The first step to conquering a fear is to recognize it.

Life can be pretty scary. It throws you some interesting curve balls and you aren’t always ready to catch. But sometimes, we fear a ball that isn’t even heading our way. And since I don’t want to be caught off guard like I was here…

…I am going to start facing my fears, first by acknowledging them.

Here are five things that scare me:

1. Traveling Solo in Another Country I have been traveling a lot throughout the US and with every trip I have made sure to spend some time exploring on my own. I have loved every minute of my solo travel and it really motivates me to expand on it. To challenge this fear, I booked myself a 100% solo trip. In September, I am going to Bali and Singapore. Wish me luck!
2. Not Being Near My FamilyAlthough I live in a different state than my parents while completing my MBA, I still haven’t conquered this fear. I want to live abroad (Denmark has been calling me for years now) and I don’t see myself in Los Angeles, despite growing up here. And I don’t know if I ever will conquer this fear because I hate the idea of not living near my family. Aside from loving my parents and brother, what if my dad falls and I have to rush home to help? Parkinson’s Disease is like an adult child that not only annoyingly won’t move out, but also demands attention, support, and patience. And I am part of that support team.
3. Going into Debt Despite my shift to a more minimalist lifestyle, I have expensive taste (please see me in a Tesla below for proof). I love to travel, eat good food at new restaurants, try new activities, and go out with friends. All of which require money…lots of money. While leaving my high-pay executive job was the best move, I haven’t earned a decent paycheck in years. So going into debt scares me (especially with student loans from my MBA hitting next year). But what scares me more is how much I feel controlled and constricted by money.  Navigating when to save and when to spend is tough! My dad always taught me to save my money (which I did for 23 years). But that same person now has Parkinson’s Disease, from which I have learned “Do it while you can.” It is all about spending smart, but – really – what does that mean?!
4. Getting In a Car Accident Honestly, this isn’t so much for the injury part (although, having never broken a bone, that does sound pretty bad). I am more nervous for what you do when you get in an accident. I’ve never been in one! Do I take pictures right then and there? Call my insurance company on the spot or file later? It is a silly fear, I know, but that doesn’t make it less real.
5. Not Putting My MBA To Use I am spending all of this money on my MBA (see fear 3) and I hoped it would…I don’t know…solve all of life’s problems. Is that too much to ask?! But in all seriousness, I really am looking to leverage my MBA to open new doors. To be taken seriously as an entrepreneur, to earn a bigger paycheck, and to be part of a larger network. That is a lot of pressure on three little letters behind my name – I know – but I want to know that the costs (financial and opportunity) pay off.

Fears box us in. They hold us back from reaching our full potential, and we are left wanting, wondering, and waiting. I may not be able to dissolve them all, but I sure will try.

-TM

What are you afraid of? Let us know below.