Fear is a human emotion that is triggered by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism that signals our bodies to respond to danger with a fight or flight response. As such, it is an essential part of keeping us safe.

However, when people live in constant fear, whether from physical dangers in their environment or threats they perceive, they can become incapacitated.

Most people are deathly afraid of snakes, spiders, heights, or clowns, I am deathly afraid of letting people down. My mom has always called me a people pleaser and I would say that perfectly defines me. I never want someone to be disappointed in me and I hate when I know I’ve let someone else down. Our fears, no matter what they are, dictate how we live our lives each and everyday, even if we don’t realize it. Letting people down is a strange fear. I have never met someone that has admitted that’s what they are afraid of. My fear simply means that I care what others think of me. It means that I will put someone else’s needs and wants in front of my own. It means that I find it hard to say no to helping someone when I’m struggling to help myself. Every person that I meet, every activity I’m involved in, and every class I am taking I can not disappoint my friends, family members, teachers, coaches, or fellow students. I know how it feels when someone let’s me down and that’s why I can’t do that to others.

What if I’m not good enough? What if I fail? How would they look at me differently? These are a few of the constant questions that run through my mind. It affects how I interact with others or how I act. If I’m really my full self, will anyone still like me? My fear may seem irrational to others, but isn’t that the funny thing about our fears? What I’m afraid of could mean nothing to you, while your greatest fear could mean nothing to me.

If I’m afraid of rejection, afraid of letting someone down, and afraid of not being good enough. That means I don’t branch out often. I put others before myself, which isn’t always a bad thing, but you need to help yourself every now and then. I try and be who others want me to be versus actually being myself. Maybe it’s bad confidence, maybe it’s just that I like to make others happy, or simply know what it feels like to be let down.

Regardless of my fear, I know what I’m afraid of. I know that I have probably let others down and I will let others down. I know I will never be perfect because people are naturally imperfect. Our fears can define who we are and how we live our lives, it’s not until we realize what those fears are that we can step forward courageously and with confidence to overcome what terrifies us the most. I will not let my fears affect my life anymore. I can’t please everyone but I can be happy with who I am.

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