Growing Through Fear
Celina Tuffaha
Communications Manager Intern
CELINA TUFFAHA
Fear, which has been the biggest obstacle in my journey, is no longer my weak point. For years, I perceived fear to be a hindrance in my life, but what I failed to recognize is that an opportunity of growth exists in the challenge.
I grew up in Lebanon, a country where people’s fears were different than that of Canada’s; our fears were about survival and safety, which activated my constant fear of ‘what ifs’. During that time, life’s constraints weren’t predictable, so I endured through survival mode. I thought every little worry or fear that accompanied me made me weaker, but little did I know that it was quite the opposite.
Amidst all the uncertainty, I discovered a passion for politics, public relations, and communications which pushed me to find a new way of living. I learned to take the fears and worries in my life and channel them into different places for greater outcomes. As a start, I decided to participate in a Model United Nations Conference and shifted all my fears and survival mode tactics to passions, ambitions, and strengths which led me to win a diplomacy award. That to me was the best thing I had done— it was the light towards success.
Fast-forward a few years later, at only 17 years old, I made the bold decision to move to Canada with my sister and decided to shift my mindset and take my new perspective with me. With all the worries and mental health setbacks that came with this decision, I remained persistent on facing my fears to find growth opportunities.
“I now choose to face my fears deliberately to grow and learn.”
Today, after years of practice, I choose to intentionally face my fears to grow. I keep shifting this negative fuel into a positive one, trying to influence change through my work. I took my first internship in marketing, then a profile writing job at my university, and eventually landed my internship at Microsoft. In all of these positions, I’ve been able to share distinct and diverse narratives that have the power to inspire change. This is what growth means to me: an opportunity to influence change.
My story is one about growth through fear, it’s about learning to combat adversity in an attempt to create positive outcomes. What you can learn from my story is that there’s always a way out of negativity and worry; you just need to have the intention to change that mindset. What worked for me? Learning about my fear and developing a distinct action plan was my approach to reduce my uncertainties into manageable steps. Give it a try! Don’t let fear and comfort shy you away, learn to grow through the discomfort, seek support, and create change within your reach.
#Culture #GrowthAndDevelopment