What If Our Assumptions Are Holding Us Back?

What exactly is fear?
Many times we say things like, "I'm scared of doing this; I'm scared of that.".
What instills such fear in us? Why do we get scared?
We all know the answer: fear comes when we assume that something might cause potential harm to us.

_{Edited on Canva}

So far in my journey in life, even as I continue to explore, I have faced a lot of fears, I've conquered some and am still hoping to overcome the ones I am yet to overcome.

The last time I visited the state I am from (my village) was during the period when my grandmother was to be buried.

I remember that morning when my mom and dad ensured that all our properties were well secured in the house before locking the door.

You know, when one travels on a long journey like that, taking breaks is almost impossible.

During one of the breaks we had, we all decided to get something to eat before continuing on the journey.

In that particular memory, I remember my dad buying a cucumber, he divided it and gave me some, however, as soon as I ate it, I regretted it because of the bitter taste my tongue met, and ever since then, I decided never to take cucumber again.

As I grew older, I decided to give it a try again, and interestingly, it turned out great. There was another time I had a similar experience with avocado, but it was my fault.

It was my fault because I didn't wait for the avocado to get ripe, or, let's say, I never knew I had to wait until it was soft.

Curious I sliced the avocado into two and tried to dig into it with a spoon. Although it was difficult, I still tried to get a bite, and after tasting it, I regretted it. It was also very bitter.

As I write this, I can't help but wonder if there is a name for bitterness phobia lol.

_Pixabay

Years later, just as it happened with the cucumber, I learned that before an avocado can be eaten, it is important for one to wait for it to get ripe so that the taste can be enjoyed. I tried eating the cucumber again, and I fell in love with it.

Today, those fruits are at the top of the list of my best fruits.

I suppose there are a few points one can learn from my story.

Sometimes in life, one tends to try things without knowing what to expect. Sometimes our hopes might even be very high, but then they come crashing down when what we receive isn't what we expected.

When such happens, it becomes very difficult for us to give ourselves another trial in the future because we do not want to have that unpleasant experience anymore.

However, I have come to understand that to overcome my fears, I have to process all I need to do in my mind first, secondly, I need to be prepared, finally, I need to ensure that I am doing everything I need to do right in order to reduce the effect of any potential harm that might arise from me facing my fears.

By reflecting on these food-related experiences, we can gain insights into the broader patterns of fear, avoidance, and personal growth that shape our lives. The key is to approach life's challenges with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and the resilience to try again in the face of initial setbacks.