Overcoming the Hurdle of Fear

Every year I submit a story to Baylor’s Student Literary Contest, and every year I have to spend hours convincing myself to do it.

Logically, I know that nothing bad is going to happen if I send in a piece of my work. They might like it, they might not, but ultimately it doesn’t change my life too much unless I win.

So what is it that I am afraid of?

I’ve tried to unpack this on many different occasions, and it’s only recently occurred to me that I must be afraid of winning. And not just winning, but the change it brings.

So this year as I prepare my entry, I’m trying to control my fear by thinking about what’s good about change. It’s something I need to be prepared for anyway, since I’m graduating in less than ten months now. Change is inevitable.

However, it’s still a difficult mental hurdle to overcome. Fear is a fact of life, but it is also limiting. It can keep you huddled within your comfort zone. It’s called a comfort zone for a reason – it’s comfortable, cozy. But it’s not the way to live your life.

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