There are countless opportunities we miss out on when we let fear take control. We let ourselves believe that we aren’t capable of taking risks, of doing hard things. Not because we can’t do them, but because we are scared to see what will happen when we try, and of the possibility that, maybe, we could fail. 

It’s not embarrassing to admit you are afraid. I’m afraid of so many things, and one of the biggest ones is not living up to expectations, whether they are my own or those that others have for me. But you control your own destiny. At the end of the day, whether or not you apply for that thing that seems so out of reach or sign up for a program where you are certain you won’t make friends is only up to you. 

A few weeks ago, I headed off to CLTC 3 for what became one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had so far in BBYO and in life. While there, I learned something invaluable about fear from the leaders around me. Someone special told me “You are capable of everything you want to achieve. The only thing holding you back is yourself.” When I was first told this, I said sure and laughed it off. Not because it wasn’t important, but because I was scared to actually listen to the advice I was being given. But over the next few days it started to sink in. When I would tell people my goals in BBYO, I always followed by saying “But I don’t think it will actually happen, it’s just a dream.” But people believe in you, even if you don’t believe in yourself, and this showed when people would respond by asking why I couldn’t actually picture my dreams becoming reality. Why, if they believed in me, could I not believe in myself? 

Lesson learned. So here’s my takeaway: Take the risk. Do it scared. Do it even when the chances are slim. Because who knows? Maybe you will succeed, and even if you don’t, you learned something valuable just from the process. Most importantly, have confidence in yourself and your abilities. We are all so much more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Don’t hold yourself back, and always remember that people believe in you, so believe in yourself!