I have always been afraid of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Diving into the unknown makes me uneasy. While I think it’s good to play it safe, avoiding risks causes us to sell ourselves short and miss out on potential opportunities. However, after losing two years of my life to the pandemic, I realized that I should live my life to the fullest. So, this year, I decided to overcome my fear of taking risks and embrace the uncomfortable – starting with baby steps.
I have always been afraid to initiate conversations with others as I was not the best at making friends, and I am very shy around new people. I have always been an introvert who has been adopted by extroverts when it comes to friendships. However, when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, I had more opportunities to meet new people when in-person classes started. After seldomly interacting with new people for two years, joining a new club or taking a course without knowing anyone was intimidating. Nonetheless, I mustered up my courage to sit next to people who seemed nice and initiated conversations with them. Although it was hard to step out of my comfort zone, it was worth it as I’ve made some great friends in my classes and clubs. My fear of talking to new people has dwindled over time, and I’m glad that I took this small step, as it has already transformed me into a more proactive person when I meet new people.
I have always had a severe case of imposter syndrome. It seemed like everyone around me was so accomplished and had their life together, especially on LinkedIn. As a result, last year, I didn’t apply to any club executive positions and research positions because I thought I didn’t have a chance and didn’t bother applying since there was no point. This year, I decided to give it a chance and applied to research and club executive positions that interested me. After all, the worst-case scenario is they will reject me, and my ego will be bruised for a bit. Although I unsurprisingly received several rejections and felt bummed out for a few days, I also managed to successfully obtain research positions and some club executive positions. While this process had many ups and downs, it was worth it in the end.
Although I’m still not the biggest risk-taker, and I’m still hesitant to step outside of my comfort zone at times, I think the experiences that come with taking risks are enriching as it empowers us to grow and become the best versions of ourselves. While there will be obstacles along the way, having a strong mindset is essential when conquering these adversities. So what are you waiting for? Don’t let fear hold you back and take small risks. Because you will still be fine at the end of the day, and you’ll never know what will happen when you step into the unknown.