Fear and the Unknown: How to Grow Through What Scares You

When I was a young lad, my uncle had a farm up north. He also had a rooster that dominated his front yard with much venom and aggression. I was terrified of it at first, but my cousins were never bothered by it. When I asked why it didn’t mess with them, they told me it was because they had all, at some point, given it a good swift kick and it kept its distance after that.

I could write a book on the conversations that took place in my head about gathering the courage to let that kick go — especially as most of them ended with “young man killed by vicious, man-eating rooster.” But with much needling from the cousins and from the sheer boredom of being a prisoner in a farmhouse, I put foot to rooster booty and VOILA! Freedom. A whole new world opened up to me, and that farmhouse became many memories of happiness and learning instead of a place of terror and exposure.

Fear and the Unknown Go Hand in Hand

Fear is like that, isn’t it? It stops our growth, paralyzes our logic, and makes us emotionally reactive to even minor events. Webster defines fear as being afraid of someone or something, which includes feelings of aversion or unwillingness to do something.

So what is it that has so much power over us?

Fear takes many forms — fear of spiders, snakes (yikes!), public speaking, difficult conversations, failure, loss. But there is one common thread that runs through all types of fear:

We fear the unknown.

Most of us set up our lives to be mostly habitual. We like the comfort of knowing what, when, and how things will happen. We gain confidence from predictable cause-and-effect in our daily routines.

Then suddenly, a “rooster” appears — a call from the boss, a serious diagnosis for someone we love — and our minds spin out. What we once knew becomes what we do not know, and uncertainty takes over.

We fear the unknown.

Fear Isn’t All Bad — Unless It Stops Your Growth

Fear serves a purpose.

• Fear of failure gets us out of bed and off to work.

• Fear of loss keeps us connected to the people we love.

• Fear of injury keeps us mindful of safety.

But when fear becomes debilitating — when we can’t think clearly, make decisions, or create a plan — then action is necessary.

So here are four strategies — a mini action plan — to help you combat fear and move forward.

Four Steps to Overcome Fear and the Unknown

1. Educate Yourself

Find out as much as you can about your challenge. The unknown is scariest when we lack information. Today, you can learn about anything with a few clicks. Fear runs strongest in the uneducated.

2. Find a Mentor

Someone has already faced what you’re facing. Seek them out. Mentors shrink the unknown and help you create a path forward.

3. Craft a Plan

After learning and seeking guidance, you can form a plan — and a Plan B, maybe even a Plan C. Get someone to walk through it with you. A little playacting is good for the soul.

4. Commit and Take the Leap

Far too many people complain about how unfair life is but never take action to improve it. Only those who commit and take the leap grow from experience.

Fear Is Not the End — It’s the Beginning

As a retired paramedic and firefighter, I am familiar with how brutal and unfair life can be. I’ve seen cruelty crush people and watched many co-workers retreat behind walls of apathy as fear consumed them.

I was lucky. I had tough but caring mentors who challenged me to grow through fear. They showed me that fear is an opportunity for growth — that the unknown is not the end, but the beginning.

Try the four steps. Be that person. Take that leap!

If this message encouraged you to face the unknown with more confidence, dive deeper into leadership mindsets and personal growth inside our Learning Hub.