Conquering Your Fears: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges

Yesterday, I met Ahmed, an enthusiastic lecturer associated with a university in Multan. During our conversation, he shared with me his aspirations of joining the teaching profession at a prestigious university. However, he had been hindered by a pervasive fear of failure, which manifested as repeated disappointments during interviews and demos. Despite possessing a command of his subject matter, his confidence was lacking. This fear had firmly taken root in his mind, transforming each step toward his dream into an overwhelming challenge.

Recognizing the need to confront his fears head-on to realize his ambitions, Ahmed took a proactive approach. Determined to overcome his anxieties, he embarked on a journey of self-improvement. Within a few weeks, he successfully tackled his insecurities and bolstered his confidence through dedicated practice.

The question arises: How did Ahmed manage to conquer his fear?

Ahmed's journey of transformation commenced with a chance encounter that kindled a flame of motivation within him. One day, he decided to delve into the stories of history's most successful individuals. To his revelation, he found a common thread—each of them had weathered numerous failures before ultimately achieving success. This realization sparked a question in Ahmed's mind: What was the secret that turned their failures into unprecedented triumphs?

In his quest for answers, Ahmed immersed himself in a plethora of books. Through this exploration, he arrived at a profound conclusion shared by the luminaries he admired. The key to overcoming failures, as gleaned from their experiences, lay in two fundamental actions: 1) relentless perseverance—continuing to try despite setbacks — i.e. keep trying, and 2) liberating oneself from the shackles of concern about others' opinions regarding one's failures — i.e. stop bothering about what would others say. Inspired by these narratives, Ahmed felt a surge of determination to confront his own deep-seated fear of failure.

Motivated and fueled by a newfound passion, Ahmed decided to craft an action plan to systematically address his insecurities. Before making his next attempt, he made a lot of practice while standing before a mirror. It gave him some confidence. Then he made video recordings of his practice sessions. Through reviewing the recordings, he could identify some weaknesses. Soon he discovered that whenever he was delivering a talk before a camera, he was in fact focusing more on his fears. That was the secret he says, he had discovered. Ahmed says, "when I discovered it, I shouted Eureka! unconsciously." Next time when he stood up before a camera, he deliberately attempted to shift his focus from the fears to the delivery of his words. Initially, he faced difficulty but soon he managed it and started feeling a joy.

A few weeks later, he mustered the courage to approach one of his professors and asked if they would consider becoming his mentor. To his delight, the professor agreed. Reflecting on this experience, Ahmed admitted, "Before, I hesitated to approach any of my professors, fearing it might leave a negative impression. However, the mentorship proved valuable." The professor offered insightful tips: take a moment before answering questions, have your key strengths popping up in your mind again and again, gracefully admit if you don't know the answer, convey enthusiasm for teaching, compile anticipated questions and their answers, and recognize the importance of consistent practice.

When the next interview invitation arrived, Ahmed's heart raced with anxiety. However, he recognized the nervous energy and decided to let it be. Armed with a camera, he simulated a practice session, envisioning a panel of evaluators before him. Despite his heart pounding, he immersed himself in the drill, shifting his focus from anxiety to the joy of refining his interview skills.

On the day of the interview, he arrived an hour early, still battling rapid heartbeats. Yet, he had learned to redirect his attention. Engaging in conversations with others, he concentrated on the articulation and delivery of his words. Finally, when summoned into the boardroom, he felt a newfound confidence. Nervous initially, he began to relish the interview session. Though not selected, one evaluator commended his performance. This experience marked a departure from his previous encounters.

A few weeks later, Ahmed received another interview call, this time from a different university. He approached the opportunity with thorough preparation and aced the interview. Emerging from the committee room, he was filled with jubilation. Confident in his performance, he believed this time he would secure the position, and indeed, he did.