Okay, let’s get into it.
Overcoming fear is something I literally think about every single morning when my alarm goes off at 5:47 a.m. in this stupidly quiet Ohio suburb. Like, I’m lying there under my ancient comforter that smells faintly of dog and regret, and my brain immediately starts the greatest hits: “You’re too old, you’re broke, everyone’s already doing it better.” Classic. Overcome Fear Once
Two years ago I was paralyzed—100% stuck. I had this burning idea to start a little woodworking side hustle (I know, random), but the fear of looking dumb online, fear of wasting money on tools, fear my stuff would suck… dude, it owned me. I’d sit in the garage staring at a $400 slab of walnut like it was gonna bite me. Meanwhile my 9-5 was slowly killing whatever soul I had left.
The Day I Finally Started Overcoming Fear (It Wasn’t Pretty) Overcome Fear Once
Real talk: overcoming fear didn’t happen with some epic sunrise moment and orchestral music. It happened on a random Tuesday when I spilled coffee all over my work laptop, got yelled at by my boss in front of the whole Zoom, and just… snapped. I drove home crying like an actual baby, snot everywhere, pulled into the driveway, and texted my best friend: “I can’t do this anymore.” That night I wrote the resignation email drunk on cheap merlot. Sent it the next morning stone-cold sober. Terrified doesn’t even cover it—my hands were shaking so bad I had to re-type my password four times. https://markmanson.net/being-average
Why Overcoming Fear Feels Like Jumping Off a Cliff Naked
Because it kinda is. When you’re stepping into your destiny, everything that felt “safe” suddenly looks like quicksand. My bank account dropped under $2k real quick. My mom kept leaving voicemails asking if I needed to move back home at 36 years old (love you Mom, but hard pass). Even my dog looked at me like, “Bro, you sure about this?”
But here’s the weird part—once I actually started moving, the fear didn’t disappear. It just… changed seats. It went from driving the car to riding shotgun, still talking shit, but I wasn’t letting it steer anymore. https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Three Dumb-Simple Things That Actually Helped Me Overcome Fear Overcome Fear Once
- Made a “fear list” on a sticky note and stuck it to my bathroom mirror. Every time I conquered one (posted first YouTube video—voice cracking the whole time), I crossed it out with a fat Sharpie. Childish? Yes. Worked? Hell yes.
- Started telling one person every single day what I was scared of. Oversharing became my superpower. Turns out when you say the quiet part loud, it loses power.
- Set the tiniest possible scary goal each day. Like, “Today I will email one potential client” tiny. Momentum is real, y’all.
When Stepping Into Your Destiny Looks Nothing Like the Instagram Version Overcome Fear Once
People think stepping into your destiny means sudden private jets and TED talks. For me it looked like sanding boards in my garage at 2 a.m. because the daytime was for panic attacks and imposter syndrome naps. It looked like eating cereal for dinner three nights a week. It looked like crying in Lowe’s parking lot because I couldn’t afford the good wood glue.
But six months in? I sold my first $800 dining table to a couple in Cleveland who cried when they saw it because it was made from wood off their family farm. I’m not saying I’m cured—fear still wakes me up at 3 a.m. sometimes—but now I just roll over and tell it to shut the hell up because I’ve got sawdust in my hair and orders to fill.
Final Thoughts on Overcoming Fear From a Still-Kinda-Scared Guy in Ohio Overcome Fear Once
Look, I’m not some guru. I’m just a dude who got tired of his own excuses. Overcoming fear isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a daily cage fight. Some days fear wins a round. But I keep stepping back into the ring because the alternative is staying exactly where I was: miserable, safe, and dying inside. https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Your destiny? It’s not hiding behind some magic door. It’s on the other side of the thing that scares you shitless right now.
So tell me in the comments—what’s the one fear you know you need to punch in the face to step into your destiny? Be honest. I’ll go first: public speaking still makes me want to vomit. Working on it. https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/11/the-tail-end.html
(If this resonated even a little, share it with someone who’s stuck. And if you’re ready to stop letting fear drive, grab my free “Fear List” template here — it’s literally the sticky-note method that saved my sanity.Overcome Fear Once
Let’s do this scared together.
