Ever feel that weird, squishy feeling in your stomach? That whisper in your ear that says, “Don’t do it! You’re not good enough!” That’s fear. It’s like a sneaky shadow that tries to stop you from trying new things. It paints a picture in your head where you mess up, look silly, or just aren’t strong enough to handle what’s next.
Fear can glue your feet to the floor, making you watch from the sidelines while other kids (or even adults!) bravely try new things, chase their wildest dreams, and totally crush it. You might feel stuck, worried about failing, or feeling embarrassed if things don’t go perfectly.
Meet the “Dream Stealer”: Fear
Fear isn’t a monster with chains or a sword, but its grip can be super tight. It’s strong enough to stop your awesome ideas and talents before anyone even sees them. It doesn’t need to shoutāa little whisper is all it takes:
- “You’re not good enough.”
- “What if you mess up?”
- “Everyone will laugh.”
- “Just stay safe.”
That’s how fear works. It moves quietly, planting doubts, and squeezing you until you just… stop. It has snatched dreams before they could even fly, squashed talents before they could bloom, and quieted voices that were meant to change the world for the better.
Think about it: some of the coolest ideas, the most powerful visions, and amazing gifts are just sitting there, buried in a “what could have been” graveyard. And guess what? Fear put them there.
Dr. Myles Munroe once said something really smart: “The richest place in the world isn’t where you find gold or oil. It’s the cemetery. That’s where you find businesses that never started, books that were never written, ideas that never happened, and dreams that never came true.”
And now, fear has set its eyes on you.
Right now, you might feel like you’re standing on the edge of something HUGE. Maybe there’s a little nudge, a pull, a dream buzzing inside you. But fear jumps in, wrapping its cold fingers around your mind, whispering, Not yet. Not you. Not today. If you listen to it, if you let it squeeze you tight, you might wake up years from now living a life you never even wanted.
But hereās the secret: Fear only wins if you let it. The second you push back, the moment you move even with shaky hands and a pounding heart, fear starts to lose its power. It loves when you hesitate, but it hates when you take action.
So, hereās the big question: Will you fight back? Or will you let fear bury your potential before the world ever gets to see how awesome you are?
The Lies Fear Tells You (And the Super Truths to Beat Them!)
Fear is like a master trickster, but its tricks are just lies. Let’s shine a light on them!
1. Lie: “You’ll fail.”
The Truth: What if you do? Failing isn’t the end; it’s just a step. Think of it like a video game level you have to try a few times. Every super successful person you can think of has messed up, fallen down, and failed lots of times. The big difference? They didn’t stay down! They got back up, dusted themselves off, and kept going. Each time they messed up, it was like a new chapter in their story, not the end of the book. They learned to be okay with discomfort and found strength even when things felt hard.
Every stumble taught them something super valuable that helped them later.
Real-Life Heroes:
- Wangari Maathai: She didn’t want to be famous; she just wanted to plant trees. But she faced threats, arrests, and people who tried to stop her. Fear could have told her, “Be quiet, be safe.” But she didn’t listen! She kept planting, kept speaking, kept pushing. And guess what? She became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize! She proved that courage lasts way longer than fear. ā Thomas Edison: This genius famously said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” His never-give-up attitude changed the whole world!
- Nelson Mandela: He was locked up for 27 yearsāthat’s almost three decades! Imagine the fear in that small cell, wondering if he’d ever be free. Fear could have told him to give up, to be sad and quiet. But he didn’t! He faced fear head-on, choosing to be tough and brave. He knew fear only wins if you let it. These heroes didn’t let “no” stop them; it just made them try harder.
So, when that little voice whispers doubt, remember: it’s just part of your amazing journey. Use it! Let it push you to try new things, learn, and grow. Think about times you’ve messed up. What did you learn? How did it make you stronger? Each mistake is like a special color in your life’s masterpiece, making it deeper and more interesting.
Highway Hacks:
Ever ridden in a car on the highway? To stay in your lane, you don’t stare at the road right in front of the car. You look far ahead, towards the horizon! You might check your mirrors sometimes, or glance at cars next to you, but your main focus is always ahead. That’s how you stay steady and get where you’re going.
But imagine if you kept looking backward, constantly checking your side mirrors, totally scared of every car around you. You’d probably swerve, lose control, maybe even crash! Life is just like that. If you let fear keep you stuck looking at past mistakes or worrying about what others are doing, you’ll never move forward. But if you fix your eyes on your goalāadjusting a little when you need to, but never losing focusāyou’ll keep zooming towards success!
2. Lie: “People will judge you.”
The Truth: People will always have opinions, whether you jump forward or stay still. But guess what? Their thoughts don’t pay your bills, and they don’t decide how your life goes. So, why let their ideas dim your awesome journey? Be confident in your own path, because it’s yours and yours alone!
Their whispers and pronouncements are just that ā whispers and pronouncements. They are like faint echoes. They won’t make your dreams come true, and they definitely don’t decide how great you are. The only judgment that truly matters is your own:
- Are you being your true self?
- Are you working towards your goals?
- Are you making a good difference, even a small one?
Those are the questions you should be asking yourself. Not, “What will they think?” but “What do I think?” Not, “Will they approve?” but “Will I be proud?“
It’s normal to want people to like you. But trying to make everyone happy is impossible! Someone will always disagree with your choices, misunderstand you, or just be grumpy because of their own problems. That’s their choice. Your choice is to keep moving forward, stick to your vision, and let your actions speak louder than their words.
Think of their judgments like little pebbles on your path. You can pick them up, look at them, and let them weigh you down. OR you can just step over them and keep going! The choice is yours. And the sooner you get that, the sooner you’ll be free to chase your dreams with tons of energy and strong belief. The world needs your unique awesomeness! Don’t let the fear of judgment silence your voice or make your light dim. Shine bright, be bold, and let everything else just fall into place. Your story is waiting to be written, and it’s your story, not theirs. Simple!
3. Lie: “You’re not ready.”
The Truth: Guess what? Nobody ever feels 100% ready. That “perfect moment” where everything lines up just right? It almost never happens! We wait, we plan, we prepare (sometimes forever!), while cool opportunities just slip by. The truth is, “being ready” is just an excuse we tell ourselves to avoid the scary part of starting something new.
So don’t be afraid to start! Don’t let trying to be perfectly prepared stop you. Real growth happens while you’re doing things, not before. It’s in the messy, uncertain, and sometimes uncomfortable act of actually doing that we find out what we’re truly capable of. We learn, we change, we get better, not by just thinking about what could be, but by actually getting involved in what is.
The absolute best way to get ready is to start. Take that first step, no matter how tiny or shaky it feels. Embrace the unknown, and know it’s okay to make mistakes. Because it’s in those tough moments that you truly learn. Don’t wait for permission, for everything to be perfect, or for that feeling of being totally prepared. Start now, with what you have, right where you are. The journey itself will get you ready for what’s ahead. And who knows? You might just totally surprise yourself!
4. Lie: “It’s too late.”
The Truth: Says who?! Whether youāre 16 or 60, as long as you can breathe, you’ve got a chance. Time will pass anywayāso why not use it to build something incredible? Your clock hasn’t stopped; your chances haven’t disappeared.
5. Lie: “Success will make things harder.”
The Truth: This one sounds weird, right? It’s not about being scared of doing well, but more about what you think might happen after you succeed: more expectations, friends being jealous, new responsibilities, or the pressure to stay awesome. But here’s the deal: growing always brings new challenges. That’s actually a sign you’re expanding and becoming more amazing, not a reason to play it safe. Success often means you can make a bigger difference. The “harder” part isn’t bad; it’s just different. It means you’re leveling up! Embrace the new challenges as chances to become the leader, the creative genius, the person you’re truly meant to be. The view from the top is definitely worth the climb, and the strength you gain on the way is priceless.
What Fear Might Have Already Stolen From You
Think about it. What has fear stopped you from doing?
- Cool opportunities you never grabbed because you doubted yourself.
- Awesome friendships or connections you never made because you were scared of being rejected.
- Big dreams you never chased because you played it super safe.
Look back at those times fear held you back. What did you miss out on? Now, just imagine all the amazing things you could gain if you simply decided to stop letting fear win
Overcoming Fear: Your Action Plan!
Ready to fight back and take control? Here are some simple steps to get your power back:
- Do It Afraid. Don’t wait for fear to magically disappear. That’s a trick! Just move forward even if you’re scared, and watch that fear get smaller and smaller behind you.
- Shine a Light on the Lie. Ask yourself: What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen? Most of the time, the answer isn’t nearly as terrifying as your mind makes it seem.
- Flip the Script on Failing. Instead of saying “I failed,” say, “I learned!” Every time you stumble, it’s not a dead end; it’s just getting ready for an awesome comeback!
- Hang Out with Brave People. Spend time with friends, family, or mentors who push you forward, who cheer for your wins, and who help you when you’re downānot the ones who make your fears bigger.
- Pray and Take Action. Fear loves it when things are uncertain, but faith gives you strength and helps you see clearly. Ask for wisdom, then take that next step!
Fear Will Only Win… If You Let It.
Fear is a killer of amazing potential, big dreams, and your special purpose. But only if you let it.
So today, make a choice: Will you let fear keep controlling you, or will you choose to take action even with the fear?
Remember, being brave isnāt about not being afraidāitās about moving forward even when you are afraid.
Your Challenge:
What fear has been holding you back? Think about it, maybe share it with someone you trust, and letās start overcoming it together! Your amazing future is waiting for you!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your love and for the gift of life. We ask for Your strength to face our fears and for wisdom to know Your path. Help us to trust in Your plan and to live with courage. Guide our steps, bless our efforts, and let Your peace fill our hearts.
In Jesus Christ name I pray amen
Hey, I’m Angeline, your RN also a Counselor and founder of Finally Am Found. With a heart for mentorship, I’ve been guiding teens and young adults since 2017. As a Registered Nurse, I blend medical expertise with personal experiences to create a Christ-aligned space for self-discovery. Connect with Angeline on Facebook and let the journey to self-discovery begin!
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