I almost talked myself out of this.
Not because I didn’t have something to say…
But because that familiar voice showed up again:
“What if it’s not good enough?”
And for a moment, I listened.
Maybe you know that feeling too.
Why Are We Afraid to Try New Things?
I’ve asked myself this question more times than I can count.
Why is it so hard to start something we actually want?
For me, I’ve realised it’s not really about the thing itself.
It’s about what comes with it.
Trying something new means:
- You might fail
- You might be seen
- You might not get it right the first time
And somehow, staying where you are starts to feel safer.
Even when you know you want more.
My “Safe” Comfort Zone
I grew up in a loving, protective home.
Everything around me felt safe, structured, and predictable. And without realising it, I carried that into my life.
So when it was time to step out—really step out—I struggled.
I remember being in university.
I had the freedom to explore, meet people, try new things…
But most days, I went from lectures straight back to my hostel.
I wasn’t keen on new connections.
I told myself I was just “comfortable.”
But if I’m being honest… I was afraid.
The Fear That Sounds Like “Later”
Fear doesn’t always look like fear.
Sometimes, it sounds like:
- “I’ll start next week”
- “I need more time”
- “Let me just prepare a little more”
I saw this clearly when I was learning how to drive.
Even after going to driving school more than once, I still couldn’t bring myself actually to drive.
Not because I didn’t know how…
But because of all the what-ifs.
And then there was this blog.
I had the idea. I had the passion.
But every time I wanted to share something, I stopped.
That’s when it clicked for me:
This is what it looks like to be afraid to try new things.
What Changed (And What Didn’t)
I wish I could say I suddenly became confident.
I didn’t.
I just got tired of waiting.
Tired of watching myself hold back.
Tired of letting fear make decisions for me.
And slowly, I started taking small steps.
Not perfect steps.
Not confident steps.
Just… steps.
Research shows that avoiding what scares us can make fear stronger over time, while taking action helps reduce it.
So I started.
Start Anyway
That’s what I’m learning now.
You don’t wait until fear disappears.
You move with it.
Because the truth is:
The fear of trying new things doesn’t go away before you begin.
It gets quieter after you do.
If You’re Feeling Stuck
If you’ve been putting something off, not because you can’t do it, but because you’re afraid…
I understand.
I’ve been there.
But you don’t need to have everything figured out to begin.
You need to stop letting fear have the final say.
If this is something you’re struggling with, you might also relate to this:
How We Learn to Embrace Change: Moving From Fear to Growth — https://evolvingwithcheta.com/how-we-learn-to-embrace-change-moving-from-fear-to-growth/
I Thought Fear Was the Problem—Until I Changed My Mindset –
A Little Faith to Hold On To
One thing that has been grounding me lately is this reminder:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
So when fear shows up, and it will, I remind myself:
This is not where I’m meant to stay.
Before You Go…
Think about that thing you’ve been avoiding.
That idea.
That step.
That quiet nudge in your heart.
What if you started?
Not perfectly.
Not confidently.
Just… honestly.
Because sometimes, growth begins the moment you decide:
“I’m afraid… but I’ll start anyway.”
Start scared. Start unsure. Just start.
So, what’s one thing you’ve been putting off, not because you can’t do it, but because you’re afraid to start?
— Cheta
–Evolving with Cheta
22 thoughts on “Why Are We Afraid to Try New Things? (Start Anyway)”
The fear of starting something new…I feel it originates from the fear of even trying something new, something different….that little thing…that little step.
And it’s so interesting how you’ll get the perfect excuse not to start. However,when you do start or take that move you’ll realize that the excuse you had was just your comfort zone holding you back.
You’ll most likely have heart palpitations before and even during the process but that could just be the breakthrough you need.
Thank you Cheta for not talking yourself out of writing.
Thank you Ginika for always reading. That initial step is always the game changer.
We all feel this fear from time to time but been able to start despite how we feel will always make the difference.
I have so many things I should have started but gave my self the perfect excuse not to. I am still working on it though because funny enough, you can overcome fear in one aspect and it holds you down in another, why can’t I just remember that I have delt with it before?, I wonder. This piece speaks so loud to me as a reminder, fear is not of the Spirit God. Thanks for this Chetah
You are most welcome Amoge. It takes awareness and intentionality to overcome fear.
We all feel fear at different stages of our lives. Naming what we feel and making the effort to move despite it will make the difference.
Keep moving, and with God’s help, you will overcome. Thank you for been here.
I’m so glad I tried something new! Your constant encouragement gave me the confidence I needed, and the experience ended up being fun, refreshing, and surprisingly inspiring. Sometimes all you need is a little push from someone who believes in you.
Awwww, I am so glad that you took that step! Yes, yes, we need the right people and voices around us.
Thank you for sharing this Ken, it means a lot to me.
I am happy to read from you, and also to know you enjoyed the experience.
We will keep moving without letting fear hold us back!
You are very correct. And I love your choice of words.. They are precise and free of ambiguity.
I know that voice and I’ve been there. In fact, im still there.
But my beautiful children had been a source of encouragement to me. They have been that push thst I needed. I’ve taken lots of difficult decisions because of my children.
The fear of not wanting to fail them, had kept me moving.
Change is generally difficult, either positive or negative…..
Identify that push and act accordingly
Thank you for your kind words always Doris. I always enjoy reading from you.
Yes, the fear failing has always be one of the major reasons many of us don’t try new things.
But now that we know better, we can know our fears and still take the steps.
I hope to read more from you, and the many fears you conquered.
Oh my Lordy Lord! I feel seen with this post. *internal screams*
I have quite a number of things I’ve been putting off and sincerely I also want to be more. I’ve never been one to step out of my comfort zone except circumstances push me.
But I need to do sh*T scared anyways.
I’m starting today. Not tomorrow, today!
Thank you auntymi.
Awww, Seun, I am glad this resonated with you. We all have been there and somehow still there 😊.
Naming our fears, and understanding how we feel is a game changer.
You have it in you to conquer your world. I will always be here cheering you on.
Why Are We Afraid to Try New Things? (Start Anyway)
Thank you somuch for this.. Its just a mirror of myself. I’ve realized something, every time I had to start something new like a new job, a new environment, even learning something simple.. I felt the same fear.
What if I fail?
What if I don’t understand?
What if others are better than me?
So many times, I wanted to stay where it felt safe. But the moments I’m most proud of today came from the times I started anyway ; unsure, unready, but willing. The truth is, growth always feels uncomfortable at first.But staying the same feels even worse later.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Just take the first step.
It’s not really the new thing we’re afraid of…It’s the fear of failing.
Of not being good enough.
Of being seen while we’re still figuring things out. So we stay where it’s safe.
But deep down, we know there’s more for us. The truth is, every strong, confident version of you once felt unsure and afraid. Growth is uncomfortable., But regret is worse.
So i tell myself.. take the step.. . Even if you’re scared.
I don’t have to be ready… just willing.
Thank you so much Charity for sharing this. Many of us feel this fear in one way or the other.
We don’t need to have everything figured out. We also don’t need to have the full picture.
The difference between an achiever and one who isn’t is “movement.” The more you move, the more the fear shrinks.
I always enjoy reading your comments ma’am.
Everyone has been there before—some of us are still there, while others have moved to the next stage, and each stage comes with its own challenges. Your explanation of “why we are afraid to try new things” has given me a deeper understanding. Because of this insight, I now see that trying shouldn’t feel like a challenge but an opportunity.
Hmmmm, I like the way you classified fear into stages.Challenges help us grow so instead of running away from them, we should move closer to them.
Thank you Nkiru for sharing this,I appreciate it.
Hmmmm… oh wow! I like this. I’m literally nodding my head because this is shifting my way of approaching and thinking right now. *Claps*
I am happy to know you will approach things differently going forward. Well done Seun 👍.
I came back to give a testimony. Hehehe.
So after I read this yesterday, I was scrolling through friends WhatsApp status where I saw someone looking for a Ramadan plug for a gift package. Something I’ve never done before.
I quickly said I can do it. I was scared ooo. I almost opted out; then I remembered the line above that said ‘do it afraid’.. and thank God I delivered. Learned one or two things to definitely not try again, but I AM GLAD I DID IT, I TRIED IT.
Felt sooooo good.
Way to go seun, this is wonderful 👏
I know this feeling too well. And even though I may appear bold and courageous, I sometimes find myself shrinking, procrastinating and second guessing myself. That ends now! Thank you for writing so beautifully and always being a beacon of light to me. Cheers mama!🥰
Awww, I am so glad to read from you, Adedoyin. Fear disguised as procrastination is one of our major problems.
I have been there many times so I can relate.
You’ve got this mama, I am rooting for you 👏👏
This really hit home. I think a big part of our fear isn’t the ‘new’ itself, but the loss of control and the stories we tell ourselves about what could go wrong. So we hold on to what’s familiar because it feels safe, even when it’s not serving us. But growth always seems to live on the other side of that discomfort, that uncertainty, the risk. There’s a quote I read lately that has stayed with me. It says “what would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail”.
I completely agree with you Uba. The stories we tell ourselves sets the tone for what we believe. Failure is part of growth but many of us were raised to think otherwise.