There was a time where i avoided some things of which i thought that they didn't suit me. I often did my best to escape from things that i didn't like, or wasn't good at. Things that threatened my comfort.
I remember painting for the same assignment over and over again, and coming up with excuses not to make it at all. I love painting, so that doesn't really make sense. The thing was, i was not good at it. At least i didn't believe that the work was good enough. If i wasn't pleased, i didn't want anyone to see it.
During my study i failed a course. The second time i failed even worse, though i was in good company, because the majority didn't pass. The failure to pass became my reason to hate the course. Yet i did not reflect on what went wrong. I did not have a good teacher and i did not do much studying. That combination, led to me, not knowing enough. Because of my hatred, i did not have the motivation to be disciplined to learn more on the subject.
Something i'm still working on is to be completely at ease, when all eyes are on me. My nervousness had hindered me in more ways than i liked. Thus i had to deal with the core of what causes me to be nervous when there is no basis for it.
I seek to be comfortable in that what makes me uncomfortable and lies outside of my comfort-zone. When i was painting, i was afraid of the impact that the judgement could have on me. It could make me feel small, even if that was not the intention. It could be an affirmation that indeed i wasn't good enough. Running precluded me from receiving feedback, the bad and the good.
I seek to find understanding. The latter exam i made on the subject i failed twice, i passed above average. Never allow anything to stand between you and knowledge. Knowledge is freedom. When you have choices, you get to make them. I ended up really liking the course. I might have taken a different turn if i sought to comprehend what the subject was about.
The key to overcoming your fears is to face them. There is a difference between a comfort-zone and a safe-zone. As long as you surround yourself with people that care about you and have good intentions, it is alright to come out of your comfort zone. You might not feel comfortable, but you are safe. Dare to receive feedback. Have the courage to understand things that can help you grow and are beneficial to your personal development. Overcoming a fear takes time. It takes practice. You have to put in the work, and it is not always easy. But it is worth it.