I’m never one to put all of my business in the street, but I am willing to share this: I am afraid to fail. Where this random fear came from I don’t know, but it’s always been there, lingering in the dark recesses of my already overactive imagination. The infamous “What if?” question has been forever on my mind in every situation. What if I mess up? What if they don’t like me? What if it’s too hard? What if I can’t afford it? What if I’m wasting my time?

Leave it to me to have my own subconscious instigator.

One thing I’ve learned as I got older, though, is that this fear has kept me stuck. That whole “paralyzed with fear” cliche is true, and some dark, scary monster doesn’t have to be on the loose for it to happen. Wouldn’t matter anyway. I would probably be that super hesitant chick in a horror movie that never wants to go into another room to investigate a strange sound. Or venture off into the woods. Or sleep. Probably be too scared to even breath heavy.

But I digress.

It’s not easy to admit that I may have stunted my own growth because I’m afraid of making a wrong move. Doesn’t stop it from being true. Everything from meeting new people to completing college after high school has been tainted from my silly fear. True, I have stepped out of my little introverted box and allowed myself to have a social life, and yes, I still earned a college degree. But where would I be now if I had a tiny bit of faith in myself all those years ago?

That question is starting to drown out that good ole “what if.”

I can’t go back and change time. I can’t know what the future holds. But I do know that standing in fear is no longer an option.

This is not the time to be worried about failing. If you never try, you’re already defeated. So, technically you have nothing to lose.

It’s time to stop standing in fear.