Rise Through the Fear

Turning Everyday Fears into the Driving Force Behind Your Success

“Looking back, I now realize the problem wasn’t a lack of skill or ideas. It was fear wearing a disguise, the kind that whispers, “You’re not ready yet” and convinces you to stay in the planning stage forever. That fear kept me safe from criticism, but it also kept me stuck.” - Dave Mbawa

Understanding Fear

Fear is one of the most misunderstood emotions in human experience. Many see it as a stop sign; a warning to turn back, retreat and play it safe. But when you look closer, fear often hides a signpost pointing towards the very thing that could transform your life. It’s not the presence of fear that determines your growth; it’s what you choose to do with it.

For years, I had a dream and an ambition of writing books. I imagined seeing my books in the hands of readers, inspiring them, teaching them and leaving something behind that mattered. But alongside that dream lived a shadow — fear. Fear of not being good enough. Fear that no one would read my work. Fear that I would fail and embarrass myself.

That fear didn’t keep me from starting entirely but it slowed me to a crawl. I began writing my first book with great enthusiasm. I researched, outlined and crafted sentences with care. I also overthought, rewrote endlessly and doubted every page. What should have taken months stretched into years. Four years passed and I was still on the same book, just a few chapters written.

Looking back, I now realize the problem wasn’t a lack of skill or ideas. It was fear wearing a disguise, the kind that whispers, “You’re not ready yet” and convinces you to stay in the planning stage forever. That fear kept me safe from criticism, but it also kept me stuck.

How Confronting Fear Changed My Life

Then one summer morning last year, something shifted. I woke up tired, not physically tired, but weary of holding myself back. I realized that fear was never going to leave; it was waiting for me to take it along for the ride. In that moment, I decided to rise through the fear instead of waiting for it to disappear.

I set myself a new rule: action first, doubt later. I stopped obsessing over perfect sentences and started focusing on getting the work done. Within weeks, I had finished that first book. The relief I felt wasn’t just from completing it but from proving to myself that I could do it despite the fear.

Then something unexpected happened after that first breakthrough: momentum. Once I published the first book, my fear began to shrink, not because it vanished, but because I had built the courage to keep moving anyway. I didn’t stop at one book. I started writing and publishing more, riding that wave of confidence that comes from action.

In the months that followed, I wrote and released book after book from recipes, motivational titles, puzzle books to maths resources. Each one became another reminder that the limits I thought were real were only fear’s illusions. In just over a year, I went from four years on one book to 43 books published as of this month. This is in addition to working full time in my finance and accounting job.

What I have learned is that fear loses its grip the moment you stop negotiating with it. If you wait for the perfect conditions or for confidence to magically appear, you’ll be waiting forever but if you move forward despite trembling hands and racing thoughts, your courage grows stronger than your fear.

The truth is, rising through fear isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about becoming familiar with fear, letting it ride in the passenger seat while you keep driving towards your goals. Every step you take builds resilience and every small win makes the next step easier.

Don’t Let Fear rob Your Success

If you have a dream that’s been gathering dust because fear has been calling the shots, take my story as proof: you don’t have to wait for bravery to arrive. Decide today to rise through the fear. On the other side of that choice could be not just one finished project, but a whole new life you never thought possible.

Fear may be the loudest voice in the room, but action is the one that changes everything and when you finally rise through it, you’ll look back and wonder why you ever gave it so much power in the first place.

Your fear has had enough of your time. Today is the day you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start moving towards possibilities. Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding, take the first step before the day ends and watch your courage grow stronger than your excuses.

Fear, when approached with the right mindset, can serve as a powerful stepping stone towards personal growth. It often points to areas in our lives where change, risk or expansion is needed. Instead of interpreting fear as a signal to retreat, we can reframe it as evidence that we’re standing on the edge of something meaningful. Many breakthroughs whether in career, relationships or self-development are found on the other side of that uncomfortable but purposeful tension.

When we face fear head-on, we build resilience and confidence. Every time we take a step forward despite our trembling hands or racing heart, we prove to ourselves that we are stronger than we thought. This process not only diminishes the specific fear we confront but also strengthens our capacity to handle challenges in other areas of life. Over time, fear becomes less of an obstacle and more of a motivator, propelling us towards opportunities we might otherwise avoid.

Fear as a Compass for Growth

Ultimately, fear can be a compass that directs us towards growth rather than away from it. By embracing it as a natural part of pursuing meaningful goals, we transform fear from a roadblock into a guidepost. The key lies in leaning into discomfort with a clear purpose, acknowledging fear’s presence but refusing to let it dictate our choices. In doing so, we turn fear into a stepping stone towards the life we truly want to live.