Losing fear and finding freedom
If fear didn’t hold you back from pursuing what truly inspired you, how different do you think your life would be?
At times, we can find ourselves being so afraid of something that we could never even imagine doing it, due to a fear of failure, embarrassment, or whatever it is that holds us back. That used to be me only a few months ago – wandering through life too reluctant to try new things because I was too scared. One day I woke up and decided that I didn’t want to live that way anymore. I wanted to experience life and all that came with it: the pain, the beauty, the memorable moments, everything.
I decided that fear wasn’t going to dictate my life anymore. So what did I do? I packed my bag, booked a flight to Vancouver, and went on a solo backpacking trip. I had always dreamed of travelling to British Columbia, but couldn’t find anyone who was able to come with me. I didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to travel just because I would have to go alone, and from this I discovered the beauty of solo travel – something I was always too nervous to try for myself. I didn’t have much of a plan, but I moved from hostel to hostel as I explored BC, meeting people from all over the world with stories of their own to share. Travelling on my own helped me realized that there were people out there just like me who were travelling alone in hopes of seeing the world and meeting the people in it, even if they weren’t entirely comfortable with it.
While I was on this trip, I made it my mission to do things that were really outside of my comfort zone, and face the things I had always been afraid of, like bears for instance. I have always been deathly afraid of bears, but soon enough, I found myself biking through the trails of Whistler, where I unknowingly got within petting distance of a bear and nearly died. Okay, I maybe, probably – definitely – did not almost die, but it sure felt like I was going to. Having a painful fear of heights from a traumatic roller coaster I experienced as a child, I knew bungee jumping was my one true calling. As it turns out, I wasn’t too good at it, and would recommend anyone with the same fear to not film their experience – just trust me. Embarrassment aside, the moments where I faced my fears were the most thrilling and amazing experiences that shaped my trip to be the most life altering one I could have asked for.
The most rewarding experiences are often the most difficult ones to act on. They challenge us in so many ways, but also shape us into the person we’re meant to become. The things we fear are almost always the things we should do, so if you’re feeling like you need a change in your life or feel stuck – start doing things outside of your comfort zone. Even the smallest things count, like going to a movie by yourself, or raising your hand in class for the first time in ages. The smallest steps can lead to a giant leap you never knew you had the courage to make. Try something that you’re afraid of doing today, you will not regret it – I promise you.