts, and an invitation to join the ongoing conversation.

By The Learning Network

This week on The Learning Network, our writing prompts asked teenagers to dig deep. One invited reflection on times they have benefited from rejection, another asked about how they have overcome their fears, and a third challenged them to come up with one word to encapsulate their aspirations for the year ahead.

Thank you to all those who joined the conversation this week from around the world, including teenagers from Savannah, Ga. ; Loveland, Colo. ; and Jiangsu Province, China.

Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear as they were originally submitted.

Have You Ever Benefited From Rejection?

An aspiring actor named Axel Webber went viral on TikTok recently — not for achieving his goal of getting into the Juilliard School, but for being rejected from it. His story led to thousands of reassuring comments from strangers and celebrities alike.

Mr. Webber’s post inspired us to ask teenagers if they had experienced rejection — and if the consequences had been different from what they expected. Over 200 told us about times when being turned down spurred them to work harder, reflect, grow and find a new path. Here is a selection.

Rejection Can Push You in a Positive Direction.

I believe that rejection is an opportunity for growth. When you are rejected it forces you to focus on what you need to work on to be better. So that if you go back, you can get the acceptance that is well deserved. Rejection motivates you to keep pushing and better yourself. Personally, I have been on my school’s dance team for 3 years, however, you have to try out to compete for our major competitions. For the first two years, I did not make the competition team. That rejection pushed me to work on my skills and work on getting myself stronger so that I can be ready. After all my hardwork, I am finally able to compete. So yes, rejection is a good thing.

— Royal, New Mexico

When I was younger, I submitted one of my Lego creations to a contest going on at the time. I unfortunately didn’t win or get any recognition whatsoever, and while that did sting at first, it ultimately gave me the opportunity to reflection on my failure. Analyze what aspects the winning entries did better than mine and through that, grow creatively going forward. At the end of the day if you wish you go forward you must prepare to occasionally be pushed backwards. So you can charge ahead stronger than your would’ve been able to before.

— Nolan, Glenbard West

Rejection can be a fuel for success. There have been multiple times in life where I have failed, but I had to pick myself back up to accomplish what was needed. For example, there was one time where I didn’t do so good on a quiz for math. I saw the grade and knew I wanted a better one. I signed up for retakes, looked over my work, and studied. I ended up getting an100 on that retake and it brought my grade up further than what it was before. Everyone needs a little bit of failure to succeed because at the end of the day that fail can be used as fuel for success.

— Emeka, Kenwood Academy

We Can All Learn From Defeat.

Rejection hurts- whether it be from a friend group or a college, the same thoughts are always triggered: “Am I good enough?” Some may think that these thoughts are purely harmful, but I would argue otherwise. These thoughts both encourage introspection by challenging a person’s preconceived notions of themselves, and ultimately help remove the idea of worth from all that is tangible. Furthermore, rejection helps people consider what is truly meaningful to them, by testing the relationship between person and want. If something is truly desired, a single rejection should not be enough to stop a dream, while it might give pause as people consider whether their fight is worth the effort for other things. This effectively selects for the things that are most important in a person’s life, and it is precisely this rejection that, through trial, empowers someone to live their best life.

— Brandt, Glenbard West High School

Of course, getting rejected hurts. As a senior, rejection is one of my biggest fears. At times, I am anxiously waiting for an email to see if I got accepted into the colleges I have applied to. Nevertheless, rejection is not the end of the world. Personally, I feel that rejection means it is not for me or it is not for me at that time. Furthermore, I have never let rejection make me feel like a failure. When I get rejected, I take it as a lesson on what I can do better next time. A lot of people are terrified of rejection; however, I feel that rejection helps me grow as a person. For example, if I get rejected from a college, I learn that that school is not for me and I won’t succeed there.

— Keiry, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School

Rejection is something we are all familiar with. It’s a “must” in our lives. It’s something we encounter during our journey to success. I was in the doldrums when I experienced rejection. I knew what failure tastes like, but at the same time, the rejection pushed me and motivated me to go further. I just had to try again.

We should be open with our disappointments or unfortunate times. We should not be embarrassed and we should not avoid it, but we should embrace it. Once we face rejection with optimism and determination to attempt again, we know that we have nothing to lose. There would be a fervor created, there would be adrenaline pumping, and we become our brand new selves. More resilient, more diligent, more preserver.

— Bella, Suzhou SIP, Jiangsu Province, China

Hearing “No” Is Scary.

I can’t think of a time I benefited from rejection. In my opinion, rejection is a really scary thing. I generally avoid trying out things unless I am good at them. When I try something out and I’m struggling I feel humiliated. Facing the possibility of rejection is enough to make me not try it at all. Looking at this article he faced rejection from the university of his dreams very publicly. Then his fans harassed the Instagram of the university. I feel like that’s much worse than just getting rejected regularly.

— Shealynn, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

It’s Important to Talk About Failure.

I do think that it is important to discuss failures because it’s not the end of the world. I know a lot of people who have their whole lives planned out and are so set-in-stone with the path they want to take and I’m just wondering when it’ll fall apart. The saying “no plan survives contact with the enemy” rings true in so many aspects of life and the main theme of that saying is to be adaptable, to be prepared for the worst. The people who are so stubborn with their life plan are fragile because if something goes wrong, something they can’t predict, their entire world might seem like it’s falling apart. It’s important to set goals and strive for them, sure, but life is full of complications and not being ready for things to go wrong is setting yourself up for failure. By discussing failure and showing how life continues, people can be more comfortable with it and ready in case something happens they can’t expect.

— Max, Hinsdale Central IL

I think that it is very important to openly discuss the times we fail to achieve our goals. Nobody is perfect. People make mistakes all the time. Goals can be made, but they are more often unsuccessful or failed. However, people only ever talk about their achievements to look better and feel better about themselves. If you only ever hear about all the great things other people are doing, its going to negatively affect your mental health and self esteem if and when you fail to achieve one of your goals. Sharing your bad experiences, like Mr. Webber did, normalizes the very normal concept of failure. People can relate to it and feel better about their experiences. Additionally, people can see that you can recover from failures. Many think one is the end all and don’t care to look for the bright side and good things that can come instead. Mr. Webbers experience being shared can help people see that this is not the case. Failure and rejection one time wont make for failure and rejection all the time.

— Nina, Baker High School

By sharing our stories it allows for others to not feel so alone if they are going through a similar hardship too. It has been proven in many studies that by discussing and working through failure, it will help and benefit us in the long run. Suppose all individuals who faced failure and struggle opened up to others, there would be an overflow of support and love. All this support would help to create new goals and a new path was better than before. I think Mr.Webber chose to share his experience so that he can help others realize that failure and rejection doesn’t always mean the end of an era, just the beginning of another chapter.

— Delaney, Maury High School-Norfolk, VA

Rejection Is Not the End.

A common misconception in this day and age is the understanding that rejection is an irredeemable failure, suggesting that those who have been rejected have no hope of changing. However, this could not be further from the truth. While I agree they rejection should be treated as a sign of failure, we need to rethink the popular assumption that rejection indicates the inability to improve. For most people, rejection can be incredibly discouraging, as it may feel that one’s efforts amounted to nothing in the end. Though this is understandable, this view is shortsighted. The strongest people are those who acknowledge their faults and choose to improve upon them, or find other solutions such as Webber suggests in the article. This is something that society should take into consideration when faced with rejection in the future.

— Jose, Glenbard West

This is one time when rejection can actually help you by teaching you to be patient and keep moving. You may not get what you want right away, but if you’re willing to work hard and be patient, you will eventually find yourself where you want to be. You may experience sadness in the beginning, but you will realize that this is an opportunity. You may not realize it just yet, but you may become something even better than you hoped for.

— C., Bronx

How Do You Overcome Your Fears?

In a recent guest essay for the Opinion section, the poet Amanda Gorman revealed that she almost didn’t deliver the now-famous reading of her work “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration. Why? “I was terrified,” she confesses.

In the essay, she tells readers how she overcame her fears and why doing so was worth it. We asked students to reflect on Ms. Gorman’s advice and to share their own. They told us about the mantras they recite, the music they listen to, and the questions they ask themselves to work through their doubts.

What Amanda Gorman Can Teach Us About Fear

Unfortunately, fear is not something we can avoid, but something we must deal with. Ms.Gordon’s recitation of her experience with fear during her big moment conveys that no one is immune to fear, not even extraordinary poets and public speakers. This article humanizes fear as something that we all go through and I found it extremely powerful as the article reveals that fear doesn’t discriminate. It is important to remove the stigma and reformulate our feelings about fear and how fear doesn’t make one weak.

— Victoria, Westbury, NY

My fears have stopped me from doing many things I wanted to do. I have missed out on social events, school, etc. I have very bad social anxiety and I have a really big fear of people judging me. This has made it really hard for me to ask for help because i feel stupid when I do, and because of this, I’ve had many missing assignments just because I was too nervous to ask for help. After reading this article, I’ve realized that many people feel the same way and that you should not let your fears take you over because in the long run, you will look back and regret the opportunities you missed.

— Mckenzie, Loveland, Colorado

Fear keeps people from living. It traps us and convinces us that we are not up to the task, that we are too weak to struggle through. But Ms. Gorman’s advice helps remind us that the only possible way to truly get over our fears is to own them and face them head on. Although it truly is a struggle to gather up the courage to own our fear, in the end, if we follow through, the reward and accomplishing feeling is worth it. Ms. Gorman’s advice reflects this idea, so in the pursuit of getting over my public speaking fear, I will own it.

— Carlin, Glenbard West High School, Glen Ellyn

I struggle with ADHD and anxiety, both these diagnoses sometimes try to scare me out of doing even the smallest of things. The anxiety-ridden voice in my head tries to talk me out of going somewhere or doing something with the “What if?” questions: “What if you fail?” What if you get hurt?” “What if it doesn’t go the way we planned?” Something I have learned so I don’t pass on stuff that would probably regret is to quiet those voices because if I didn’t I would be like the speaker, Amanda Gorman, who almost passed on delivering her poem at Biden’s inauguration because of the “What ifs.” She figured out that if she missed out on that once in a lifetime opportunity because of being scared of the possible outcomes, she might regret it forever.

— Olivia, Block 4, Hoggard High School

Advice for Getting Through Scary Moments

Whenever my paranoid thoughts take over my mind, I say loudly to myself mentally, “Stop talking. Everything will be okay,” repeatedly. It works well when there is something I can distract myself with (like a crowd), but when there are times when I’m alone by myself, it does not work as well. I try my best to think positively and look at the good sides. “My parents will be proud of me. I will be proud of myself. This will be good for me.”

— Yang, J.R Masterman Philadelphia, PA

Presenting in front of the class or preparing for a presentation brings me anxiety; consequently, I use several techniques that help me remain relaxed so that these nervous feelings do not hinder my presentation. Like Ms. Gorman, I recite words of confidence and encouragement. This is an effective strategy because it allows me to realize that I am prepared for what is ahead. Additionally, I remind myself that the presentation will last for a small period of time. After it is over, the pressure will no longer be a burden. Another effective tool I use while talking to large groups of people is focusing on one spot in the crowd. This prevents me from directly reading off notecards, and forces me to face the audience I am speaking to. These approaches have aided to ease my anxiety and allowed me to present more comfortably in front of my classes.

— Javier, Maury High School, Norfolk VA

Learning to Deal With Fear or Anxiety

I was about 12 years old. I remember driving up to the Disney parks and seeing the biggest roller coaster of my life, and saying that I would never ride on it. Well, I was wrong. My mom had different plans for me. As we approached the ride, I was fine waiting for my family to do their thing, I even went as far as waiting by a churro stand as they were in line. But then my mom called me to at least wait in line with them, then I was ready to go, and she asked me to at least go to the front of the line, then to at least wait on the side as they went on the ride, then by some magical persuasion, I sat in the seat of my first roller coaster. I will admit, it was fun, and that I have never stapled my feet as hard to anything, but it was nice to separate myself from my fears, and experience something that I would have never predicted would happen, not die.

— Belle, Atrisco Heritage Academy

If I am dealing with anxious thoughts and doubt at a certain time, I think to myself, “What am I doing?” and “Does this really matter?” If the answer is yes, then I try not to think about it, as it would just lead to more stress accumulation or I try and relax before I make a decision. It is my personal belief that a decision made with emotions is a very rushed and illogical decision. After all that is done, I regroup and start to think of a solution and if I don’t think it’ll work, I’ll ponder a while more. Then I ask myself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Then I go ahead with the decision. If I am overcome with fear and severe anxious thoughts, then I go with a obviously different approach. As much as this seems far-fetched, I tend to have an easier time with dealing with fear when I simply tell myself it’s just my head.

— David, Glenbard West High School

I always had this constant fear that something was lurking in the dark rather than fearing the darkness itself. To overcome this fear, I had to force myself to approach it logically and treat it as any other scenario. For example, if I were venturing into the basement of my house, I would say to myself that nothing was lurking in the dark and that it was unnecessary to think that way. Another example would be my fear of failure, which I still haven’t fully recovered from. This kept me from a critical opportunity when I scheduled to take the SAT, and I canceled the day before. I don’t regret this, but it was still saddening that my stress hindered me from following through. Moving forward, I plan to focus my efforts on reducing stress by facing these fears head-on with this mentality.

— Evan, Farmington High School

To overcome my feelings of dread or fear, I just turn on my favorite music from the 60-80’s. This tactic usually works, and I am able to get rid of any fears or dread by jamming out to these songs. Even though I don’t state my fears out loud or recite mantras, like Ms. Gorman, I am able to overcome them through joy and music. These approaches have been very effective for me and I have been able to lighten other people’s day because of it.

— MiKayla, Colorado

What’s Your Word of the Year?

A recent Well section newsletter shared the words readers had sent in that represent the positive changes they would like to make in their lives in the next year.

It inspired the Picture Prompt, “ Your Word of the Year ,” in which we asked students, too, to choose a word to represent their hopes for 2022, and to explain why they chose it. Here are some of the answers.

“Incandescent”

The past two years were filled with darkness and hopelessness, waiting for the pandemic to end, mourning the loss of those who have passed due to the virus, or any other tragedy that has The sense of loneliness and isolation hung in the air whenever we walked outside after being trapped indoors for so long with minimal contact and communication. This year, I hope for a bright, incandescent year filled with success and happiness. I hope for liveliness and energy, having the strength to reach new limits that have never been reached in the past. I hope to discover new fascinations, and rediscover old passions after two years of being bored and uninspired.

— Maria, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

Through this year I hope to embrace both the good and bad in my life. I hope to embrace both success and failure with open arms and cherish each experience. I want to embrace myself and those around me with nothing but love and acceptance. The last few years have been plagued with uncertainty and sorrow—making it challenging to focus on embracing all aspects of our lives. To heal this cycle, I’m dedicated to embracing everything 2022 has to offer, and truly appreciating life.

— Lucy, Glenbard West High School

“Adoration”

This is the first word that came to mind when I chose my word at the beginning of 2022. Adoration, as defined by dictionary.com, is “deep love and respect.” I want to adore my life, not just tolerate it. I want to live each day with intention, not merely surviving, but passionately living. I want this year, and every year moving forward, to be filled with feelings of adoration. I want to deeply love the people I surround myself with, not just tolerate them. I want to adore my sport, my school life, my routines, and my daily adventures. The pursuit to adore my life, to fall in love with every good thing it entails- adventure, joy, laughter, faith, fullness and goodness- will help me to have gratitude when life gets tough. There is always room to adore life and with that adoration comes great gratitude for life, even in long days and hard circumstances.

— Winn, Hoggard High School in Wilmington NC

“Satisfied”

There is no point in nitpicking our lives and finding a flaw in every little thing. To be satisfied is to be happy and content. Nobody likes to be around a complainer and nobody likes to be around the person who would clearly rather be somewhere else. Being satisfied with where you are and who you are with is the most important thing in my eyes. Make the people around you feel comfortable and enjoy your time with them, wherever you are.

— Clare, Glenbard West High School

“Improvement”

This year, I want to try and focus on myself the best I can and improve who I am mentally and physically. I want to focus on improving my health habits, finding the rights friends, and taking more breaks from toxic people and social media. I want to improve and become a better me for 2022 and just keep getting better. I am going to work hard in school, dance, and my mental health to improve who I am as a person. I want to find myself again and make my life better eventually.

— Kate, Syracuse, NY

This is the year where I will improve my skills and grow them. I have a bad habit of procrastinating, and I plan on growing out of it this year. I am also in a running sport and would like to run faster and grow out of my old self. This is the year we all have to step up and get onto the task. The pandemic has taken away a lot of our productivity these past two years, and we have to get back on track. We certainly won’t be going back to normal, but that is why we have to grow into something new and better.

— Rithvik, Mission San Jose

“Persevere”

I think during these times especially, we all need this the most. We all need to remember to keep going even when things get tough. As a junior in high school, my life right now is pretty stressful. I’m preparing to apply to colleges, getting ready to take the SAT, balancing a job and school, all while being in a pandemic. Although things are really hard for everyone right now, I always tell myself to persevere. Even though sometimes I just want to give up, I remind myself of my goals, and what I want to accomplish. I know that giving up will prevent me from accomplishing my goals. Overall, this year will be extremely stressful and scary, but I think we all need to do one thing—persevere.

— Marissa, Glenbard West HS

“Pragmatic”

This word, other than being the word for this year, is my favorite word. According to the Google definition, pragmatic means “dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations”. I want to dive into 2022 realistically and sensibly, especially as my junior year in high school comes to an end and I start to plan my life out moving forward. I don’t want to overwork or dissappoint myself this coming December, but I also don’t want to regret anything I didn’t do.

— Elizabeth, Glenbard West High School Glen Ellyn, IL

I believe if you stay calm and relaxed you can achieve so much more. You could also have less stress, less anxiety, depression and so much more. By staying calm you can just think about the good and never the bad, you can be around more people and not be anxious. Staying calm can also improve relationships with others. When being calm with people you won’t be so quick to think about something the wrong way, and can take that information and process it to where you understand it better. You can also manage your energy, and not always burn yourself out, and you won’t be nervous about a lot of stuff. Calmness can improve your creativity and how you may have seen things before, you may see them totally differently than how you see things now.

— MW, Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC

I have found that focusing on one’s own self - as in their interests, hobbies, and personality brings so much peace and ease to their life. Since quarantine, other people’s choices and opinions have been affecting me in different ways, to where I started questioning everything I do and say. After months of isolation, returning to the ‘real world’ had come with difficulties, but with this new year, I pursue a future of confidence and perseverance. I will continue doing the things I have recently found and loved, as well as embrace and discover new interests I’ve been too scared to try. 2021 was a good year for me, and a huge leap from 2020. Everyone started gradually returning to their lives, jobs, school, and more. I started enjoying life as it is and gained so much confidence in myself this year, and I am so grateful for all the blessings it has brought me. 2022, on the other hand, will hopefully be a better year of discovery and hard work. As The editor of the Well newsletter states, 2022 should be a year of “focusing on the things that are most meaningful to you.” From meeting new people, visiting family, and doing what I love, I will further shift my focus to me, myself, and I.

— Lara, Cary High School

“Compassion”

Not just compassion towards others, but compassion to myself. During the last few years- especially with Covid and quarantines- I have struggled to find self-love while isolated from the people who love me most. And although school is in session, isolation is over, and I can see friends each day, that feeling of self-love isn’t always around. This is why my 2022 word is “compassion.” I want to learn how to be compassionate to myself and help anyone else who may feel similarly…That is what my year will be about. I will strive to be understanding, fair, and compassionate to myself, as well as to those I care about most.

— Anonymous, Glenbard West High School

“Monophobia”

My word means the fear of being alone. I choose this word because during 2021, life was very lonely and none of my friends were around. I want to fix that and make 2022 less lonely than 2021.

— Makayla, Mission San Jose High

Every single one of us went through a lot these past two years during lockdown like having mental health problems, physical health problems or financial problems, but we couldn’t do anything about it because of lockdown and all of us were silenced. We were silenced because even if we wanted to find a solution, there wasn’t any. Our mental health everyday was getting worse because we couldn’t go outside and we had minimal to no communication with others, we were silenced. Our physical health was being compromised because we couldn’t go outside to exercise and see the sun and we couldn’t feel better, we were silenced. Our financial problems were increasing because many people had lost their jobs and the economy was subsiding, and yet we were silenced.

These past two years have been nothing but silence, but with 2022 we should break that with sound. Sound can be the solution to our problems that we’ve faced through these past two years. We can break that silence with sound when we go outside, communicate with others, and we have opportunities to get jobs. We, together, can break the silence that we’ve faced with sound.

— Hana, Mission San Jose High School

Learn more about Current Events Conversation here and find all of our posts in this column .

How to overcome your fear of the future according to a psychotherapist

I n today's rapidly changing world with climate change, technological advancements, global conflict and the cost-of-living crisis on our minds, it's normal to feel anxious about what the future holds – whether that be anxiety in relation to your personal life or what’s going on in the world more broadly.

However, for some individuals, anxiety about a future event or situation can impact everyday life – and recently, we have been seeing more and more of our clients at The Dawn experiencing anxiety about the future in relation to recent societal challenges caused by world events' – a term I have coined as 'futurophobia,' though another term commonly used for this type of anxiety is anticipatory anxiety.

What is futurophobia?

Futurophobia is an intense fear and anxiety of the future, characterised by persistent worries about upcoming events and situations. This can be related to events specifically impacting you or events going on in the world.

In recent years, the world has experienced numerous challenges, from the pandemic and rise of artificial intelligence to economic instability and climate change. These uncertainties have naturally contributed to a heightened sense of anxiety about the future for many people.

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Additionally, the constant exposure to negative news and social media can exacerbate these worries, making it difficult for us to maintain a positive outlook and switch off.

Symptoms of futurophobia

The symptoms of futurophobia, AKA anticipatory anxiety, have a lot of crossovers with general anxiety and can include

●  Feelings of apprehension or dread.

● Feeling tense or jumpy.

● Restlessness or irritability.

● Anticipating the worst about known and unknown future events.

● Avoidance of long-term planning or committing to plans.

●  Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath.

● Physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, insomnia, sweating, tremors and twitches – particularly when thinking or talking about the future.

If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, please speak to your GP or a psychotherapist as there are steps you can take to manage your anxiety.

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Overcoming futurophobia

 practice mindfulness.

Engage in mindfulness exercises, such as mindfulness meditation or mindfulness walking, to help you focus on the present moment and reduce anxiety about the future. It can take practice, but mindfulness is a great tool for regulating your emotions.

Use grounding techniques

Breathwork is a great on-the-spot aid when we're suffering from panic

Challenge negative thoughts

When you catch yourself worrying about the future, take a step back and question the validity of your concerns. Ask yourself, 'Is this a realistic worry, or could I be catastrophising?'.

If you are unable to control what you are concerned about, for example, the state of the economy, this can be particularly helpful.

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Try relaxation techniques

Incorporate relaxation techniques in your daily routine to help calm your mind and body. These don’t have to be time-consuming, for example, listen to calming music, try out visualisation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or gentle stretches.

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Seek support

Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional about your concerns. Sharing your worries can help you gain perspective and feel less alone.

Prioritise sleep

Getting good quality and length of sleep is really important in easing feelings of anxiety, so I would advise trying to get into a consistent sleep routine as much as possible.

Limit media and social media consumption

Be mindful of your media intake, especially if it contributes to your anxiety. Set boundaries around news and social media consumption, and focus on positive, uplifting content. There are a lot of worrying news stories out there, but there are also many positive stories!

While it's very natural to have concerns about the future, it's important to address anxiety if it is impacting your everyday life. By practicing these strategies and seeking support when needed, you can learn to manage your anxiety about the future.

Helen Wells is a psychotherapist and Clinical Director at  The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab .

8 Bold Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Writing

by Sarah Gribble | 0 comments

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Today I want to talk about fear. Fear of writing, fear of sharing your work, fear of publishing—and how you can overcome it.

Writers face fear on a day-to-day basis.

The self-doubt . The fear of failure. And, oh, the vulnerability.

Writing is hard enough with all the self-evaluation and doubt about your abilities. But then sharing your work with other people so they can critique or review it? CRINGE.

When you sink into that fear it debilitates you. If you let fear hold you back, you’re ensuring you never achieve your goals. You’ll never write that book and you’ll never get published. All because you were too scared.

8 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Writing

It’s time to stop letting fear control you and get writing. Here’s how:

1. Do what scares you.

When you’re up against something that makes you cringe, ask yourself what the worst-case scenario is. Is it actually  harmful? Unless it’s something like jumping from a bridge into a rocky river or stepping in front of a speeding vehicle, it’s probably not.

Fear is trying to keep you safe. It needs to learn that just because something is scary doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s detrimental to your health. Do what scares you, and keep doing it, and the fear will subside.

This includes fear of our own writing. I'm not saying you have to go write a 90,000 word novel. Start with a short story, or try out some writing prompts.

Aspiring writers might feel intiimdated because they don't think that they are a great writer. The reality is, you can never become a great writer unless you practice—and to practice, you have to write.

Embrace and overcome your fear by putting words down. Start writing, have patience with yourself, and worry about the rest later.

The blank page becomes way less scary as soon as you put words on it.

2. Stop procrastinating.

Your house is already clean enough. That TV show can wait. No, you don’t need to run to the store to pick up a bag of chips.

Figure out when the best time for you to write is and then write.

If you really, truly need a break to clear your mind, set a time limit. Ten minutes of scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush and then get back to your writing.

Ultimately, those who procrastinate will be more prone to writing off procrastination as writer's block—and the more time you spend away from writing, the scary it will become.

3. Learn from criticism.

Criticism is what everyone fears. Not just in writing, but in life. We all want to be liked, to be perfect, to be praised.

Your writing will not please everyone and that’s something you should realize and accept now. Criticism is much easier to take when you go into it knowing that fact.

Don’t just ignore criticism, though. Writing is like everything else in that it requires practice. You don't have to rank #1 on Amazon or make a bestseller list your first go (even though I won't argue that would be fantastic).

The first meal you cooked wasn’t a gourmet meal. The first time you dribbled a basketball wasn’t Lebron-level. Someone was there to point out what you were doing wrong and set you on the right path. They taught you how to get better.

That’s what criticism is: teaching.

It's not  rejecting your work, which might be why some writers fail to share their work: because their fear of rejection is mistakenly associated with getting critiques.

Yes, sometimes it’s mean-spirited, especially in this age of internet trolls. But even in those nasty reviews, there’s normally something to learn from.

Find it. Use it. And do better next time.

4. Stop revising.

You want every sentence in your work to be perfect . I have a secret for you: you’ll never get there.

Your writing will never be perfect. 

Not to you, not to your editors, and not to your readers. It’s impossible, so stop revising ad nauseam. At some point, you have to let it go and put the work out there.

Perfectionism can stunt your creative writing instead of empower it.

To avoid this, set a limit. I prefer three drafts. That’s it. Three and then I let it fly on its own.

What are you writing for? We'll never know unless you decide to share your work.

5. Set goals and move toward them.

Focus on milestones like daily word counts and deadlines (self-imposed or otherwise).

Writing a book is like summiting a mountain: you do it  one step at a time . When you reach the top you might be a little exhausted and out of breath, but you’ll look back at all you’ve accomplished and feel proud.

Without these smaller milestones, it might be hard to finish your piece of writing, or even find the motivation to keep writing each day.

Stories are finished one day at a time, with hard work and a desire to grow your writing process.

Don't sweat the small stuff in your first drafts, like word choice. Instead, set a long term goal of continually learning how to write better and smaller milestones that will help you finish stories you start.

All of this is accomplished word by word, and by turning real and irrational fears into manageable tasks.

6. Embrace the fear of writing.

You’re going to be scared frequently in this business. My stomach still flips every time I submit a short story , even though I’ve submitted hundreds of times. It’s going to happen.

The trick is to acknowledge it and move forward. It didn’t kill you.

In fact, that little tingle of fear should be your signal to celebrate. You did what scared you and that’s amazing.

One book that a lot of writers really love on this subject is The War of Art  by Steven Pressfield. If you're feeling discouraged or swallowed by your fear, check out this book for some motivation.

Even better, find and join a writing group like we have here at The Write Practice. Nothing helps you overcome your fears like a supportive community with a kindred creative spirit.

7. If your character can do it, so can you.

You don’t let your characters sit back on their heels because they’re scared, do you? I hope not, because if you do, you don’t have a story .

Your characters don’t have the luxury of sitting on the bench. They must make decisions and do something about the problem. And so should you.

Don’t let fear of writing take over your writing life. Decide to move forward, to write that book, to send out that manuscript. Decide and then do it.

8. Ask for help if you need it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for time to yourself so that you can write. Your family and friends will understand you need that time because writing is important to you.

Find a group of writers and readers that can go through your story and give constructive feedback. You can't improve in a vacuum.

Need to know what a day in the life of a flight attendant looks like, or the lingo of a truck driver? Ask them. Trust me, you’re not bothering them. People love talking about themselves.

In the same vein, if you need help with research, that’s literally what librarians are for. They’ll be glad to help.

Don’t let fear of asking for help stagnate your writing.

Embrace the Fear

I want to leave you with these words from Carrie Fisher:

Your fears are natural and normal. They're also not the end of the story.

Your task, the challenge for every writer, is to face that fear of writing, acknowledge it, and write, share, publish anyway .

Need extra motivation? Have you checked out The Write Practice’s 100 Day Book program ? It’s the best way to stop letting fear of writing control you and get that book done. Click here to find more information on the course.

What scares you most about writing and/or the business side of writing? What are some steps you can take to overcome that fear?  Let me know in the comments !

Today I want you to spend fifteen minutes writing about a time you were scared to do something but did it anyway. Describe the exact feelings of fear you had. How did you feel after you'd done what scared you?

When you’re finished, share your work in the Pro Practice Workshop here (and if you’re not a member yet, you can join here ).

Join 100 Day Book

Enrollment closes May 14 at midnight!

Sarah Gribble

Sarah Gribble is the author of dozens of short stories that explore uncomfortable situations, basic fears, and the general awe and fascination of the unknown. She just released Surviving Death , her first novel, and is currently working on her next book.

Follow her on Instagram or join her email list for free scares.

Work with Sarah Gribble?

Bestselling author with over five years of coaching experience. Sarah Gribble specializes in working with Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative Fiction, and Thriller books. Sound like a good fit for you?

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