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.
Brittiany Barnes
The fear that has held me back the most has been the fear of failure—not just for myself, but for my daughter. From becoming a single parent at 19 to starting over multiple times after setbacks like losing housing, jobs, or even businesses during COVID, I’ve always carried the weight of making sure she had stability. Read more>>
Chaunice D. Neal
Feeling like I was not good enough and imposter syndrome. It has been such a crippling fear that has caused me to shrink and dim my own light at times. However, to combat these feelings I have had to change my internal dialogue and speak life and positivity into myself and remember what my creator says about me. Read more>>
Jamal Collier
For me, it’s always been the fear of “what if this doesn’t go well?” That voice has shown up whether I was doing something I knew I could handle or trying something brand new. It’s a funny contrast, because one of the things I love most about being a chef is customizing food and experiences for people—which almost always means stepping into new territory. Read more>>
Erin Watson-Denson
The fear of other people’s assumptions about me has held me back in the past. However, ever since I turned 30, I’ve developed a sense of ‘I don’t care.’ I don’t care who sees me fail, I don’t care who sees me start over, and I don’t care if my success makes others feel uncomfortable. Read more>>
Thomas Gu
This is actually something I’ve reflected about this one a lot, and it’s the fear of not being good enough. Read more>>
Brittney Cloudy
I feared that I was not ‘smart enough’ or ‘spoke well enough.’ This fueled me to work hard in school and continue to learn. This internal pressure and limiting belief made me fearful of sharing my own personal thoughts with others. I would state facts and research, but second guessed my own knowledge and understanding. Read more>>
Alexey Koyfman
The fear of trying something new held me back. My heart dropped the first time a client asked me if I photograph weddings. I only photographed a wedding for a friend once before. However, I wanted to level up. I have already done plenty of family photo sessions. Once again I had to step up to the challenge. Read more>>
