According to dictionary.com, fear can be defined as, “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.” This perfectly sums up my thoughts when it comes to trying new things. I instantly become emotionally unstable and at a loss of words. Fear takes over my body, due the uncertainty of a new task, or challenge that awaits me.

I’ve been known to occasionally step out of my comfort zone, thus causing me to tense up more and more each time I am feeling fearless. Sure, I’ve gotten the new school jitters, first day at a new job anxiety, or what have you, but it has never been too large of a transition at once, until now. Now I am forced to start acting like more of an adult rather than a “typical college student.” Now I am a year and half into my college degree, and I have finally come to the realization that I have conquered fear every day of my life, but I just haven’t noticed it.

Fear has become such a common emotion that I have forgotten what it feels like to be actually terrified. You see, when I was younger, I feared common things such as the black lines on the bottom of the pool in the deep in and going into my basement in fear that something would be down there. Now my fears are substantially greater. I fear my future, and things not working out the way they are supposed to. Somewhere in my short 19 years of life I quit seeing fear, as a horrible thing. I began seeing fear as an opportunity to grow, get outside of my comfort zone and seek advice from others to overcome whatever obstacle I am dealing with. So, instead of letting fear define me, I decided to define it.

My definition of fear goes as follows, “a time in my life where I am struggling with uncertainty, but know that this emotion is only temporary and it does not define me. In fact, this fear will strengthen me, for the next time I face fear, I will be stronger than ever before.

The old me is just a part of me that had some growing up to do. Over time my fears changed, just like me. What I thought was scary then is no longer. As I look back, it’s quite amusing.

With this being said, this is how we should treat our lives. We should acknowledge our pasts, but not let it take over our lives. We may reflect on our past mistakes and fears, but we must not let that define us. The same goes for our future. We often spend so much time fearing the future that we forget to live in the present.

If we continue to make fear a habit, then we won’t know what it’s like to be truly happy. We will only think about what could go wrong. Instead of fearing fear itself, take it head on. So much happens when you step outside of your comfort zone.