Fear is something we all carry, though it shows up differently for each of us. It can keep us safe, but it can also hold us back from opportunities, relationships, and growth. We asked some brilliant members of the community to share the one fear that has shaped their choices the most—and their answers reveal just how universal, yet deeply personal, our struggles with fear really are.
Maya Elizabeth
I battle an interconnected, multilayered fear that boils down to rejection. It shows up in perfectionism, people pleasing, procrastination, and even avoidance. These struggles are not uncommon in the human experience, so I’m no anomaly in that regard. I’ve learned, though, to practice doing and saying the brave thing so you can prove to yourself your ability to survive event the worst potential outcome. Read More>>
Tim Farrell
The most significant obstacle that has hindered my progress has been my apprehension regarding self-belief. Although I cannot recall the source of this quote, it states, “Success is on the other side of fear.” Fear can prevent individuals from achieving their aspirations and goals. I recall experiencing apprehension about creating merchandise, participating in pop-up shops, or taking a box of merchandise to a different state. Read More>>
Kia Cooper
Without a doubt, failure. The fear of failure has been a cloud that has always seemed to travel along with me. No matter what I’ve accomplished, no matter how many accolades I’ve attached to my name, no matter how many people told me they were proud of me – I could not shake the fear of failure. Read More>>
Sharon Lane
The fear that held me back the most in my life was the fear of not finding and utilizing my voice. I’ve learned that in my reservedness, I speak volumes with purpose and I change the atmosphere in the rooms I enter. Read More>>
Ahsimik Leslie
One fear that has held me back is receiving opinions on any aspect of my life. I tend to not do what I love because I dislike negative comments Read More>>
Heather Davis
My biggest fear is being seen for who I truly am. When you come from years upon years of abuse, your safety lies in being invisible. Presenting to the world a reflection of what others want to see in you, not who you truly are. Read More>>
Rebecca DeGroodt
A fear of not being ‘good enough’ has been my worst enemy. That, along with its friend — perfectionism, and just a generally tough time with focus, has often kept me from even trying. Life experience (age) and listening to/reading about other artists has helped me a lot with this. Read More>>
Kayla Mickel
I cared about what people thought about me for sooooo long . I’ve always wanted to be an influencer of some sort. Makeup and beauty related things was something I’ve always been into. I’ve wanted to start YouTube channels and post on social media like an influencer but I cared about what people would think about it too much and it held me back. Read More>>
Alicia Parr
Getting shut out or excluded for thinking differently about things. Most people prefer things to be familiar and reject something new, and that includes new ways of saying old truths. The challenge is that saying old truths in new ways is a superpower– and a big part of my life purpose. Read More>>
Anna Gabriella Herrera Caverzan
That I’m not enough to keep evolving as an artist, creative, or freelancer. That I haven’t had enough experiences to travel with my art , which isn’t true, because my work has taken me places, and it still does 🙂 Read More>>
Nina Lubarsky
Oh fear, I know you well! I have long struggled with an assortment of fears, including fear of rejection, fear of failure and fear of judgement both personally and professionally. My fear of rejection kept me from sharing the most vulnerable parts of myself, convincing me I needed to be “perfect” instead of simply human. Read More>>
Hans Monfiston
Fear of what others think!!! Especially those remotely close to me. I’ve learned to LET THAT GO! The only approval you need is your own. Do things that make YOU happy, that fulfill a sense of purpose within you. Be proud of decisions that free you. Read More>>
Jalen Gunter
I think due to the way I grew up I had a deep rooted mistrust in my abilities. So I guess a fear of doing something wrong? I was always told by a parental figure that I was doing something wrong or that I wasn’t doing something right. Even when I tried my best at it I’d still miss something. Read More>>
Andy Sanchez
I’ve always been super sensitive to what others think, and that’s made me make decisions based on fear rather than what’s best for me. But this past year or so, I’ve been working on getting away from that. I’m starting to recognize when it’s holding me back, and I’m learning to distinguish between doubt and reality. Read More>>
