5 Ways to Push Through Fear

Introduction

Fear has a sneaky way of disguising itself.

Sometimes, it feels like a heavy knot in your stomach before a big decision.

Other times, it’s the quiet voice in your head whispering, “What if you fail?”

I used to think fear meant I wasn’t ready. I believed that confident people were fearless and that my anxiety meant I was weak. But over the years — through career changes, personal challenges, and moments I never thought I could survive — I learned something surprising: fear isn’t the enemy.

The real danger is letting fear make our choices for us.

Here are five ways I’ve learned to push through fear, even when it feels overwhelming.

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1. Name the Fear Out Loud

The worst fears are the ones we never put into words.

When they stay in our head, they grow bigger and scarier.

Now, when I feel fear creeping in, I pause and name it:

• “I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself.”

• “I’m scared they’ll reject me.”

• “I’m worried I’ll waste my time.”

Naming it doesn’t make it disappear, but it makes it real instead of an invisible monster. Once you see it clearly, you can start to deal with it.

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2. Break It Into Smaller Steps

When I was preparing for my first public talk, I nearly backed out.

The thought of standing in front of dozens of people made my hands shake.

Instead of thinking about the whole talk, I focused on one step at a time:

1. Write the first paragraph.

2. Practice for just 5 minutes.

3. Record myself once.

By the time I got to the actual event, I had built enough momentum that the fear felt smaller.

Lesson: Fear loves to overwhelm you with the whole picture. Your job is to shrink that picture into something you can manage today.

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3. Remind Yourself of Past Wins

Fear is often rooted in forgetting how strong we’ve been before.

Whenever I feel like I can’t do something, I remind myself:

• “Remember when you thought you couldn’t move to a new city — and you did?”

• “Remember when you thought you couldn’t handle that breakup — and you came out stronger?”

Our past victories are proof that we can survive more than we think. Keep a mental (or written) list of moments you overcame fear. It’s like carrying a shield into battle.

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4. Lean on a Support System

Fear makes us want to retreat into ourselves, but isolation only makes it worse.

When I was terrified to pitch my first client, I texted a friend:

“I’m freaking out.”

She replied instantly:

“You’ve got this. Send me a voice memo after you nail it.”

That little push was all I needed.

Sometimes courage isn’t a loud roar. Sometimes it’s the quiet strength you borrow from the people who believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself.

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5. Accept That Fear Will Always Be There

This one was hard for me to learn: you don’t “get rid” of fear.

You just get better at moving with it.

Think about it — fear is a sign that something matters to you. If you’re chasing a dream, building a relationship, or stepping into the unknown, fear will be right there beside you. And that’s okay.

Now, when I feel fear, I treat it like a travel companion:

• I acknowledge it.

• I thank it for trying to protect me.

• Then I tell it to take the passenger seat while I drive.

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Conclusion: Fear as a Friend

The truth is, every major turning point in my life came with fear riding shotgun.

The first day at a new job.

The moment I said “yes” to love again.

The time I launched something without knowing if anyone would care.

If I had waited until I felt fearless, I’d still be waiting.

So here’s the moral: Fear is not the stop sign. It’s the green light telling you that you’re about to grow.

Don’t wait for the fear to vanish — walk with it. Every step you take through fear is a step toward the life you actually want.

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Thank you for reading...

Regards: Fazal Hadi