“Ten years ago, you were so scared of such different things, but you survived them anyway. The same goes for five years ago and two years ago. Everything that has ever felt like a hurdle, you’ve passed through. So be afraid, identify your fears, and then allow yourself to remember that, in just a little while, this will be another thing you have overcome.” – slfcare

The Art of Conquering Fear: A Reflection on Resilience

Fear is universal, but so is our ability to overcome it—even when we don’t realize our own strength.

Think about yourself ten years ago. What kept you up at night? Maybe it was college applications, a first job interview, or moving to a new city. Those mountains that once seemed impossible to climb are now barely visible in your rearview mirror.

Five years ago brought new challenges. Perhaps relationship struggles, career decisions, or financial pressures. Yet here you are, having navigated those waters.

Even two years ago—relatively recent in life’s journey—you faced obstacles that felt overwhelming in the moment. The pandemic disrupted lives globally, forcing adaptations we never imagined necessary. Yet humans proved remarkably resilient.

This pattern reveals something crucial about fear: it’s temporary, even when it doesn’t feel that way. Our anxieties transform over time not because the world becomes less challenging, but because we continuously develop the strength to face new challenges.

When fear grips you today, try this practice: name your fears specifically. Write them down. The act of identifying what scares you strips away some of its power. Then remind yourself of your track record—you’ve been afraid before, and you’ve survived every single time.

This isn’t about dismissing legitimate concerns or advocating recklessness. Rather, it’s about contextualizing today’s challenges within your personal history of overcoming obstacles.

The next time anxiety feels overwhelming, pause and consider: in two years, five years, or ten years, this current struggle will likely be just another badge of courage on your journey—another story of how you faced your fears and kept moving forward anyway.