Q09

What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? How do you plan on letting it go or overcoming it in the coming year?

I’m afraid of not being liked and afraid of not doing enough. I have no idea about how to overcome either of these because I kind of fundamentally believe they are true. They cause me anxiety and probably some wasted energy, but they also kind of make me a better person?

After trying some jobs and failing, I have real fear of failure. I also have a real fear of my son launching ; also the fear of of beingan incompetent mother person, friend. And a fear that I’m gonna live from now till 100 and alone without love; in real fear that actually don’t think I believe in love anymore. I would settle for companionship that I could pay for which sounds really jaded and cynical, and I don’t know how I got to this point Again, I’m hoping to do some spiritual experiences in Judaism may be retreat or things around town — instead of when I currently do to relax, which is watch TV at home I wish I could be OK that I’m alone making peace with it. Maybe doing some other inner child meditations and some more sessions with somatic therapy

A fear that I'll get to the end of life and not have been myself, not have lived fully, not have made what I personally consider to be a meaningful impact. I hope that I can make space - literally and figuratively - to be more ME.

My fear is that I did not do enough to prepare myself for the current state of challenges that I face at my age. My plan to be better equipped to meet. The challenges is to cut back on vices and distractions and prioritize what really matters to me.

I am fearful of being alone, and being insignificant, and of no use to anyone. I fear that my life has no purpose. I really don't want to die. I don't know how to fix this issue for myself.

One of my biggest fears is not being enough — not enough for my family, not enough in my work, not enough to handle everything life brings. That fear has been compounded at times by worrying too much about what secondary players in my life think of me or the choices I make. It’s limited me by pulling focus away from where it belongs — on God, Micah, Madison Grace, and the life we’re building — and giving energy to opinions that don’t actually matter in the long run. In the coming year, I want to let that go. The truth is, I will never be “enough” on my own, but through Jesus, I already have everything I need. I don’t need validation from the sidelines when the people who matter most are right in front of me. Practically, that means giving myself more grace, keeping my focus on faith and family, and choosing to walk forward with confidence even if others don’t understand. Fear may still whisper, but it doesn’t get to steer.

I don't have any particular fears now that are holding me back. I guess I have a fear of not doing something well and that keeps me from doing things that I might not do well, e.g. I want the perfect solution to selling my houses or getting rid of stuff and this gets in the way of just getting things done. Arrghhh. Life is just hard. We wake up each morning and are ourselves still.

My fear around knowing enough in my new career. Truong to decide on just going for it or going back to school.

At 62, I am fearful of losing my health, particularly my physical capabilities. With a chronic disease like MS and my natural tendency towards sloth, I know how easily I could slide into being sedentary and becoming more disabled. I've kept up doing Pilates twice a week, but I don't walk regularly like I used to when I had a dog. What am I going to do about it? Well, dammit, I need to just start walking everyday! I've had a fear of death all of my life. My greatest fear has been that there is nothing after death. No heaven, no hell, no spirit, no soul, just boom, I cease to exist. However, as I develop my spiritual beliefs and my faith more, my thinking has been more that heaven and hell both exist on earth, during one's lifetime. And whatever is eternal about me, my spirit, my soul, will rejoin a well of spirit that it is not bound by time and space. It always was and always will be. This gives me comfort, I imagine much like believing in a God and heaven gives others comfort. Continuation my meditation practice and regular fellowship with other also helps.

My fear is not succeeding. I don't know if I can let it go. What if I can't

I’m scared that I’ll miss this opportunity to be the dad I always dreamed of because I’m trying to balance too much at once. I have spent almost thirty years wanting to be a father. It has been one of the most consistent spiritual pursuits of my life. Now that Esti is here, I can feel how easy it would be to split my attention between being present with her and trying to create enough income stability to support the life Michael and I want to build. I’ve never explicitly dreamed of being a stay-at-home dad, but I’m starting to wonder whether some version of that dream has been there all along and I just never named it. There is a part of me that wants to fully commit to this chapter, to be home, to raise her, to take the morning walks, to be around for the ordinary parts of her life, and not feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder at work. The fear is that I’ll let this moment pass because I’m responding to practical pressures that are real but maybe not absolute. At the same time, I don’t want to romanticize this. Michael should not have to carry all the financial pressure for our family. I don’t want to create resentment or an imbalance in our marriage by deciding that my dream of fatherhood means he has to become the sole financial provider. I also know that money gives us the freedom to create the kind of family life we dream about, whether that means having more children, traveling, living internationally, or just having enough flexibility to make choices without fear. So the tension is real. I want to validate the practical pressures without letting them become so loud that they drown out the life I spent decades trying to create. I also know that, over the long arc of my life, I’m likely to inherit money. That doesn’t make the current financial questions disappear, but it does make me question how much fear I should allow income instability to generate right now. I don’t want to sacrifice irreplaceable time with Esti in order to optimize for a level of financial security that may not actually be necessary. I don’t think I overcome this fear by making one dramatic decision to work or not work. I think I overcome it by paying very close attention to what I’m giving away and why. If work starts taking more of me than I want to give, I want to notice that. If staying home starts putting too much pressure on Michael or our marriage, I want to notice that too. The goal is not to eliminate the tension. It’s to make sure that, when I look back on this period, I don’t feel like I missed the thing I had been waiting for my whole life.

I'm afraid that my student loans will never be forgiven because of this corrupt administration and their hellbent destruction of the Department of Education as well as borrower rights/protections. I am in my 10th year of PSLF repayment, paying off student loans I borrowed specifically because of the promise of forgiveness, and stressing over something that should be illegal but is somehow allowed by our spineless House and Senate. When Trump was elected the second time, I laid on the floor and sobbed over what I knew would happen to the student loan program (amongst other fears, but largely this one). Here we are, still dealing with it, when I should be getting my "green ribbons" aka forgiveness this year. I will overcome this fear by being as determined to get what I'm owed as I am everything else in life. I'll escalate, be on hold with MOHELA or FSA for hours on end, write my ombudsman and his mama, literally do whatever I have to to get my loans forgiven and finally be free from this debt. This is my year!

I am afraid of the dark. Whether that means being in the dark and leaving a nightlight on, whether that means being out when it is dark and having panic attacks, or whether that means a darkness in my soul. I think I will never let it go or overcome it completely. I am going to work on coping strategies. I think I was having an easier time, less panic attacks, in the recent past that I have forgotten how to implement those strategies and tools.

My fear is of not being successful at my job. Of being there a year and scores not changing. This limits me because it makes me impatient and scared and mean and running around begging answers from people when most of the time, the answers are usually, "Give it time; build connections; you won't know what you're doing yet; wait and see; what you're doing is hard; I didn't get it right away, either." I am really planning on letting this go (heh, we'll see if I succeed) because the leadership is just not in place for any of this to happen. As of Sept 24, we are not getting marching orders the way the MS is. Maybe we will and I'll be bitter about my lack of autonomy and the pressure on my neck, and I'll have fear all over again, but then I'd also have support and optimism. So maybe what I'm done with is fear that I won't succeed in an environment that isn't going to help me succeed. I plan on letting it go by focusing on other things like writing and getting exercise and getting outside and having conversations about things that matter more, like the purpose of reading and writing. I want us to see how having good conversations about things like that can lead us to authentic versions of Meeting The Standards. But maybe not--who knows?! I just don't want to run scared. It's my life, too. I want to enjoy it.

I have constantly felt like I have not taken enough things to completion due to perfectionism and avoidance and distractibility. And now I have vowed to let go of the irrelevant such things - finish the others - and most importantly not let that cycle itself define me, but rather, to draw a line under it and move on, as I said on the bima this Yom Kippur.

Not having enough money, being lonely. Rethink Loot and build a second business: Lex and Lola. Getting involved in community programmes, events and causes close to my heart

Afraid of losing my mental abilities (memory, words, focus). Setting up a daily schedule of sorts to keep things under control and accomplishing tasks?

Fear of others, but also fear of myself. If there is one thing that I have learned over the past year, it's that I often feel like I am invading others' spaces, and I want to try to move past that. I want to be able to find a place where I can belong and support others.

I am afraid of falling in love again - not for love itself, but for the heartache that comes with it if it doesn't work. I have started dating with an open heart, and mind!

One of my biggest fears, especially over the past six years or so, has been seeing my parents get older while I’m also getting older. I feel like time moves so quickly, and sometimes I worry that I’m not where I thought I would be in my life by this point. I think about having a family of my own and understand that it may become a little more challenging as time goes on. But I’m also realizing that I have to stop letting that fear dictate how I experience my life. I’m going to have a family. I’m not losing anyone by building my own life. I’m gaining something. I need to remember how much I already have and how much there is still to gain. Loss is inevitable. That’s just part of life, and I can’t control that. But I also don’t want to spend the time I have worrying about losing people instead of actually enjoying the time I have with them. The fear can become so consuming that it takes you out of the actual moment — the conversation you’re having, the dinner you’re sharing, the time you’re spending together. That’s something I’m constantly working on: letting go a little bit and allowing myself to be present. I want to appreciate the people in my life while they’re here instead of constantly thinking about how much time we have left. I’m really grateful for the people I have around me, both my family and the people I’ve chosen as my family. I think that’s really the secret — connection. When you have meaningful connections with people, you have something to hold onto even when life changes. So I don’t think overcoming this fear means getting rid of it completely. It means learning how to carry it without letting it prevent me from enjoying my life. I want to be more present, more grateful, and more focused on everything I have rather than everything I’m afraid of losing.

I plan to keep working on having hard conversations with grace and care.

I don’t think that it’s a simple answer because my fear is fear itself. I have had high functioning anxiety for my entire adult life. It is 1,000,000% better than it was when I was in my 20s and 30s, yet every so often it rears its ugly head. What triggers it at this juncture can be anything. It can make me a bit of a homebody. While I don’t want to leave the house just for the sake of leaving the house (because I actually like my house), I do want to feel comfortable and know that I am safe away from my house. So while the weather is still good, and despite the high price of gasoline, I will go on short little drives and go window shopping at stores where I would otherwise have anxiety. I just want to know that I’m safe in the world and getting out away from those places that I feel comfortable like my house or my office or my synagogue, is on my list of things to do. Plus, I have an underlying fear of the cancer reoccurring, as well as preserving my health in this season of my life.

A fear I have that many of us do is that I am simply not good enough. A few years back I remember sitting at the Nashville airport stunned by my own answer to a survey I was taking for fun - I had answered honestly that I often don't feel competent or resourceful, yet I have successfully navigated all manner of challenges in both my career and personal life. Where was this doubt of self-agency coming from I wondered? I had to confront the fact that despite a demonstrated track record of achievement I still struggle with crippling self-doubt at times (perhaps an insecure overachiever?). One reason I want to explore music in the coming years is to put myself out there in a very vulnerable way and test my sense of self.

I had a very bad fall during the winter, and the result was a bad concussion. I'm distracted by clutter. Two things have occurred: I'm not as confident in my physicality, and I've realized that visual clutter is just as dangerous for me as clutter on the floor. I'm addressing both issues.

My fear is that I will fail. It’s unfounded and honestly not sure why I fear that idea so much but it cripples me often and I worry about how I’m passing that on to my kids.

The fear that I am holding myself back. The fear that I'm not actually as strong as everyone around me seems to think I am, which is why I'm not doing all the cool things I want to and feel like I know I "could" be doing. The fear that I will never have a fully functioning body again, that this is as good as it's gonna get, and that fucking SUCKS. The fear that I will just always be standing, walking, living in constant pain, unable to dance, exercise, run, do the things I want to do, ever again. The fear that I won't be able to figure my shit out before I literally end up homeless. The fear that any number of escalating calamities is going to obliterate me and the world and everything in it before I even have time to process what has happen, or have a chance to do any of this. How do I plan on letting it go or overcoming it in the coming year? No fucking idea. Maybe talking about it more with others, I guess? But somehow in ways that don't just make it all worse? Grahgehgafekjl

I think I will never naturally recover my bad balance, which I discovered in the third grade. It is now officially atrocious balance, because old. Please know I have been accomodating this deterioration with hacks simple (lean on something to put on pants) and complex (correct asymmetrical hearing loss). It's just that every day, in every way, I'm asking myself "Is this when I take that fall that results in a brain bleed?" I'm seriously up a 25' ladder asking this. I'm also stepping in, or out, of the tub. I'm crossing the street, or lane-splitting on an eBike going 20 mph. I know where this is going to end and I hope it is not in the coming year.

Self worth. An ongoing struggle. More reading, doing, music, and just being.

Tenía miedo de muchas cosas, una de ellas del que dirán de mí. Esto me ha limitado mucho porque no hago las cosas que quiero hacer y rompo mis sueños y promesas. Pero creo que era desconfianza de mi, dudas sobre mi potencial y ruido sobre el mundo exterior, mucho síndrome del impostor. Creo que enfocándome en mí y en que esta vida es una, en algún momento vamos a dejar de existir y que quiero dejar aquí para la eternidad.

I think my biggest fear is that I'll make the wrong choices or decisions which leads me to not act on opportunities. I plan to just get in the habit of doing more and not worrying as much about whether something is perfect.

I've started on my fear of going to social events by committing to ordering new clothes every quarter. We went to the Grand Ole Opry and I worked with AI to put together an outfit using what I had and then buying a blazer and belt. I looked good, and I want to keep working on this. Part of the fear is that I won't reach my goal of being in shape (and being a size that I think I look good, or society has taught me I look good). So, it's just getting out there and working out and moving and continuing to refine my diet -- as all that has me feel better and happier when I do it. The other part of the fear is the socializing with people, Christy is great at this, and I think I am doing a little better. Inviting an old college friend and getting to know her better in our older age has been good. This year acknowledging that as I grow older and want to remain health and active, what I eat/how I eat, movement and muscle, and being social (having friends and sharing my story) are things I want to work on.

I have a fear of going to the doctor. It makes me so nervous. I'm getting better about going anyway, so I will continue to do that.

Fear: fear of failure and also fear of success. I am planning to work on overcoming it by surrounding myself with positive people and taking chances with the things that matter to me - my creativity - and reminding myself that people get rejected 100s of times before they are accepted even though they are gifted.

That I am unloveable. I have to remind myself that I am not unloveable to the people that have chosen me. Many people find me loveable. I chose them too. He chose me. And then he stopped. He didn't communicate with me. He knows that I would have done anything manageable. He just didn't want to admit that he was that shallow? It maybe brought up some shame? I won't know until he tells me. I pray that someday he does. But I can't be afraid that he might not. If it doesn't eat at him, and he can live like that, then he can continue to be "fine." It's not my body, not my emotions. I know he could be better. At least I believed it. I believed, because he told me it was true, that we were partners. I have, for years, pointed out his "unpartner" behaviors and actions. He made a choice to not change or adjust. Maybe it wasn't a choice, maybe it was overwhelm. And when he asks for forgiveness, I'll work on giving it because I love him. Or the expectation that I wasn't going to go anywhere. He'll have to make a better apologetic case for being "that" guy. Right now, all of this fear is what will stand in the way of uncoupling, and God willing, a healthy friendship. He's, hopefully, and with honesty, choosing me in the only way he has left. I don't get to unpack why he let it get that way. My fear that he won't do it, won't inspire him to get it done. It didn't inspire him to keep me. If I'd never been afraid, maybe he never would have ended it? If WE had never been afraid, maybe it could have gone on, for the rest of our lives, like what he'd offered. I did the work to share my fears. In the end, I was brave about it. I won't get tangled up in the "ifs." I have to work with and live with the fear. I can be brave. I hope he can too. But if he can't... I can be the friend, the brave ex-partner, that can try to support him while he works. I pray he does the work.

I have a fear of failure. It has restricted my progress in every way. I plan to continue to address this fear by embracing change, growth, and new challenges.

I am still afraid of having made the right decisions in my life – as a parent, as a partner, in my career, and in my health. I want to spend more time acknowledging all that I've done and trusting, having FAITH in all that's happened and all I have done.

My fear continues to be using my phone less and doing more of the things I *want* to do. For me, my phone is connection to the outside world. It's talking without speaking. It's knowing about the world. But I spend too much time on it and I struggle to read like I used to, engage with others how I used to, etc.

I continue to deal with mobility issues, the root cause of which has not been clearly identified. My fear is that the longer it takes, the less likely it is that I will be able to walk "normally"--without a cane, without avoiding stairs and curbs. I must continue physical therapy and I must lose weight.

I fear other peoples' feelings around me. I feel like I have to fix them or carry them or that it's somehow my problem. I am defensive about being at fault. What happens if I don't try to fix, I just witness? Can I create a Ted Lasso like shield where I can thank people for sharing, but not take on their feelings? Can I ask other people to help hold my feelings, without overwhelming them with the demand to fix them or make me feel better?

I’m pretty sure my fear has to also do with what I want to work on this year being financially responsible. I think I’m a bit afraid that I will never be able to move out of this apartment. I know that is not true. And I also know I need to do the work to make it better. By next year, I am not living in this apartment. Maybe I’m living at the Hillel house. But who knows where I will be but not here. I think I’m also afraid of getting rid of so much stuff. I talk about it in my head every week that this is gonna be the day. I’m gonna open a box and then I’m gonna throw it all away or at least most of it. And here I am still holding onto all the boxes. Please God let this be the year. I am willing and able to let go of the boxes.

I am afraid that our country will fall even further into fascism and conflict. It is deterring me from buying a house, even though I could probably afford to. I... Don't know that I'm trying to let that fear go this year.

I've come to realize a huge fear I have is around if other people think what I'm doing/creating/putting out in the world is stupid. I've been limited by that, and I don't want to be anymore. I don't know in what significant ways I'll do this in this next year, but in each step along the way, not being afraid to be my authentic self, and remember that what I have to share is not for everyone.

Same as last year but now more urgent - I fear for our democracy under Donald Trump and his white supremecists.

I'm proud to say that it's been many years since I've let fears limit me from doing something I want to. On the contrary, I am always on the lookout for new challenges. Last year it was to join a Norwegian-language choir — which turned out not to be something I was ready for. I don't care! I believe in saying yes & not being undone by failure. I love failure, in fact — I love finding my limitations, in skill, in interest, in time.

I'm afraid I will die without ever having the kind of maternal role I want to have in the kind of family I want to have. This fear creates a desparation that pushes others away who might otherwise be part of that vision. I want to accept more where I am right now, and not insist so much on where I think I should be.

Fear of being seen truly as myself. I have wandered the past few years mainly in social isolation but this has been a good thing. I have learnt to know myself, my self criticism. I plan on practising to hold the vessel and be grateful for my existence because I am worthy.

My main, and only fear, is that I’ll fall again which could be devastating or certainly could set me back again. Practicing balance and maintaining strength are of the utmost importance.

I have always been, and remain to a certain degree, afraid that I am fundamentally unloveable. Whether that is because of my personality, my body, some combination of those... It's just really hard for me to accept that someone can know me and look at me and feel genuine affection, appreciation, and attraction. Or even two of the three. So far, whenever something that looks like it could be that sort of love appears, I question it and push on it until it disappears again. I need to overcome that sense of incredulity and disbelief in worthiness so I can lean into trust and reciprocal appreciation.

I fear my depression will come back (possibly because I will have to stop taking Trintellix due to blood loss). I am going to keep taking iron more regularly to counteract that. I fear I will give up altogether on my submissions because the rejections are so defeating. The only way to overcome that is to send out more submissions! I fear passion will wane between me and Renee but for now we are still having delightful booty a couple of times a week, which is how I set this fear to rest.

We are financially precious in a way that generates a lot of fear for me. It seems we have been for a long time. Summer real things: my husband has an incurable neurodegenerative disease. We will probably always have only one paycheck. I will never make enough for us to buy a house where we live, based on the possible locations for my job. Can I reduce fear by adjusting my hopes and accepting my lot?

I have a fear of losing connection with my children and grandchildren since I'm moving abroad. The way to overcome that is to set a schedule of calls and things to do with them over the phone.

I've always been afraid of failing - "rejection sensitivity" - and also in how I compare myself to others. Honestly, I'm not sure I will ever let go of this, certainly not completely, but I should try to work on it and stop letting others steal my joy (through comparison).

I'm afraid that I'm not enough. That I'm not talented enough or strong enough or kind enough or loving enough or energetic enough or organized enough or focused enough. That I won't be able to hold onto the things I've built because I'm not ______ enough. I plan on just putting that aside and doing things anyway. I don't think I'll ever feel like enough, no matter what I achieve, so I might as well just ignore that and try my best. If I lose because of my own shortcomings, so be it. At least I had something to lose.

I don't have enough love in new for my daughters. I feel absent and snapping, and I am afraid that I'm just a horrible mom and not cut out for this. I get stuck in the loop in my head, even though I see two happy, healthy and thriving kids. I also let myself not be taken care of so it seems they are given more. I need to have some times of prioritizing myself. I need to take care of me. I need to do things for me. They are fine, and I also want them to know they are allowed to do stuff for themselves when they get older. Hopefully with help in therapy and hopefully going to some classes for me, I will get there.

I think I tend to not say what I want for fear that I will be wrong or it’s not what the other person wants, or that they will roll their eyes at me for being silly. Eg we have talked about taking the train next summer to go and see Chris’s friend Pav in Czech Republic, stopping off in Vienna and Munich, which I would love to do. But I worry that the summer will be too hot and it will be a miserable experience. I can’t tell if it’s my anxiety about the heat that’s holding me back or my anxiety about suggesting to Chris that we go at a different time of year and him thinking I’m being silly that’s holding me back.

I fear that I won’t have a great love of my life, won’t get to have a family, and won’t achieve my full career potential. My fertility window is closing and I refuse to be a single mom by choice or support the unethical surrogacy/egg harvesting industry. I assumed I’d have to deal with work-life balance, but it might turn out that I won’t have a fully satisfying work life or a full life-life (family). This fear of the future, of getting older, of these doors closing has limited me in that I feel a sense of dread and depression much of the time. I don’t know how I can possibly let this go. I didn’t choose to be dropped randomly like a hot potato, cheated on, discarded by someone who claimed to be poly, abused in many ways, misled, led on, lied to, etc. I have been hurt over and over again by so many people who I misjudged as people driven by Jewish values and moral ethics. What doesn’t kill you may not actually make you stronger—it may just leave you traumatized.

I've always said death, but apparently I also am afraid of betrayal. Because I am SO scared of being hurt, I feel like I've invited people to hurt me. I don't like the way it controls my life!

I am scared of change, of the unknown. Those are fears that just drain me but feel insurmountable. I had 10 counselling sessions this year (was part of a trial to gauage the effectiveness on therapy delivered online) but the facilitator was so young it was hard to accept he could actually understand what I was dealing with so it wasn't super effective.

I fear that I am not confident in my body enough to join the swingers community. I want to do it with my partner but I am scared. This fear is limiting me! I am starting workouts again so that I can feel good in my body, but also: I just need to do it, to jump in. If I wait, it's all going to just pass me by. Time just keeps ticking by.

my fear of failing my son or losing him. his struggle with addiction and failure to launch successfully have locked me down, and we need to break out of this pattern in the coming year.

There are my fears that are due to things I can’t control: trump’s ongoing disastrous leadership and so may problems caused by it; climate change, anti-trans rhetoric and policy, and now fast paced development of AI and how it will impact me, my kids, and the world. Sometimes my fear around these issues or maybe the issues themselves feel so big, scary and complicated that I tune them out and don't make any effort to do anything to address them. So in some ways it's apathy I fear. I also fear not being a good parent to my kids...being so stressed and impatient that I lose my cool and scream (most obvious) or that I am so focused on productivity and getting all the things done that I don't play or spend quality time with my kids. I don't think it limits me, if anything it spurs me to be better and to learn. I am easing my fears by following and trying to implement parenting skills learned from Good Inside and How to Talk So Kids will listen. Like last year I have a fear of being “out” as a parent of a trans child. Or being out with any of my beliefs and values around people who may not share them. I want to be bolder in my advocacy within extended family and outside.

I'm afraid of either Marco or I dying. I'm 80years old and my health is pretty good, but I also know it could happen any time. Marco is younger but so stressed out all the time, which is very unhealthy. I try to take care of my health and keep him calm and live each day as best I am able. Try to get enough sleep and eat well.

A big fear is running out of money. I do have investments, but I often think it's not enough. Last year, I developed a budget to try to live within my means. This year, my daughter moved back in with me, and I need to convey the urgency of not overspending to her.

Fear of hurting people. Fear of succumbing to my emotions, fear of feeling them or rather, fear of feeling nothing. Over the past year I've dealt with over 50 goodbyes, some of them being quite meaningful and deep, yet none were hard, I felt that I just wasn't feeling, and that's really strange, because that's usually my strong suit, emotions and being vulnerable, so being on the other side of that this year was enlightening and difficult, I kept feeling bad for feeling nothing, yeah it made transitioning to places easy, and I felt heartless, everyone having all these emotions around me, saying goodbyes, and I just couldn't relate, not anymore. That terrifies me; I want to feel, I think its my power, my vulnerability is something special, yet now I'm just being vulnerable about feeling nothing, I want to keep my emotions, I want to feel sad and happy and nervous, I want to live and feel. I plan to take things as they are, by how they feel, instead of trying to make everything logical, because that's just the thing, feelings are illogical, you rationalise them too much and they linger yet feel like they are absent. I'm ready for a year of crazy big emotions.

i don’t think i have a fear that’s limited me this year

I have been afraid to be vulnerable. But I am vulnerable anyway, so it might help to show that to the right people.

I’m no longer worried about being successful, I just know that within the next calendar year I should get a full time job, I just don’t know what to do exactly. I feel adrift and purposeless. I have to trust that time always provides answers, whether it’s the one we’re looking for or not, and just slow down and enjoy my sweet little boy.

I sometimes fear that my life is too average and dull. The impact of this fear is I overfill my life with lots of vibrant commitments and roles ... which sometimes becomes too much and too overwhelming on weeks where everything converges at once. Over the coming year, I want to be more deliberate with where I commit my time ... say no to things that bring less joy or impact to make space for the things that will.

I'm recently realizing a fear of not being good enough. And instead of motiving me to achieve things, it actually paralyzes me. I'm working on changing that narrative, appreciating myself and my accomplishments, and reminding myself of what I'm excited and passionate about and work towards that.

I’m living my greatest fear right now - being alone. The fact that I blew up my life and marriage to knowingly have to face my biggest fear is saying something. The fear has definitely kept me in situations, friendships, and relationships that weren’t good for me simply because I was afraid of losing people. Of being alone. This will be the opportunity to prove to myself that I can, and happily. Spend time getting back to myself, enjoying my own company without the panic of anxiety. I hope the experience paired with therapy and my own reading will strengthen my self esteem.

I'm afraid of not being enough. For my partner, friends, coworkers, etc. Especially because I have so many things that I wanted before and it's all kind of happening at once.

i fear planning events and asking for people to volunteer. it has kept our dept pretty small and invisible, though our work is incredibly important to the hospital. i plan on talking more about what we do, posting about it, taking it slow and doing both events and volunteers in partnership. our work is essential and there are too few of us but if i can build infrastructure as we grow (slowly) then we won’t get over our skis.

A fear I have is telling people what I need: please don’t talk to me at work, please stop talking, I need quiet, stop making that noise. I want to get better at saying what I want. I worry about hurting people’s feelings but then by prioritizing others’ feelings I fuck myself over and I become angry and super uncomfortable. I can’t work with my roommate constantly talking to me. He’s so nice so I prioritize his need for talk over my need for quiet so I can work. Now I’ve plotted behind his back to get him out of my room. I feel two-faced. That’s what not speaking up does. Leaves you with less integrity and resentment in your chest. And on my face. I want to learn more about communicating what’s ok and not ok around me.

My fear for American Democracy has limited my engagement with politics, though I still plan to increase my "last minute" donations before the midterms; that is unfortunate as this is the most corrupt administration in my lifetime. Voter suppression, ICE raids and an illegal war with Iran are only a few of the problems. My fear of social situations is still very much an issue, but I think I am making some incremental progress in being patient and more engaged with others.

I'm afraid of falling on my rollerskates. I'm afraid of my course evaluations. I'm afraid of doing everything halfway instead of one thing really, really well.

I have a fear of making a fool of myself and putting myself out there and being rejected, particularly as it pertains to my business. I think that has definitely limited my opportunities. I need to stop waiting for people to come to me and assume that they know how valuable my offer is and that it could work for them and instead go tell them about it.

I'm scared of doing the wrong thing, not knowing if I am doing the right thing. I need to really tune into myself and my body to let go of that fear.

I'm sometimes afraid of talking about personal issues with Fran. I've always been quite shy. I overthink it and make a bigger deal out of it. I guess I'm afraid how she might react, so it's easier (if not better) not to bring up the thing I want to talk about. I've made some attempts to create the right environment for having these kinds of discussions, but she didn't seem to like my suggestion (state of the union conversations). I'm just not sure when or how to bring it up. I could do it in bed, but she's often sleepy and may even fall asleep while I'm talking. I could mention it at home, but it would be weird to introduce it naturally. After work isn't a good time because she just wants to unwind, have some spee time, catch up on her phone, do some puzzles and Duolingo. That's why I thought it might be good to have a regular time where we can save up issues we want to talk about and the other person can be fully there. Meh. I'm overthinking it. Maybe I just need to say what I'm thinking more rather than waiting for the right time and place. We have our best putting the world to rights conversations in the car where we're facing the same way. I've heard that men like talking shoulder to shoulder and women are more comfortable face to face.

Last year I wrote about fear of aging and about fear of the signs of aging on my face and body. I wrote that I wanted to overcome these with the acceptance of the reality of the aging process, and I think I have actually worked on this and come to have some (if not complete) greater acceptance. Another fear I have is what I might describe as the fear of mental stagnation, the fear that all I will ever be now is someone who does housework, child care, and dull mid-level office work. Of course I know that childcare is real, hard, important work, but sometimes I feel like half of what I think about is just dishes and laundry, while meanwhile S manages to design games, code, learn ways to use AI, read history books, etc. Am I just inherently dumber than him and not that interesting? I am not yet fully sure how I will let this go or overcome this, but perhaps I should work on giving myself grace during this time. My full time job is caregiving, I am pumping breastmilk, I am taking on a lot of the household labor, and I gave birth not long ago. I hope, too, that this is a season that will change over time.

My fear of making a "wrong" choice-- I don't know whether this is what's keeping me so comfortable in the discomfort I know that I won't make a move, but I am going to roleplay what making new, more active choices could look like, and I'm going to remind myself that there isn't a "wrong" or "right" choice-- the choices are (for the most part) value-neutral in and of themselves, and that each one does open up more possibilities, some of which I can't even anticipate.

I fear being "too much" - too loud, too naive, too showy - and simultaneously being "not enough" - not educated, not savvy, not sexy, not giving, all at the same time. I feel afraid to say the wrong thing, be the first to speak, angering people with my words or actions. I think the thing I fear the most is other's judgement. And how will I let it go? Lots and lots of therapy.

Really great question, because I’ve had a lot of time to reflect this year and sit in my feelings. My fears, which I’m shameful to admit, are shallow. I fear being ugly and fat and having crooked teeth and pock marked skin. My gray hair, the fleeting youth at age 46. I’m afraid of not ever feeling sexy or feminine or cute again, of not being wanted. I fear never following my dreams, never writing, creating art, traveling. Of dying of cancer before I get to do the things I want, or worse - being bed ridden somehow in depression or addiction or chronic illness. I fear never having friends and community. I fear I’m too worthless to belong. I fear of never being confident enough to smile and let go of all these things and just be present, that all these fears will consume me and waste away my life in irony - fear of fear! How will I address this, this year? I’m doing a lot of internal work and external work. Internal - letting go, being kinder to myself, therapy (Nicole is great!), practicing non judgment, and mindfulness. External - I’m on GLP-1s and losing weight! My inflammation is near gone, now I just need to get my cardio and muscles back in shape. I’ve got money to fix my teeth now, and get this - I want to plan for cosmetic surgery. I want to fix my pox scar, I want a lower facelift (just to tighten the sags) and possibly lipo on my tummy. And also cosmetic tattoo to hide my scarring from dermotillomania. I do t know how far I’ll get with all of that in a year, but I do know I have the money now, I have the time, and I’m focused. I hope I make some great strides into my own self confidence.

More personal fear this year than last, although I am still afraid of the destruction being done by Trump and his people. My fear centers around the fact that any trip and fall I sustain could be a fatal one at worst or cause minimal damage at least. Of course, I fear that former more than the latter. It limits my daily walks in the vigilance I have. It overcome it? I think letting it go is more likely. #mswarrior

I've been afraid of being abandoned or shunned if I'm not sufficiently pleasant, helpful, or easygoing. I want to practice embracing friction in my relationships so I can grow strong enough to stand it, and cultivate relationships where I don't always have to defer to the other person in order to be kept around.

The fear of talking with my daughter remains though it's not related only to her estrangement with my granddaughter. I intend to ask my PCP for a family therapist referral to begin the conversation.

I guess I have a fear fully committing in my relationship with Amy because then there's no way out except the nuclear option. I already fear what would happen if I were to end it. I suppose overcoming it through couples therapy and working through our challenges together. And making an internal decision of whether I'm fully in it or not and then I can go all in. I keep saying it would honestly be so much easier if I was 100% confident, committed, and invested because then the rest would just be noise as opposed to real doubts in my head and part of me continuing to try to create some space and distance and pull away for safety.

The fear of not being liked, or being expendable. I guess I can address it by accepting it, but that is really really hard.

I have secrets that I feel is like opening pandora's box. These secrets are not like I have done something bad and I am afraid to be punished but they are secrets of how I have been treated or observed how others act that are in contrast with what they say they believe in or what I believe should have been done. I am not sure what to do with those as if I share with others, even if looking for guidance or to help forgive the behaviors then I have put those people in a bad light with others. I do not have the authority to do that and so I keep it to myself. It is a burden and I am not sure that is a burden that I should be carrying since I am really good with telling the truth without any exaggeration or conflating the stories. I plan to ask the one person to help me understand how to better deal with it. It may take time to receive or understand the answer but it is time that I move on.

I am afraid of not having enough money and not being able to do what I want. This fear pushed me back into taking on research projects and fractional clients instead of making time to pursue art and writing. I don’t know how to portray myself publicly on LinkedIn and maybe I should be honest that I have a multilayered identity and start talking about myself that way unapologetically and not care if it brings in clients or if the research community looks at me like a lightweight. I would rather not be in research anyway, but I do want to be able to make a living, a good living, no an excellent living on my own terms.

My fear of not having enough is lessening even now when the world may be on the verge of global collapse physically, financially and emotionally. I am not investing in that, rather focusing on having enough today and being thankful for it. At my age mortality is on my mind. I can say I am not afraid of death per se, but would like as much time as possible to become better friends with her and continue learning in this lifetime.

The main fear I have these days is that all the money that my father worked hard to get and to save will not ever make it down to me, or even if it does, it won't be enough to comfortably live. My wife and I are not struggling to make ends meet - not even close, we are actually very comfortable, though we live well below our means. We don't have health insurance, because on paper we make too much to buy an affordable plan. I still drive an old car. My wife needs to have two teeth replaced and other dental work done, but she keeps putting it off so we don't spend the money. Yada yada.....Basically, we budget ourselves a bit harshly, because we don't want to be struggling later - even with the likelihood of inheritances and our own investments. But what if my parents need that money because of health issues? We want to be there for them. I want us to also enjoy our lives more and not worry so much. Life could be difficult later, but life can also be too short, and we could be wasting time.

Fear of self-sabotage is bad; the fear that everything bad that happens or will happen to me is completely my fault and could have been avoided if I'd acted better. In short, everything is my fault. The only thing I know to do about it is keep talking about it and stay in therapy. And I guess keep trying to change my actual circumstances to something sustainable??

I fear falling as surgery left me with mobility issues due to nerve damage. I have no idea other than hope & pray.

My fear is that I won't have a relationship with 2/5 of my children. They are jaded and closed off. Ironically, one of their best friends trusts me with a lot. I need to let go, step back and let them come to me. I have a fear that I won't earn enough and for that I need to also let go and let my higher power.

I have a long-standing fear of visibility, but it's also got a big component of perfectionism. Right now I've been tinkering with my presentation/speech, wanting to get it right, and I think I just need to start doing it in front of people and getting feedback from others. I'm pretty close to being ready to go, and I think that next month I'm going to do an online presentation for my friends and give them a chance to watch. I also want to have people come and watch me do it live at my friend's event space.

Same as last year: I have a fear of lack or not having enough. It limits me in that I am afraid to try something that may take away what "little" I have and fear will never get again. My intention is to give it to God and let Him handle it. My intention for the coming year is to Let Go and Let God for the coming year.

I've had a fear of softening, of working less hard, of letting myself off the hook and fully trusting the Divine to provide for me if I just do my job of being my fullest authentic self. I plan to overcome this fear this year by recognizing that whenever I fall into the old pattern and catch myself working "harder" as "the way," or overly focus on "productivity" instead of availability to the Divine, or proving my worth by being "busy" or hoping that if I exhaust myself with effort, that'll somehow force things to happen, then I can take all that as a red flag that I'm off base, and course correct. If I do those things, I know that I'm taking power back from God and cutting the chance of any magic or miracles off at the knees. My real work this coming year is in being receptive, listening, making myself open and available to divine guidance and opportunities that I couldn't dream up on my own. It's in allowing myself to fully lean into play and possibility. Not indenture myself to capitalist mentalities and punishing work ethics. I've worked hard enough. God wants me to play now. And if I stay busy then I block the channels for all of this, play and possibility both. So I'm going to create interim choices around this, start handling my calendar differently, start trying to integrate the idea once again that there's only ONE big thing that God wants me to do each day, not a million things. This is a big shift for me but I know I can do it because I'm not doing it alone. My intuition is stronger than my fear.

I am scared to go for what I actually want. There is comfort in the familiar and even though I know there is better out there, I find myself hesitating. And at the same time, I am worried that I've already stayed too long.

This is a lifelong fear, of being negatively judged, about everything. It was so deeply ingrained in me, day after day after day, year in and year out, that I have no idea at my age how I can possibly ever let it go. How has it limited me? In so so many ways, more than I can list. And it is all due to being born to a cruel, sadistic 'mother' who taught me so well...

I fear the idea of aging limiting my ability to live my life fully. I don’t believe the fear has limited me in any way. In fact, I think it has motivated me to seek ways to ensure aging limits me as little as possible.

All my life I’ve felt that I wasn’t enough. And I still feel that way. No matter what I do, I could be better. I care too much what people think and I always assume they are thinking less of me.

I fear being good enough. A good enough teacher, mom, wife, friend. It has limited me in the sense that I have gotten burnt out. I think just remembering to give myself the grace I give others--and especially the grace I want my kids to give themselves--will help me overcome it in the coming year.

I'm afraid my secrets will be revealed, and those her learn my secrets will lose any respect they may have for me. I am afraid I won't survive the truth of me. In an episode of House, Mirror Mirror, this line revealed myself to me: "if nobody likes you, you always have to be right, otherwise you're worth nothing." Being a "know it all" has been a shield, a barrier in relationships. It has hindered caring connections. Exploring otherways of relating to people, otherways of valuing myself will helpe me value others.

Not being a part of my children and grandchildren’s lives in a positive way This limits me at times from speaking out and or doing positive things that would be good for not only me, but for them I’m definitely becoming more strong in asserting myself. I just need to make sure I do it in a safe and positive way.

I fear that I won't live long enough to retire. So I have to live my life fully now so that I don't have to wait to retire to actually LIVE. I'm going to make plans with family and friends and get out and do things.

The universal fear of all humankind - the fear of looking stupid in public. I am not sure that is a fear that anyone CAN entirely let go, except small children and the very old. I have long left childhood - and while I am certainly approaching very old, out there on the horizon, I don't know if I can ever expect to lose that particular fear.

Financial inadequacy and time. Not believing that I am okay with finance... and coming to place of realization that actually I'm just fine and no longer fear it. Time - the fear of running out of time to do all the wonderful things I want to do and realizing... just do ... Going to change both those mind perspectives going forward and in 2027.

fear of not enoughness -- limiting. impacts everything--how i feel, think, behave. i know it's not true, but it's still there. being with it and accept true nature of self and things

I’ve realized that I have a lot of fears, but one of the biggest is the fear of failure and rejection. I was watching the reboot of Malcolm in the Middle, and there’s a scene where one of the characters is tripping on mushrooms and basically has to face his fear. His fear wants everything to be perfect. Everything has to happen how it’s supposed to happen and when it’s supposed to happen. And I could see myself reflected in that. I have such a fear of failing that sometimes I simply don’t try new things. At work I can do it, but in my personal life it’s much harder. That fear became much bigger after my relationship ended. I was so afraid of losing my ex that, in some ways, that fear prevented me from doing the things that might have helped. I was so afraid of saying the wrong thing that I became incapable of saying the right thing, because instead I just didn’t say anything. I was afraid to act on the things I wanted to act on. There’s also a fear of moving on, because moving on means leaving things behind. I’m afraid of forgetting. I’m attached to material things because they connect me with my past. I have boxes and boxes of things, and part of the difficulty of dealing with them is that getting rid of things feels like leaving behind who I was. So there’s also a fear of meeting the new Lucas. Of seeing who I am now instead of holding onto the old version of myself. Another part of this is that I’m afraid of facing my emotions. I often don’t know how to name what I’m feeling until it becomes overwhelming. I can tell you that I’m good, bad, happy or sad, but beyond that it becomes difficult. It happens with physical sensations too. When I had pain in my lower back, I kept describing it as discomfort or as someone poking me. It wasn’t until a doctor basically told me, “That’s pain,” that I understood that what I was describing was actually pain. I do something similar emotionally. I can describe what is happening, but I don’t always know how to name it. And when I can’t name something, it becomes much harder to deal with. I’ve also realized that my fear of failure is very connected to other people. I once told my psychologist that I’m not allowed to fail because if I fail, a lot of people will suffer. I didn’t say, “If I fail, I will suffer.” I immediately thought about everyone else. My locus of control and even part of my identity are outside of me. I’m Uncle Lucas. I’m a researcher. I’m a brother, a son, a cousin. I understand who I am in relation to other people much more easily than I understand Lucas for Lucas. Even helping people is connected to that. Years ago, an ex-girlfriend asked me why I was always helping people, and I told her that helping is easier for me than not helping, because when I don’t help, I feel bad. Today, for example, I saw two women who were clearly lost at the train station. I understood what had probably happened and I could have asked if they needed help, but I didn’t. Hours later, I’m still thinking about it. Eventually I’ll forget, but for a while it stays with me that I could have helped and didn’t. So I think all of those things are connected: the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of leaving the past behind, and the difficulty of looking inward instead of constantly looking at what I am for other people. As for how I’m trying to overcome it, one part is radical honesty with myself. Radical transparency with myself and with the people closest to me. I want to keep going to therapy, keep learning how to reach out and ask for help, and get better at identifying when I actually need help. I’m already getting much better at that. My psychologist has also told me that I need to do things I’ve never done before. Go somewhere I haven’t been. Take a trip I haven’t taken. Start an activity that I’m new at and that I’m not good at. A friend of mine who is also a psychologist told me something similar. I need to break out of the mold I’ve built around myself. And I’m already trying to do that. I’ve met someone new who really interests me, and I’m afraid. But instead of waiting months and months, imagining what might happen and building a future in my head, I’m going to visit her. She lives in another city, and I’m going to go and see what is actually there. I’m also going to Israel and facing what I call “the black cloud.” That’s the nickname I use for my former relationship as a whole, not particularly the person, but everything around that relationship. So I am trying to face these fears rather than avoiding them. Part of that also means not letting the dreamer or the overly optimistic part of me build an entire future before anything has actually happened. I want to make things real instead of only imagining them. And then there are the things I already know help me: continuing therapy, continuing to record and reflect on my thoughts, and also becoming less negative. I think I nailed the journaling part. Now I need to do the gratitude part as well — deliberately paying attention to the good things in my life instead of only focusing on what is wrong.

I'm afraid the world is shot and our country is ruined. Maybe that stops me from trying harder. Maybe it mentally exhausted me. But I don't know what to do about it. Him: in general I don't think there's anything that if I put my mind to it and am not distracted by stupid stuff that I cannot do reasonably. However, I'm recognizing that being easygoing to my mind can be misinterpreted as being weak and a pushover. I find myself having to straddle both instances and the perception thereof

I dread my Dad's decline. I know that I have to move forward and make plans, but I'm feeling like everything revolves around his passing. I need to live my life without fear.

I have a very quick to judge inner self critic. I want to do more to bolster myself so that that critic can get smaller and smaller. Perhaps this means spending more time in community to contradict the critic and really see my ability to connect in all its strength and significance.

fear: i wont find my person in time to have a baby. i plan to trust that my plan is in motion. that it will come if I truly value myself and if i act from a place of self-love and kindness. because what we put out people feel. and we all deserve to find love xxxx

I've feared I can't shake the idea I am unlovable. I worry whenever someone shows a certain level of kindness because I assume its a manipulation. Therapy and trust is my best hope

One limiting fear is that I am not good enough at my job and also not good enough to ever find another job if I quit without having something else lined up. I plan to work with my therapist on a plan. I do not want to be rash and just decide to quit, but I also do not want to go another full year feeling this way and feeling like I do not have time for the things that bring me joy or time for my community because I am working a stupid corporate job all the time. I am also afraid of letting people down. Maybe I will practice letting people down by taking some time off the HOA Board.

A fear, which one? Getting old, older, being left alone, my husband is 10 years older, which he reminds me of it every day, our remaining dog is 14, and has always been healthy, but now is having some aging problems, and I love her and will miss her, I am spending as much time with her as I can, I am reading the book “Wise Aging” which is helpful, luckily I am in good health, so far, but right now things are static for me, I don’t have friends, my husband is frequently testy and unpleasant, no sense of humor, never laughs, and it is very draining to be around him. I feel like I am in a holding pattern right now. I am happy in my garden, with my dog, and the birds, and learning Torah.

Fear has long been my best friend. And my arch enemy. From a very young age, when I was sexually abused and again before I turned 10 years old, I lived in fear. I was scared of many things but couldn’t tell you what exactly. Later, I let fear rule my life. I did not try anything because there was the lingering thought: what if I fail? So I stopped. I left college, stopped singing, gained a huge amount of weight and was a terrible friend during my teens. I figured I would be abandoned anyway. So I was cruel. I had secrets my venture life. And shame. So much shame. Still unresolved. I have no goals other than to survive longer. I am conjuring up hope to commit to myself. To overcome loss and letting go and forgiveness. To see the world, in spite of it being so fucking horrible, from a different point of view. Nature abounds and I thrive in it.to be calm, quiet and listen.

Falling behind to a point where it won't matter what I do to "make up" for it - life in general, health, spirituality, relationships, career - all of it.

Abandonment, obviously. I push away the people I am most intimate with, with judgement and contempt and criticism. And I am left alone. I am hoping the mushrooms will help with this

I know I want breast reduction, preferably severe. I'm afraid of asking for them to be COMPLETELY GONE. I've had this crap hanging off my front for 58 years; enough is enough. But that would irrevocably change how I am viewed, and it risks destroying some of the closest relationships I have.

I have been afraid to learn how to use my equipment to do home music recordings and compose music. Right now, it seems like hard work rather than play. I plan to approach it more from an angle of playfulness and joy and creativity. I also plan to push to overcome feelings of inadequacy and competition when getting up to perform music in public. It needs to be more about joyful self expression rather than impressing anyone else.

I was limited mostly by fear of unemployment. Despite it I landed the right job leaving behind wrong jobs along the way. I still have work to do to grow confident and dominant in my role. It will take time and courage.

I am afraid of losing control over the Brotherhood organization. As the new President, I am worried about keeping the organization moving forward, growing and being meaningful for the Congregation.

Fear of failure is always there. I just know I can't do everything right, but I can do my best and I am learning to be okay with that.

I think aging is a great fear of mine because my hands are my tools for my art and they are very arthritic and this all goes along with the financial piece as well because I have to still support myself and I can't go into art full-time and if I can't go into art full-time will I be able to do it in the future if my hands are not functioning.

At this time I have minimal fears. One of my worst fears came and I survived and grew from it

Same answer as last year, which is not what I was hoping for. But maybe, next year . . . ?

Death. In April, a person I worked with at the NYPD died suddenly of a heart attack. My dear coworker Leo, died of cancer in May. Then, the sudden death of my financial adviser and family friend in a motorcycle accident a week later really shocked me. I don't have a plan to overcome it. I don't think anyone does, frankly.

My fear is that the country and the world are in perilous times. Would I be able to leave the country, leaving family, friends, and my home behind?

the somatically-rooted fear of being overrun, used and discarded, raped again in a non-sexual but still angrifying and terrifying way. Keep doing the work, trusting my partner and trusting myself to hold boundaries that feel right to me without apology.

Dying from prostate cancer before I "clean-up" the loose ends in my life - from selling and closing my business to throwing away a lot of my detailed working papers from my 75 years of personal and professional life. Living longer and cleaning up my papers and business is my way of overcoming this fear. Also, I am aggressively working on my health at the fitness center and following all of my oncologist's directions.

Imposter syndrome at work since I'm not working for my friend anymore. When things don't go right, I think it's my fault, when it's not. And like I said last year, that I'm wasting my life staring at a computer screen.

Ответ на первый вопрос - страх войны и грядущей боли и потерь. Ответа на второй вопрос у меня нет.

Fear of trusting someone enough to merge my life with theirs.

I fear being a cliched privileged self involved/satisfied progressive Californian who travels in rote circles of other likeminded sorts and does little to actually improve or benefit the world. That fear has given me an ironic distance from my true self and made me question and criticize who I appear to be. I hope to overcome this fear by emphasizing curiosity, seeking out people who are not like me and working on projects/ good works that make material/tangible good.

My fear that love is limited has brought out the sides of possessiveness in me. This has prevented me from trusting and feeling safe. My plan to overcome this fear is to show myself unlimited love so that every age can heal and learn that it is worthy of love despite all evidence that showed them otherwise. I am going to water the worthiness flower in my garden with unconditional love.

My fear is that my children won’t be self sufficient if I am not around. Even though there is some reason to worry, I need to “let them” and not let it in my head and affect my sleep! I have recently revised my Living Trust for my youngest son, and this has alleviated some concerns.

I have the same fear I've been listing for the past 5 years, os no need for the copy paste. I am insecure in what I believe God is calling me to based on my own view of me & scared to fail, but that is the true failure. The staying stagnant & disobeying God while my actions quite clearly say I either believe He is a liar or I believe He is setting me up to be humiliated which is absolute garbage. My plan to let go & overcome is to be honest with people about what I feel God calling me to instead of holding it to myself. I want to be able to be held accountable in "personal" matters just like in my discipleship walk. Sometimes Lawanda, Renada & others know because God tells them. However, I want to be the one to tell instead of feeling like I need to keep it secret to protect myself from judgement. I realized this mattered from Bryanna's encouragement & her desire to keep me accountable. I did not feel guilt, shame or condemnation. I felt loved, valued, seen & respected. It buoyed my heart to know not only did she remember, but she wanted me to get the devotional done for the good it serves The Lord & His Kingdom. I joke that I appreciate her ensuring she gets what I owe her, but that isn't what it was & I felt her love deep in my Spirit man. I honestly wouldn't have finished or pushed to get this devotional done without her. Now I have Asia on my tail too. The Lord snitched & she asked, so I was honest. Now her & Bryanna are on me for 2 different things. While it touches my insecurities & fears. It also helps to heal them. Similar to having to open a wound to irrigate it with disinfectant. It hurts, burns & is uncomfortable, but at the same time it is healing the wound, so it closes without infection. Since it is being done with God's love it will also leave no scar for the enemy to have an opportunity.

Lo único que quiero hacer ahora es serme fiel. Si no quiero superar algo, no lo supero y san se acabó. Eso de la superación de miedo se ha convertido en una exigencia que me hunde más.

I'm generally conflict averse, which can create some communication challenges. I need better tools for managing conflict and contentiousness. Like many people, I'm also generally my own worst critic. So, being more charitable to myself would be useful.

I think my biggest fear is letting go of control. And this year, I am going to do that more and more, because I want other folks to feel like they have ownership. That is really important to me because it builds community, and that's a core value. And so I am going to work much harder at letting go.

A fear of mine is the rejection and blow back I experience when I try to express my point of view - I feel unheard and unvalidated to the degree that I don't feel I matter to a few people. I'm no longer being the proverbial puppy chasing attention and needing acceptance and I'm working on making it clear that I'm not okay with what others are doing (or not doing) and expressing what I need. Being tied to the other persons acceptance of me has greatly limited my progress - if and how they receive the message is up to them. I'm working on saying what needs to be said (so that we can live in a more closer and connected way).

All my fears came to pass. Sixty, ugly and old, tired and apathetic, broke and lonely. What do I fear? Nothing. I drove 80mph in pouring rain. IDGAF. Bring it on.

I have fears but I don't think they limit me very much?? Maybe I am thinking about limiting in too literal a sense.

Fear of being unkind has limited my leadership. This year I want to hone in on "Clarity is Kindness"

I continue to struggle with the ongoing feeling that I am not doing enough—at work, at home, as a volunteer, as a friend. This is an ongoing challenge for me that is not based in reality, as I know intellectually that I am constantly pushing myself above and beyond what a normal person might expect of themselves, and that I am good enough just the way I am. I hope that continued mindfulness practice and my intention around staying present this year can help me with this.

Hmmmm... that I can't make my own business, that my idea is not original enough, that I am not enough. Not surw how to let go, more therapy i think.. I am still terrified of current politics, but G education sorted itself. Still no idea what to do with my degree.

One fear that I have felt is the loss of people close to me and I have been thinking more about my own mortality. That has been something that has made me fearful. That fear is too fold. One aspect is losing important people and the other aspect is the end of my own life. One way I hope to overcome that is through my counselor, and addressing my desire to get rid of things that no one else would want after I’m gone. I also want to make sure that I have told the people that are important to me or have had an influence on me, what a significant part of my life they are or were.

Losing my job this year and starting a search for a new one made me think that I’m actually not such a strong specialist. It was really humiliating and gave me shivers in terms of my future financial situation, abilities and prospects at a new job market. But I’m already trying something new and I know that, BE’’H I’ll be able to fulfill my dream. Because Hashem already leads me the way I need it to be so I’m definitely on the right track and it all will work out.

I’m scared that I’m the one who is the problem, that I’m going to turn into my mother and become as angry and volatile and scary as she was at this stage of her life. I don’t know how to let that go or overcome it. Sometimes the feelings I have are so intense it’s like they’re pulsing in my brain, like I can physically feel the pressure of them in there.

I have lots of fears of being hurt or of getting sick or of losing other people. I have fears of vulnerability in general. I’d like to get rid of one of those

fear of not being successful. better preparation just do it!! dont be scared of rejection and be more persistent

I'm so afraid of things getting worse and worse in the world - climate apocalypse, rise of fascism, etc. All I can do is plan and pray.

Being rendered unable to care for myself. It is a worry that does not abate.

Never being content; always waiting to use/do/wear/go atll the things for a specific "special" occasion. The special occasion is today. Wear the dress, go to the museum /concert/football game. Tomorrow is NOT promised.

I'm never sure whether I'm more afraid of success or failure. So I haven't failed enough, and I don't have that much time left to succeed. I've been very fortunate, and accomplished some lovely things, but that Big Swing frequency, having to look square at making my best effort, seeing what that best effort looks like... that terrifies me. The death of Dolly Parton moved so many people this year, including me, and her repeatedly saying 'Find out who you are and do it on purpose', hits hard. I still have so much time, in one sense. But I also only have now. Time to swing the bat.

I have a fear of getting into a committed relationship and having it fail. On some level there is no life without risk; on the other, we can try to form partnerships that have a higher likelihood of lasting.

I recently thought it was likely I had prostate cancer. Turns out I don’t. Very happy about that. And it brought a reality to my sense of mortality. My biggest fear today, may be different tomorrow, is to live my life blindly, without a sense of presence. Life is precious. I want to do my best to let in soak in. To be with it.

Fear of letting down others. Fear of how I’m perceived. Fear of failure. Fear of really being seen and taking up space. Time to let all of those go. I’m turning 50. It’s ok if not everyone likes me or what I have to say, or what I look like. It’s ok if I fail sometimes. I need to take more risks in order to live more fully and authentically into who I am.

I was scared of having cancer, and now I have it. I am scared it will metastasize. I am scared I will always have cancer. I am scared of dying, not as a general concept but as a question of a life unfulfilled. I am scared that my life will have been for so little, I am scared that I've already had all the time that I will get, and that this is the last chapter. I don't know how to let this go, or how to overcome it. I think my only choice is to live with these fears, to hold them close and try not to fixate on them. I have to find a way to co-exist with the terror of living and the threat of not-living and the present reality of living while not feeling well. I have to sit alongside my fears and let them be.

I fear that I'm stuck in my ways (addicted to my phone / facebook, incapable of organizing anything but also need everything organized) Wherever I go, there I am. In order to overcome it...I just need to do 1%. Choose a different path. Do one little thing. Think of my best self in five years and do the habits of that person.

I have a fear of getting in my own way of thinking too much instead of doing something about it. I want to continue to do instead of in my thoughts and make me idle.

Judgement. I do everything in judgement, and in turn it makes me the judged. I condemn myself to a sea of despair and an unraveling shake and I cannot turn it off. I don't know how I will overcome this. Maybe I just never will.

i fear letting people in i want to get over that.

The same as last year. I am terrified my dying husband will die in pain, unbearable pain and it's a likelihood due to his type of cancer and how poorly funded hospice care is and how cruel those who work within the NHS often are to him. I've seen it a number of times so I tell people not to bother with NHS propaganda. as far as institutions go, it's one of the most negligent, most cruel and most attractive to dysfunctional personalities who are bureaucratically or physically cruel to a lot of patients. So, my biggest fear is that the cost-benefit culture and massive intake of people who don't speak english and don't have any standard of care within the NHS, will ensure my husband dies in agony on an A&E waiting room floor whilst foreign doctors, nurses and administrators step over him tutting that he's in the way - this has been my experience so far. I don't plan on overcoming it. I plan on letting my controlled fury at the cruelty of this system do its work. I will fight for my husband to die a peaceful and dignified death despite the NHS and despite hospice care being grossly underfunded. And if I can't get that for him, I will do everything in my power to hold people to account.

I have a fear of being judged by others and left wanting. I have been working hard to let it go.

I'm realizing how fearful I've historically been to Say The Things that I really feel in general, to most people. It limits me because I hide behind the pretense of "keeping the peace" or "not starting something" and then makes me miserable because *I* haven't forgotten what has made me upset in the first place and other people say or do what is authentic for them and I end up feeling resentful. I've used AI this year to help me craft questions and comebacks, conversation starters, and I've been able to let Cam, David, and even my sister know how they affect me and how I feel. And in some ways, it's been SO helpful, even when people like Cam refuse to hear what I say and stick with the narrative that makes THEM more comfortable -- because I've said what I need to say in a way that still feels authentic to me, and I can't control anything beyond that. With David, I believe he heard me when I said that I have no expectations of him anymore because I don't see him as a partner and a partner is what I'm looking for; someone who's curious about me and interested in me as a person. I believe he heard me because his response to that was essentially to tell me he's sorry he's such a disappointment. Those weren't my words, but I also didn't refute that comment from him. And now, I give him the same energy he gives me, and that feels freeing. With my sister, sometimes I need to let her know that her words have a big impact on me and while I want to be the person she trusts to tell her innermost feelings, I get scared when she goes into a dark mindset and behaves (to me) like an obstinate child who doesn't want to do X, Y, or Z. With her though, I know we can have really uncomfortable conversations and eventually, we will get back to ourselves and the core of our relationship, which is that we love one another dearly and need one another in our lives. I think this year needs to expand on truth-telling and being brave enough to let people know how I feel, regardless if it's uncomfortable; but, it's still REALLY hard.

I have a fear of outliving my husband and being left alone.

Hahahaha. I don't think I can let go of my fear of humanity going extinct due to artificial intelligence taking over, Terminator-style. Or my fear of total annihilation due to climate change. But I can sure compartmentalize! And I do, like a total champ.

I'm so scared as our parents decline in age/health/cognition and our country descends into fascism. I have no control over either but need to work on acceptance of the former and how to balance fear and fighting back on the latter.

I'm terrified that I am not worthy of love. I plan on overcoming that fear by leaning into my resources, by investing in myself and my community, and by learning new things.

I fear bring disliked, and I think I put up with too much because I want people to like me.

Perfection Being seen Find baby me Play more

my biggest fears are all external- worried about the state of the world and how this will affect my children's future. in all honesty, i am seeking medication to help calm my brain about it. maybe with help i will be able to be more rational about it.

I worry that I will be in a position where I can't support myself or have the choice to leave my job and do something that makes me happy. There is only one go at life and I don't want to look back with regrets about things I could have changed. We can't do everything or have every opportunity but happiness in day-to-day life has to be a priority as it's all we ever really have.

I hope to trust myself more.

I was terrified this year that I would not be able to continue teaching. It was worrisome for me to think about and I was absolutely convinced. I faced that fear. I'm still teaching, and I'm actually really good at it. I'm doing what needs to be done. I'm making appropriate but good rapport with students. I'm happy with it. Another fear? The other shoe. My sister getting cancer is one of those things that sorts life into a Before and an After. I'm never going to be the same.

I fear losing my husband, who’s been in serious decline for well over a year. This fear stems not only from my concern over his diminishing health as my fear of loss, having lost so much from such a young age, is rooted within every fiber of my being. My mother and her mother, my maternal grandmother, were fearful of just about. I absorbed that fear through osmosis. At the same time, throughout my life I’ve always kept hope alive similar to my paternal grandmother who had an undying optimism. My resilience and persistence are things of wonder yet neither obliterates my fear. As in the famous saying, “It’s not how we fall down, it’s how we get back up.” I hope that in the coming year, I’ll rejoice in the getting back up rather than dwelling in the falling down in fear.

I still fear dementia. However, my father is doing fine, even though he's a year older than my mother (& both his parents died of cancer much younger than he is now). Mom & her siblings developed dementia rather late in life. So I have years to go before it hits, if it hits.

One fear I have, if I’m being honest, is the possibility of losing my job. At times, this fear has created unnecessary stress and made me doubt myself. Instead of letting it control me, I’m trying to turn it into motivation. I’ve taken the feedback I received over the past year seriously, and I’m working harder, staying more focused, and investing in my own development. In the coming year, I want to replace that fear with more confidence in myself and in what I can bring to the table.

I fear that my relationship with Peter is not as strong or positive as I have been thinking it was. I want to speak with him about some of the things that happened while we were traveling this year. Okay update, I've already started to have those conversations, and I already feel stronger and more grounded in our relationship. It's important to remember that relationships need to be tended if they are to grow.

A fear I have is that I'm not living up to my potential as a mother or in my career. It has limited me from making certain decisions about where to go and what to do especially when I get overwhelmed with my day to day and being treated disrespectfully in my home. I'm afraid to leave and afraid to stay at the same time sometimes. There's a fear of taking on a work role with too much responsibility that would be great careerwise but would harm my family and children's upbringing by farming that out to others. I plan on talking to other mothers one on one or socially to find out their tips and what works and by keeping the focus on myself one day at a time, starting with me and living by other Al-Anon slogans to enrich my spiritual existence.

I feel exactly the same as last year... I have a fear that my country that I have loved and supported all my life is going to be besieged by tyranny, misogynism, fascism. This limits me as I no longer feel that we are the land of the free, a country that fights for our freedoms, honors our planet, honors all people, believes in science, and in doing the right thing. I'd like to leave quite honestly, but am so conflicted with children and grandchildren that are essentially "here". I will take action where action is needed and support the democratic process all that I can.

being cringey, disliked, awkward. Maybe that's just being human. onward There's enough pie for all (not scarcity) trauma response (it isn't serving me anymore, live, i'm not in danger)

I've always been afraid of running my own business. I fear that I lack the self-drive or the social prowess to succeed. This year I'm taking the plunge and am backing myself to succeed. I am going to focus on the positives and what I know rather than the negative self-talk.

Fear is not my biggest obstacle. Not caring is. I need to find a reason to care. I want to make a contribution that matters to more than just myself.

The fear of being hated by my family has prevented me from breaking up with my mom, which sounds odd but it really has been a burden on me. I want to embrace my community to help me find ways to let go and to accept while also not sharing too much with her.

I do experience generalized anxiety over the condition of this country and the obvious goals of the President and his cronies who want to make us an authoritarian state. I have never seen any President or head of state create as much damage, chaos and cruelty as Trump has done in such a short time. This has not limited me much. I have had to learn to live with it. I fear for my children and grandchildren's futures.

im still afraid of doing my best because what if it isn't good? and who does that even matter to? what does that even mean? and is it fear of doing my best or actual growth to put some things down?

I think my answer from last year still fits - I fear what will happen to our country - and the world - with Trump at the helm. The war in Iran seems to be escalating. The climate change is worsening, and Trump is taking away the guardrails. El Nino is poised to wreak distinct havoc. I think it will feel refreshing to be in Paris for two months and to be away from the US. I don't know how to overcome this fear because it keeps reasserting itself every time I look away. I could read the news less. I could focus on my series on Aging. I can meditate and remember that God is love, that there is life beyond death, that our souls are eternal, that all is well; all manner of things are well. That does help.

The greatest fears that I have and in fact the only fear that they have is the fact that my husband has not made a will, and has three daughters who despise me. I hate the thought that he might go before I do and then the ensuing shitfight will be something else. It makes me very anxious that he refuses and I have no understanding as to why he behaves like this. According to my advanced and his advanced ages it is not something I can just let go

Aside from being terrified that the whole country is going down the tubes and taking most of the planet with it, I'm afraid of taking risks in business. I know I have to do my homework and make educated choices, but I'm still afraid of making costly mistakes. That fear has definitely held me back from making bigger moves. Is that fear a heathy thing? Maybe. Good arguments can be made for taking a chance and for being cautious.

Believe it or not my biggest fear is hope without anything changing. It’s gotten harder and harder for me to continually try and put myself out there without getting what I was hoping to. It makes everything I try like there’s an enormous amount of pressure on it and it’s like my well of hope is running dry. I fully realize that if you don’t try, nothing will change, but it’s meant trying feels harder than it should. I think the only way to overcome it is to try more and to put myself outside my comfort zone with trying.

I'm afraid of social rejection, and I have been for a long time. From making times to hang out with people who I know well and might consider friends, to asking people out on dates, to giving gifts, I often don't do things because I'm afraid it'll be received badly and I'll get hurt, and possibly damage my relationship with a person. I think that's a real chance, but I also want to take more risks and put myself out there more. I don't have a plan to do this, other than just getting up the courage and trying, but I think I will ultimately increase the richness of my life if I take more risks socially.

I am afraid that these new beginnings will change the relationship I have with my son. He will most likely not come with me, but stay with his father. I need to learn to let go and overcome. This by far will be one of the most difficult experiences of my life. Shy of getting charged with kidnapping I can't take him with me. He is my biggest accomplishment. Besides my other boys.

I am afraid I will always be fat. And at the same time, I sabotage myself and eat too much because I am afraid of who I will be if I no longer have the excuse of being fat. I want to become more weight-neutral this year. I want to enjoy food without feeling captive to it.

I still have the same fear, and I’m afraid it’s gotten worse. I feel like I’m fighting for mediocrity and survival to the point it’s burning me out. I don’t think anything less than getting a stable job will change those feelings. Without money I really can’t move forward in life.

Fear that I will never get the career I want and that I will die impoverished. I have spent a lot of time calling the state senators and congressmen that companies have to hire people they have to look at true numbers of the economy - car repossessions food stamps food banks credit card debt. I have seen some progress and I have some hope

I refuse to be useless. I refuse to settle for scraps, to scrape by, to live hopelessly.

I really need to let go of feelings of inadequacy and incompetence. These pop up at the oddest moments--sometimes completely unrelated to anything happening at the moment. They feed into the existential angst that was part of my response from last year as well as some of this year's Qs. Whenever I stop and take a hard look at these feelings, I can always (or at least almost always) identify what ongoing anxieties they're springing from which then allows me to diffuse them in the moment. Sometimes, however, I indulge them in case they're the spur I need to move out of a comfortable rut to start something new or go more deeply into something. But I think it's time to just defang them entirely. The fact is that I don't think I'm holding myself back from some deep pursuit. Rather, I enjoy a lot of the things I'm already doing, and no one thing has grabbed my attention enough for me to devote more intensive amounts of time to that rather than others. The best way for me to enjoy what I enjoy, try new things as they interest me, and go deeper when something really grabs my attention is to be less and less affected by this mindless and negative inadequacy chatter--so, ongoing mindfulness practice.

Fear of being alone. Recognizing that I have it is my first step to overcome it

I am afraid if I leave my job I won’t succeed. I’m afraid if I try something brave there will be a punishment. I am afraid this life has lost meaning and I very much want a life with meaning.

Fear of pain, of being helpless, of indignity, of being a burden. Of dying, maybe. I don't plan on overcoming these fears. I plan on sitting with them, becoming familiar with them, gradually befriending them, so when they appear instead of panicking I can simply say, Oh, old friend, I see you. Won't you have some tea and tell me all about it?

I think I have a lack of trust in my decision making skills when it comes to my career (or lack thereof). Looking back, it feels like there was always a better choice in hindsight. But then it becomes a perpetuating cycle. I avoid making decisions or I just take other people's advice even if my gut says it's wrong. I think I've got to start baby-stepping towards to dipping my toe into something different, even if it's scary or it means I fail or make other people unhappy.

My fears now are more about my health. I work in a nursing home, so get to see people my age and younger who are incapacitated, and that terrifies me. It hasn't limited me, though I am careful to hold onto handrails and practice my balance, in order to avoid falls.

I fear that for as much as I preach identity is not defined by one’s ambitions or activities, that I am actually a culprit of that very fear. I worry, my hypocrisy is hidden and repression. I fear that I’m disingenuous and full of it. I fear that I do want to be the most uniquely individual person when indeed I’m not. I fear that I will never find peace in the share fact that I am a speck among Stardust.

Fear of being like my dad if I do something with my journals. I will read my journals this coming year AND integrate/digest what calls for digestion/integration.

I still carry a lot of fear about what other people are thinking - that they are judging me, that I have disappointed them, that they are angry or fed up with me. I am turning 50 this year, and I have seen shifts in this as I have gotten older - but it is still much too present for me. I can't control, and I fundamentally don't know, what other people think. Most likely they are thinking about something in their own life, their own fears or concerns. I'd like to actually embody that more this year.

My fear is myself. I am not that confident and I self sabotage. I am afraid of commitment and I am afraid of good things happening to me/for me. I fear love because I have been heartbroken. I fear being close to others because I have been abandoned. I love privacy. I hope I find balance and am able to accept everything and not hold onto hurt and disappointment. I finally forgive this year and I want to protect myself.

I want to take on more in my life: new activities, new volunteer roles, new things that connect me to other humans. In the past when I did step forward, events beyond my control forced me to abandon those things. Either because said events took away all my time or I needed what little time I had to myself for my own preservation. I've slowly been able to come back to what I abandoned last year. It's 10Q time, and strangely, things seem quiet in my life. I hope to take another step into this newish volunteer role.

I'm not feeling very open to letting go of fears right now because every. single. fear I have had in the last 15 years has turned out to be very real. Having a bit of a Cassandra feeling, frankly. What I do have to figure out is how to productively act on the fears, even though my range of possibilities is still limited.

Even though I have not worked in a year (and recently decided to retire), I haven't been able to get out of the house and "do" stuff. There are so many things I would like to do in this city, but I haven't done them. I'm already starting to let it go and overcome the fear (and inertia). Two days after Yom Kippur, I am heading off (alone) on a three-week vacation, traveling to three different cities. I seem to have the trust, faith, and courage to do it ... so, why not?!?

A close friend has advanced lung cancer. I know I have to be strong and try not to convince her to pursue treatment. Another best friend is now in an induced coma, and I must be present and strong for her family.

I continue to be scared of growing old and sick. I went on a river cruise with my mom and step-father in the spring and there were a lot of older people on this trip and a lot of older people with mobility issues. This made me even more conscious of much one can lose as they age. I am exercising even more with the goal to maintain my mobility.

The fear of relapse into depression is always there. Not front and center, but it's there. I'm not sure there is a fear that is limiting me, other than running out of money which, for now, it not an issue.

I generally make a practice of not letting fear limit me. I do have a fear of letting lifelong practices lead me to make mistakes in dating. I am studying the Burnt Haystack Dating Method (BHDM) every day and practicing it in real life. I have made progress and I will continue to do so.

I struggle to name the omnipresent fear that holds me back but wonder whether I can trace it back to the circumstances of my birth. My mother was in labour for four days and after the birth did not see me for two days, did not know if I was alive and for another week only saw me for bread feeding. She was a country girl in the big city and felt intimidated. I imagine that I struggled to be born but was continually thwarted. (Is that a thing ?) and learned to give up and go into an endurance state. So now, in my 75th year, things stop working in my house and rather than get them fixed which would subject me to the judgements of other (plumbers, electricians…) about the semi-squalor I live in. I find ways to work around what is broken and in so doing diminish my life.

I think, like a lot of people, I have a fear of looking or sounding stupid. It holds me back from engaging deeply with people, especially new people. And from trying things that are unfamiliar. In my line of work, I often push people to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, or face their fear of failure. I'd like to put more effort into that for myself. Challenging myself to do things that are not typical, and just seeing what happens. My guess is that it will expand my world drastically.

I have a fear of not accomplishing what i want to accomplish/making a difference at Penn. It’s limiting me by making me make decision based on what i “should” do not what feels best for me. I plan on feeling my way through decisions with my ideal future in mind

fear of failure. i hope to perform release ceremonies for that fear. i want to practice leaving my mistakes in things that i create. i want to focus on what i’ve learned rather than what ingot wrong

It's not exactly a fear, though there must be something that scares me in it. I recently realised that I feel a sort of anxiety when leaving the known for something unknown in practical things, even inconsequential ones. I am glad to say that I pushed myself to go for the new experience, but I want to be more aware of possible limits I'm giving myself.

My fears are still the same, not finding a partner, parents aging and being afraid of making a big change in my life like moving. I think I need to remember to trust myself as well as know that not everything is permanent. Many people move away and come back. It doesn't mean you failed. Also worried about career trajectory- but less of a concern at the moment.

My girlfriend says my fear of embarrassment in new situations, that my shyness with new people is something that has made me avoid situations with strangers. Work is obviously a different situation - they are coming to me - but being more able to put myself out and meet new people would be good, and maybe intentionally setting out to put myself in fresh situations will help with that fear.

Fearing for the future of this country has become a cliché after these many years of maga mania. I feel hopeless to change it. Only hope to endure the next 2 years and hope it doesn’t impact those I love too much. I think the personal fear relates to “am I good enough” when I consider my classical writing. Not sure I’ll ever totally let it go, but I’ll continue to push against it the best I can on a case-by-case effort.

How hard it is to know in my bones that it is the same fear I’ve had for the past ten years of doing 10Q. Will this forever be the fear I live with? How could I ever let this go? It’s the fear of not being enough. Not being good enough. Not overachieving. Now showing up. I guess without doing more therapy, I am living with this everyday, but I am trying to overcome it consciously at work.

After my husband‘s death, the fear of dying became hyper real, especially in the car which turned into a fear of driving, which led to nine months of basically staying at home and not going anywhere. I’ve managed to get a job and work outside the home. it’s amazing what motivation homelessness is, and I am slowly, but surely not fearing for my life every second of the day.

I am fearful of losing family and friends who are aging and/or struggling with health issues. I don’t know how to let that go.

Fear of loosing ground financially. It has limited me to play safe. The best answer to fear is facts and actions. I'll plan my finances to better prepare for the future without limiting my present self. I'll buy less so I can experience more.

I fear not having enough time to take on more projects, and that's why I don't, but I am 100% right! I don't have enough time to take on more projects and so I generally don't. I do enough between work, choir, family, shul. Now let's see if I get that PT job in entertainment which would be so fun and get me on the path to entertainment which I'm dying to be on. Spent all my time job searching on LinkedIn connecting with people in the biz. Such interesting work going on!

I still feel a bit of imposter syndrome or inadequacy at my job. I think expanding my baseline knowledge is the best way through because speaking with confidence is a great feeling and goal in itself

How antisemitism affects how Jewish i present myself to others. Im still not sure how to change this

Many times I have been 'nudged' to write about my life. I've written an bit here and there over the years. I've never wanted to write everything. I've made many bad choices, mostly out of ignorance, and have never wanted anyone to see my shame and embarrassment. I've sinned more times than I care to admit. It came to me just recently that God has forgiven all the sins that I have repented of and if I don't pass on the story of my life and His place in it, I will be committing a greater sin than ever before. So I will set aside time to sit and write, to think and pray and to know that someone, hopefully, will benefit from reading my story.

I've been afraid of facing up to my weight and trying to fix it - but I'm doing it now. I've also been afraid of doing something 'wrong' and being disliked as a leader in the union. However, I'm running again, and I think I will be able to honestly say I've always followed my conscience.

Travel alone was a fear, and this past year -- 2026 -- I traveled alone to Ranch La Puerta in Mexico. And I'm currently on my way to the UK, to see Susan and do a walking tour in Yorkshire with Ruth. I wouldn't say I have the travel bug but it feels good to be doing these things. I honestly don't know what other fears limit me. I recognize the edge of fear in new teaching situations, in meeting single men, in travel. I recognize that edges are where growth is.

Still, my parents getting older. Cleaning out the house and how to tackle that. It has to be a group effort with the whole family; I can't do this alone.

I've been working through my fear of the repercussions of too much movement that causes migraines. This past year I've danced more and do more around the house. And yes, I get migraines but the pain is usually managed by the meds. I will continue my work with the naturopath to see if we can mitigate the migraines while I continue to do more again. I'm not willing to keep shrinking my life back as a way to cope.

I don't think I've overcome the fear of dreaming that I wrote about last year. But I've become more adament that, to survive, we must dream about a better future, and that pushes me to practice confronting that fear. I worry that I've become afraid of people, or more precisely, of sharing myself with others. I happily yap with people I don't know well but begin looking for escape when conversations continue toward the personal realm. I worry people will decide I am not worth knowing, so I'd rather not try and face disappointment. This is another form of my fear of dreaming. Letting this fear go will take exposure, and I notice it becoming easier each time I share my true beliefs or speak my mind. I'm afraid of stagnation. I have trouble remembering my past selves, which in some ways leaves my identity more flexible. But without the clear cycles and benchmarks of school, I've struggled to identify my own progression. I have so far to grow. But I have changed in the past year, primarily for the better. To recognize and direct that change will require more frequent reflection - answering something like these questions monthly, perhaps.

Over the past year+ I've had a real uptick in health anxiety, which is really rooted in a fear of death. I fear for my own health and mortality, my dog's, my family and my unborn child. This fear can be obsessive and hypervigilant at times. It has limited me by encroaching on the goodness that is here and permeating the joy, excitement, strength and optimism I otherwise feel. I plan on continuing to utilize meditation, therapy, my spiritual practice, and my relational supports to acknowledge the fear and reorient to savoring and enjoying what is here while putting my trust in my ancestors, guides and the universe.

I looked at the answer I've given to this question since I started doing 10Q in 2014. It never changed. I believe I am useless & unlovable. This year I would like to develop a plan to cast this belief aside, in such a way that I no longer buy into it so solidly.

I have a fear of not achieving my goals, and I’ve just recently become a lot more accepting and able to move on. It’s totally fine if my original timeline or goals are not met - the only person who is pressuring this is myself and it is arbitrary. I will handle whatever is thrown at me and I will appreciate and admire myself for existing in the moment.

i'm not exactly sure what my fear is; i probably have deeply buried fears, maybe fear of success or happiness or love or something? Also, what is fear? It can be perfectly rational, its healthy to be afraid of sharks... but I'll still try to work on going deep , see if theres anything to uncover...

Fear of failure. My whole life and forever. If something can’t be done perfectly I freeze up, I procrastinate and I preemptively feel the failure anyway. I need to let go more and be less self serious.

I've been afraid that I will stay at this level of disability and that I'll never recapture the energy I had when I was younger. I've been terrified that I won't be able to enjoy my life or be fully present for it. I don't want that. And I know that mindset is EVERYTHING. Especially when it comes to healing and recovery. I remember there was one guy, Wesley Hamilton, on the Queer Eye makeover show who had been shot and paralyzed. His attitude about it was amazing, and his situation was far more permanent and could have been seen as far more hopeless than mine. But this incident in his life wound up being something that he was grateful for. He went on to found the nonprofit Disabled But Not Really (DBNR) in 2015, which provides adaptive fitness, nutrition, mental-health support, and community programs for people with physical disabilities. I want to let Wesley inspire me and have a healing mindset. I want to make the best of the life and body I have. And I know that I can recover with the right mindset and a lot of hard work.

Just one fear? I have so so many. I am afraid I am deeply un lovable. Fundamentally not worthy of love. It’s so limiting in ways I know and ways I don’t understand. I am unlearning this through radical self care and self forgiveness

That same fear of failure is still there. At times it feels almost as if the universe conpires to remove viable oportunaties just as they are about to come to fruition. This fear has been less during the year due to a stoic approach but peaked this weekend.

Be an inadequate partner wife and mother Being honest with who I am and not overcommitt and be truthful to myself

The fear that my actions will have extreme negative impact on those that I care about. I cannot manage others feelings and reactions, but this prevents me from doing things in order to keep the peace.

I believe I’m not good enough for good things and that I am too lazy to deserve a good life. I plan on working to overcome this by actively not being lazy - both by not letting “I’m tired” or “I can’t be bothered” be the deciding vote in my actions, and by also being kinder to myself.

I’ve feared not being able to follow through on workout plans, like a 8 week workout/nutrition schedule or full diet change. So I haven’t even started. And I’ve feared the perception of peers and even family members related to my attempts to lose weight or eat healthy. The “you don’t need it” or “make an exception tonight” commentary. I’m going to join a community and make it a lifestyle change instead of expecting others to accept a temporary change in me. My nutrition and health matters more than what can often feel like an urgent & convenient & intentionally “family together” weeknight meal or a special work occasion.

I have some fear related to my body. pain. Disability. Needing help. Not being able to. Aging. Having rode her hard and put her away wet most nights of most decades of her fifty-some-odd years. It limits me by enabling further denials of need and pleasure. It breeds self hate, neglect, and abuse. A terrible cycle. I am doing a lot to overcome this on my healing path for leg and hip pain: consulting K, PT, yoga, integrating movement practices in my spellbooks, foot reflexology. I would like to increase my efforts by finding a digestion teacher.

I have become anxious about my son’s dramatic mental health issues. I would like him to launch

When I get afraid I shut down. I can see things not getting handed because I'm concerned. Work things, self care, paperwork. I need to push through.

I’m afraid for the world I have known, but the fracture of alliances means that some values are lumped and it’s hard to support some of them. It’s also hard to know what to do; I’m working on responses. On a more personal level I’m afraid of senility and ill health. That fear hasn’t limited me, as I am not (yet) senile and am still fairly robust. But today, after a double whammy of vaccines yesterday, I am feeling fragile and ill. I try to keep my brain active and my body as well, and do all those “keys to aging well” we hear about.

I do have a fear of being left alone, of something happening to Scott and not knowing what to do. He set things up with Ellie to address this exact situation, but I get panicky about it sometimes. Sometimes I just want to be left alone, but I don't want to Left, Alone! I don't really know how to overcome this or let it go. Maybe I need to go back into therapy. I'm afraid of becoming sad and withdrawing. I'm afraid of losing my extended family - not my sisters, but my cousins and THEIR families. I miss our cocoon of kinship. I'm also afraid that I may not have grandchildren. It makes me unbelievably sad that Bryan, in particular, has said he's in alignment with Mikayla about not wanting children. That is a joy I have been looking forward to, and it makes me sad that I may not get it. I'm not sure where Colin and Jesse fall on that question- I'm a little afraid to ask - but it makes me sad to think of no new babies in my little family.

I have been afraid to live. Afraid to connect fully, to be vulnerable, afraid to be seen. I have been afraid of loss and the the thought of living with lack. I have been afraid to follow my dreams since they could fail. I could fall behind. The only way I can overcome these fears is if I fully trust G-d and accept that my pain is a part of being human and also His plan.

At my age, mortality may be 20 years away, or just a car crash on Tuesday. I am enjoying physical fitness efforts, and spiritual contacts with a soulful meeting of guys.

I am fearful for the planet. I am fearful for the people on the planet. I am fearful for the animals and plant life on the planet. I am particularly concerned about the United States, which is so far off course that it is frightening. I’m not particularly fearful for my own life, I could die at any moment and am OK. I had been fearful of losing cognition. That is not going to happen. There’s nothing wrong with being fearful. Suppressing fear and not allowing oneself to feel it in the body is what is what can be harmful. How can I live a purposeful life while feeling fear is a far more important question for me

That I am letting my spouse down in some way. That I am letting down my niece and nephews.

I fear being left behind by my loved ones. I don't know how I can overcome that, but I imagine it will be through self-reflection and open, honest, and healthy communication with my partners.

Allowing myself to be more fully known and heard. Not processing my grief around my stepfather. Therapy for the second, which may impact the first. Slowing down and asking myself, should this be said? Or what am I not saying here? How do I evaluate? What does this experience tell me what I don't know but want to know?

I fear for the synagogue. I feel that it cannot survive if it follows the path it is on. Though I have been involved in its strategic planning since last year, I only just realized that I think the plan is seriously flawed. We need to do something drastic. We need to return to our roots. We need to renew the rabbi's contract - another thing I worry about. His major weaknesses fall directly into the areas that the strategic plans needs strength, so I worry that the board will let him go. He, however, would be perfect for a smaller, proactive kind of congregation. So I worry.

Same as last year : TURN OFF THE NEWS!!!! oh, and GO YANKEES, Bills, Giants both got off to a GREAT start - or the L.A. Rams who didn't. I'd rather NOT see the Dodgers in the World Series again - it's getting OLD, but it looks like they're heading that way - HOPE it's NOT against the Yankees! Other than sports, financial security, health and the usual - but I've survived. Whenever I feel a bit anxious or depressed, I just remember that WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC weekend we all shared in August!

I just observed my 78th birthday the end of August. The past few years I have realized that I could die any time. I am terrified!! I am not ready!!! I have suffered so much during my life, and have had to fight for every day, and my happiest memories are those of when I was living a full Jewish life, basically the 1980s through the early 2000s. I made aliyah, I visited Israel on extended trips in the 80s, but havent been back since 1990 when I came back a couple to the States. I miss it so much, but can't afford to go, even for a visit. I want to be there at least once before I die. I don't know how to let go of any of this. I don't know how to make it better. I just want to feel happy again!!!

I'm afraid that if I quit my job, I won't have enough money to live on. I already live paycheck to paycheck and my health needs have eaten up most of my savings. I would love to live off my art, but I don't think I genuinely believe that I can close that gap between no longer working and getting enough followers to survive off art. Especially because I hate promoting myself on social media. Like... I find it exhausting. But I have a friend who I think has been taking steps toward that. I ought to spend more time with him, pick his brain, be more involved in artist communities. Maybe the problem is that I'm thinking of it as one big leap. Maybe it doesn't have to be.

I sometimes fear being alone, not just in the long-term, but on a short-term basis. I’d like to figure out how to get comfortable doing more on my own, as I suspect that is what will happen once I retire. Some people are able to travel, dine, go to movies by themselves, but I’m not one of them. I’d like to see if I can get more comfortable doing so.

I fear dying before seeing my daughter's accomplishments. I'm well and healthy, but my anxiety has returned. There is only so much I can control.

I don’t fear anything, I just worry and overthink things. I am going to cross that bridge if anything arises.

The fear I have is not accomplishing the things that I set out to do for myself and others. I plan on just doing what I attend to do. I will not just think about it and sit on the idea for hours but go into action and start. I have tried this method before and even though it has risks, the results have always been a learning and unexpected experience for the better.

I am afraid to lose. I just want to hype myself up and wait for better moments. But I get up every day and try to do my best. And this decision makes me better and more confident in things that scare me so much.

Language and action of hate, translating into violence and war. My disabled daughter’s wellbeing once I am not around. I feel these fears physically and am often completely blocked by them.

Following on from my answer to Q8, I fear burning out again and having such a set back that it wipes out all the positive work I've done to date. I also fear not getting control of my emotional eating problem. I'm actively working with a personal therapist to explore this and try to figure out what's causing it.....sadly a lot of it is down to my mother and her parenting problems I also fear not finishing what I start. Part of this is ADHD but another part is the fact that I am really good at overloading myself and taking on too much (ADHD trait maybe, or just my own idiosynchrosy). Most of all, I fear damaging my relationships with my wife and my daughter. It's not an immediate threat, but I can foresee a negative future where a burnout, a failure, a redundancy or an accident can set off a chain reaction which could end up ruining my incredible family. I'm definitely borrowing trouble here as there's no current evidence to suggest this is likely to happen - another one to add to the menu for my personal therapist!

I don’t want to fail. I feel like I say this a lot. I’m afraid to take risks because I constantly worry that I’ll fuck it all up. I worry my wife will be ashamed of me because I can’t do something. I’m so tired of being afraid to fail.

I have the most unhealthy fear that I am going to do something awful and destroy my marriage. It is the worst nightmare I’ve had.

Sign for your name's Daddy I have a dental appointments in other kind of appointments because of my feelings claustrophobia. Dear my brother is going to die instead of getting healed but I'm trying to hang on to faith because God told him he was going to heal him on this side of Glory. Fear my son is not going to get off the mess but I'm hanging on the hope because that's all I can do and all I know to do. I don't know why my son is not contacting me. I paid the biggest part of his phone bill and he hasn't even called me or sent me a text to say thank you. I miss my son and my grandchildren and my daughter-in-law but I can't go to their house because of Sadie and all the other dogs.

Ditto last year: My greatest fear is this dictatorship and its unspeakable cruelties. My greatest gift is the fellowship of activists who are willing to put our lives on the line to protect others and our Bill of Rights.

I have a fear that people don’t like me or will realise I’m not all that, or not as interesting as they thought I was and then leave me. And this makes me anxious about certain relationships and situations. I hope to find a way to be more confident and to trust in myself and my personality.

I have a fear of true closeness and intimacy and have been a serial monogamist for most of my adult life as a result. I am now addressing that in my current relationship to which I am fully committed.

While I certainly have my fears, I try not to let them limit me in a significant way. I worry that my sons won't make it in life. Kirpal especially seems set on learning things the hard way and is not doing some of the basic things he should to succeed in college, like getting his student ID at the beginning of the semester. And they both spend most of their free time computer gaming. Will they have a real life in the future. But it's their lives. So, I need to let them go, let them fail. I have no idea how, though.

I fear downhill skiing. I am not a talented skiier and I am letting it go, who needs skiiing anyway?

Sometimes I fear trying the things that I really want to do but worry I'm not capable of because if I don't try, I can always tell myself that I could do it later, in the future, another time. But I don't. So I need to take those chances and write and (try to) publish,

That I won’t find a man that I love and marry and he me. My belief that there’s less men that are good for me and worth my time. I need to get rid of these assumptions. I need to start believing there are.

I am finally taking a biblical hebrew course so I can bring my own torah into being.

My fears have greatly decreased at my current age. I have an upcoming power point presentation to my peers that I do not fear, highly unusual for me. I wonder if I fear letting people really know me...

I would say something similar to last year -- still the fear of failure, still the fear of the unknown, still the fear of not knowing if something is the right move. I don't know how much progress I've made since last year, but I'd like to make more progress this year.

A fear I have and how it has limited me has definitely been about dating and being liked by attractive, likable people. I would like to overcome this by... dating! And being and becoming an attractive and likeable person. We'll see!

I’m afraid that I will never be able to hold everything together enough to sustain me. I’m afraid that I will only be valued for my deep ability to nurture, the care and service I provide to others. All of this has kept me small and distracted from my center. Little by little, these beliefs have less of a hold on me. I just have to keep taking steps towards a more sustained wholeness.

I am terrified to present in general, but especially using digital tools that I am unfamiliar with. This has limited me from wanting to lead meetings on Zoom or Teams or to lead a meeting at ULI. This has held me back from being known or exerting my otherwise excellent influence on groups and meetings. I have agreed to participate in several upcoming meetings and hope that I will learn by doing. I will make time to get someone who knows how to coach me.

My fear is financial insecurity — that if I stop standing to attention, things will get out of control and I won’t be able to pay the rent. It has made me too cautious with my time as well as my money. I’ve realised there is no amount of security that will make me feel finished: if I have three months covered, I’ll immediately start worrying about the next six. This year I want to stop waiting to feel completely secure before I live my life. Playing safe has never been how I’ve made the important changes in my life; those have usually involved a leap of faith. I want to move forward again. I want to go to Japan, really have a go at YouTube, learn sound baths and find a way to bring funny noises into my life. Security is the infrastructure, not the destination. Live your life.

Att alla hatar mig. Det gör att jag förminskar mig själv och inte lever ut min potential. Jag vet inte, men letar sätt.

Oh that's an easy one: fear of not being good at my new career path, fear of asking for help to Robyn or Adam or others, fear of getting male clients, fear of getting any new clients, fear of being discovered as a fraud even if I consistently get great feedback and know this is kind of second nature to me, has been my whole life. Practicing with my actual clients and taking their referrals in will be a start. I am also so scared of starting my social media because I have a million ideas, but then 5 minutes later I feel they suck, and then there is no cohesion between all of them so I have no clear direction. I want to start by filming myself at home, not posting, but getting used to seeing myself and practicing with the camera and the sound. Then, we move forward.

Reprinting here what I wrote last year because it is still 100% on point: I have a fear that there is nowhere in the world that is safe for me, my family, and those like us. The United States feels like it’s being overrun by extremists on the left and the right with political violence and gun violence exploding and antisemitism reaching levels I never thought I’d see. Israel is led by a delusional madman that seems to want war over peace. Europe has returned to its predictable antisemitism. I don’t know where there is safety - safety from authoritarianism and from antisemitism. It feels like a big thing to ask me to let go of this fear, because it’s pretty existential. The thing I do want to do is make sure my fears don’t impact my kids childhood and that I double down on community and trying to both find the good in humanity by volunteering more in the community and building bridges of understanding.

Fear of dying --- leaving a mess difficult for others to deal with.

Other than my fears from last year, I have a new one- my daughter's health. Her cancer has spread to her liver, but the new treatment seems to have begun to work. A liver spot has shrunk a bit. I don't plan on going to FL until & unless I get more good news from her and her doctors. She tells me not to worry, but I'm her mother and mothers always worry about their children.

I can't believe I'm going to write about this, but fuck it. I have reconnected with a woman I have never stopped thinking about since I met her. She had some difficulties when I met her and that got in the way of my willingness to stick around. Hey, we make our choices, but I am kicking myself a bit for not trying just a little harder because I was really smitten with her, but I stopped being "a fixer". We have been talking for days and I have not felt connected with a woman, let alone a person, like I do right now in I don't know how long. It's one of those things where my heart feels like it could burst, like maybe I found the one...Damn it! I've said that before (but a long time ago). I actually said it as a question, but I only do that because I've been wrong so many times before and you just end up with pie on your face when you jump into your feelings like this. But, I am typically fine with having pie on my face as far as I go; I don't always love the people close to me seeing the pie on my face (again). At the same time, I know when you jump in, all in, something amazing can come from it. I don't want to be tentative; I want to be courageous and unabashed with this because I kind of feel that way with our interactions. I'm already looking at a plane ticket for about a week or so from now to fly to Melbourne. I loved Australia. Could it be that I end up living there...maybe my saying that when I was there in January wasn't a joke (shoulder shrug emoji). It will be interesting next year to see what came of this.

I think I'm afraid I can't be both a great writer and a great mom. I've let that fear stop me from writing another novel for years. And it's bullshit and needs to stop. I can be both. I can and I am and I will. I think the only way to overcome this is just to write. To treat writing like it's my first priority. To put it first in my time, my energy, and my attention. To have fun with it, because that's the only way to motivate myself to do it in the long run. And to focus on the quantity and not be afraid of the quality - that will come. But for now, I just need to write. I'm heeding the advice I received today in the ecotherapy walk: I already know what to do; I just need to do it. The answers are already inside me. I've also had fears for my marriage and a limited view of marriage, like that it always deteriorates after kids, that I need to let go of. I may not - yet - have any long term relationship role models. But Matt and I can create something that's never been created before in our marriage, just like I can create something that's never been created before in my art. We can create the life we want

I’m full of self doubt. Sometimes I freeze as a result. I plan on taking some risks putting myself ‘out there’ in the coming year. (Give me courage!) We’ll see…

The fear of going back to work, the fear of making waves, the fear of separating. Time to break free.

My most basic fear is that I'm not worthy of love. That I don't and can't make a difference. I've spent this past year watching myself acquiesce and go along. or retreat in flight or freeze; I saw that none of those are me, with love, and I am determined to find myself again and give love. I can't necessarily count on receiving love when and how I want it, but I will make it my habit to acknowledge it when it comes, and give more.

My fear is that this Presidency and Federal Administration will last long enough to totally ruin our precious democracy. Our world standing is now in the sewer. Since our President has insulted them in ridiculous ways (like imposing tariffs on Canada for their wildfires while we have our own burning) and pulled us out of critically important world organizations like NATO and agreements on global warming (which any idiot can see is very real and alarming), THEY ARE TURNING AWAY FROM US for products and economic agreements, and coming together themselves as best they can, WITHOUT US. My fear is a loss of our democracy and the irreversible collapse of our nation as a world power.

I have a fear that the democrats won't take over Congress and that Trump will live on. Can't let it go or move on since the US I live in is in terrible shape and people are suffering.

I fear that I am not on the same level as other adults. In a way, this makes sense, I have two neurodevelopmental disorders, I haven't found a job I can do for 40 hours a week, I frequently don't complete tasks I need to do. This has limited me because I am on the same level as other adults. There are some things I am even better than most adults at. I am on the board of the synagogue now, and I am just as deserving of being there as anyone else. I have seen myself as a failure for so long because I couldn't do all the adult things at once. I hope to let this go in the coming year by reminding myself I am created in the image of God. I also think it will help to remember that my expectations of myself are too high and that when I can't finish something it's information, not necessarily an indication of the weakness of my character.

My response is similar to last year, I have been feeling not good enough. I plan on dropping the garbage.

I will probably always have some financial worries considering I have struggled my whole adult life, but it is less and less with M having a successful career in a company that truly appreciates her, as do I

I really want to let go of the fear that my photography isn't good enough for me to take on jobs.

An update on last year’s answer. The move to CO seems to be good for their whole family. We still have worries about his health, but we have no authority in that realm. The rise of Jew hatred and the idiocy on the Left has made a big divide within the Democrat party which is not what is needed now. The midterm elections are mostly a can’t win situation which is unusual. I will hang in there regardless and hope there is little personal damage.

A fear I have is that I often think the worst when something comes up, especially when it comes to my health. When I experience a new symptom or health issue, my mind can quickly go to the worst-case scenario. This fear has sometimes limited me because it creates anxiety and has even led to some minor panic attacks. At times, the anxiety itself can become harder to manage than the original concern. In the coming year, I want to work on changing how I respond when these fears come up. I want to continue taking care of my health in the ways that I can and work with my doctors to better understand and manage my chronic health issues. At the same time, I want to work with my primary care doctor on strategies for managing my anxiety when it becomes overwhelming, including discussing whether medication could be an option if I’m unable to calm myself using other strategies. Most of all, I want to learn to pause before immediately assuming the worst, remind myself that a symptom does not automatically mean something is seriously wrong, and trust that I can handle whatever comes my way. I may not be able to completely let go of this fear, but I can work on not allowing it to control me.

I think I'm not afraid ... and then something scary happens. Like these high-drama health issues in my orbit. A something that makes me worry about losing a loved one. I have no idea how to overcome that fear. And perhaps I won't. Being attached to my friends, to my mom, to my sister, to my brothers, to my spouse. This is what makes life delicious and spicy and comforting and all the things. So maybe it's about not being afraid of moments when I am actually afraid. To remember the voice of self-compassion: "Yes, my beloved, it's OK to be scared right now. And I'm with you."

fear of letting go … does it mean i don’t care? that i am selling my self worth? continue practice self worth and self esteem exercises and slowly loosen my grip

Fear of living alone which took a lot of time to work through. I’m just going to live alone and see what happens.

I'm afraid I won't have enough money at the end of my life, which makes me afraid to retire and makes me want to save more money. I'm afraid AI or global way may kill us all in the next 10-15 years, which makes me think I should just enjoy life and spend freely now. These conflicting fears are keeping me in the status quo.

I just downloaded Hinge today. I am pretty afraid of dating off of an app, but I’d also like to meet someone interesting. I guess I’ll go on a few dates and see how it goes. As a response to last year’s fears, I feel that by diving in and doing it, my fears disappeared. I do have confidence in my poetry. There are so many different shades of poetry, like a spectrum, like a rainbow, I need not to be ashamed of the kind that I write.

I usually have a fear of 'not being good enough'. This past year, I've been through a lot and I have to give myself credit. I think that I will need to leave that philosophy behind me because it never gets me anywhere. I tend to balk at taking action because of my overthinking and irrational fear that I won't do well. If I think more positive, things really do work out.

Many of my answers this year have been about my fears for the nation. I’m an immigrant-thankfully I became a citizen when it was possible. My greatest fear is that we will be consumed by this era of hyper-partisanship. To overcome this fear I plan to volunteer within my city. Our only hope is for the rational majority to start us on the road back to normalcy. I don’t want to be involved in partisan politics. It’s more important to do what I can, as grateful citizen, to make improvements where possible.

With a disability now I don’t know what I can do for income. I’m having a hard time finding work and I’m limited with the fingers on the hand that my surgeon had clipped the nerve. I’m falling into an abyss of unemployment and uncertainty. I’m 76 and very worried. I have two senior dogs to care for and myself.

I am just in the same spot as last year. Fear of being not loved, not accepted. Plan? Hmmm. Gotta think, never thought about a plan.

I have a year left. Maybe. Possibly two. In some ways, it has actually freed me from the rules. (rules about being extra, for example, if you look at my 2025 answer) But…am i doing this right? Approaching “last days”?

Where do I start? I think the fear of running out of money or some sort of financial insecurity is always there, especially for the future. I think I fear being alone if Jeff dies before I do. I fear losing one or more of the cats. I think I’m trying to appreciate the things I have while I still have them. And just trying to slow down a bit and bring some intentionality to things like money.

I think it’s still my fear of being vulnerable and allowing people to see the ugly sides of me. I have gotten better with this, especially letting people see my bad moods. But I definitely still have work to do on this.

Ha ha ha ha ha! I’m just laughing this year at every fear I used to hold. Working with the Primordial Light Realm and the teachings of Rabbi Dr. Zvi Ish-Shalom and Z.V.I. is allowing me to see all the beauty and perfection in life — even in (or perhaps especially in) challenging situations. I’m in awe almost constantly.

My fear is losing my mom this year. It’s been difficult w her care from long distance, her scheduled meds. I have alarms set for all of evening & night dosing. I’m very overwhelmed & hopefully the meds I’m taking will make me feel I have more omph, & not so sad in quiet times when I’m not busy!!

I’m really afraid that I’m living a life that is fully in my own sense of integrity but simultaneously makes me impossible to love and engage with long terms. Since Covid and disability and autism diagnosis, I feel so deeply other, and the immediate world I exist in is increasingly at odds with my own choices, to an extent that I feel alien. I’m afraid of what the future looks like in that context (and in a lot of others). I think my desire to find more kindred spaces is an effort to reach for a less fearful view, maybe access some hope.

I am afraid no one will ever love me again after my husband died almost 4 months ago. I don’t have a plan and I don’t know how to or whether to let it go or seek to overcome it.

I don't have a plan for overcoming my fears about the direction the world is heading. I do try to split my attention between loving my family and friends and learning more about the dangers I perceive.

I fear being a fundamentally unserious person. I may have failed to contribute to serious conversations due to having nothing to contribute, but that's not the same as the fear itself holding me back. I have probably become more serious in the last few years, but I've got a long way to go. Ultimately the only way I can overcome it is by learning to contribute to serious conversation. Maybe that's by learning more stuff.

See last year. Cancer is always there. The constant pain I am in overwhelms me at times. I will see an interventional doctor to see if something like a nerve block might do me some good. But I'm trying to keep on going. Anita and I are supposed to join a gym Fingers crossed we do and then encourage each other to go. And I'm going to Thailand. How exciting. Please I promised Robin that I would go on a cruise with her next summer after her treatment is done and in the rearview mirror. I fear for Marshall's mental health if he doesn't get a job. Not getting either of the two jobs he was a finalist for was devastating. I think I felt it more than he did. I sent him a masters program and a bunch of jobs listings. Then I sat with him and asked if I'm overstepping and that I didn't want a patent answer. I want to know how he feels. He feels he has the ability to do this on his own. Doesn't need me to send the jobs. But understands that I may again. I will work hard on letting him guide himself, being there when he needs a hug, and learning to keep my mouth shut.

I fear heights! So I avoid driving in the mountains and avoid vista views. I have missed opportunities for get together and events due to this fear. And when I do make it up the mountain with someone else driving I do it in total panic which makes everyone uncomfortable. Next year I have a retreat on a mountain so I am going to practice driving in a local mountain to begin managing my fear.

My god. How things don't change! My answers for the last several years, although many with progress, all still hold water. I don't let myself dwell on this much, but I do fear whether I can keep up with the rather huge and rapidly increasing amount of (loving and appreciative) demand for my time and attention that is being put on me. Some of it is through sheer volume of people in my orbit. Nina is living in my house; Lou is living in DC and is my partner in my business; Bella has moved to DC; James is now in college in Annapolis and wants to be in the inner circle; my sister calls many days/week; and of course, even though Oliver is very patient and easy about it all, he still deserves his due. We also try to see the grandkids regularly and I'd like to give a little more time and attention to Leslie, even though she's very busy herself and doesn't demand it at all. And I can't let Zoe (or Eva, for that matter) get lost in the mix. It's a lot! And never mind my self care and that thing called my career. Can I keep everyone's needs met; make meals; entertain; be available enough? How can I let this go or overcome it? I guess by being willing to say no, set boundaries, do less. By not feeling like I have to make all the plans and do everything to the max. By just letting it be more. Everyone will probably like that better anyway. And I can keep things manageable in other ways, like not feeling I have to keep up with every friend or cook creative meals or "go the extra mile." The truth is that it's all really great and gratifying in so many ways and if I can manage it without killing myself, getting to be with all these amazing people will be great fun. What else am I going to do with myself? :)

The overwhelming fear that I have nowadays is of financial failure. That has not changed in the past year. Oddly enough, just like last year, I am not afraid of the corrosion and possible collapse of my government, which would certainly have financial consequences for our entire country. I am able to view current events with calm detachment, while working to avoid it by constantly writing my representatives.

As I have said in past years, in many different ways, anxiety is my middle name. It makes sense given my family history. And I feel that most of my fears are rational -- things happening to my kids, my brothers, their kids, even my mother, who at the age of 93 is still in relatively good shape physically... I'm not sure any of those fears limit anything but my sleep at night -- after all these years I have learned to live with them and slowly conquered the ones it makes sense to conquer, like flying, travel in general, and the world coming to an end. That said, I have great fears for the future of this country, which seem appropriate.

I fear everything. I’m in a constant state of anxiety, stress and fear. Of late, it’s gotten somewhat better, but being retired, the improvement is of no benefit — too little too late.

I am scared that I’m going to stay in retail the rest of my life and that I’ll never become a successful writer/artist like I should. I think the fear has limited me to only seeing my life in one way. I’m not sure yet how I’ll overcome this. I think I might go back to grad school and write some short stories. Maybe I’ll become a teacher. Nothing really seems right yet. Sometimes I wonder if I should let go of having a creative career but it’s too painful to think about because then I’ll be wasting all my talents.

I deal with fear by doing breathing exercises, connecting with God and not accepting fear as an excuse not to try.

Losing my job, really is pretty heavy on my mind. Especially lately, because of my health requirements. I really don't know how to "overcome" that fear, other than to get some reliable health and income without work.

I'm afraid I won't be able to afford renting our new place. Everything is so expensive these days and I have a feeling we will be stretched thin. All I can do is find work when I can to compensate and understand that my husband and I are a team. We will figure it out. Like grandma says, money comes and money goes.

I don't really have any fears now, I outgrew them.

I am afraid of becoming immobile; it has not limited me. It has accelerated my participation in activities.

I have a fear of driving alone to places I need to go with the GPS, I'm trying to use the GPS more as I did when susx drove to Terrigal and I was happy to see I could follow with no problem so 8 need to continue using technology more

Trying hard not to compare & not to react quickly I’m trying to keep motivated while not beating myself up when I don’t fivehag I think I should

The fear is the fear of not finishing something important. I plan to overcome it by finishing my book. I have already started by finishing my training plan of 90 days.

That no one will want to watch my you tube videos, even if they don't its more to document my decade of travel.

I have a fear of infirmity. I’ve been in the hospital since December last year. If all goes as hoped, I will leave the hospital about a year from the day I entered it. I’ve had four surgeries. A fifth one isn’t scheduled yeet but is planned by doctors. The hope is that I will do rehab and be able to walk into my house for the first time since then. I am afraid of being to weak to do basic things. It will be a challenge to begin again.

I have general anxiety about most things. I'm thinking about trying tapping again.

Fear of mediocrity limits me. I am going to let that go and simply be whatever it is that I am, with joy. Fear of my changing body limits me. I am going to let that go and love what I am, honor it with beautiful clothes, comfort, and good care. Fear of losing money limits me. I am going to let that go, let money flow in and out and around and through everything, like water, and use it all to support and pursue good and limit and recover from harm.

I worry about finances and running out of money. Sometimes to prevent me from spending money or enjoying myself because I think about money because of past experiences in the way, I was raised. I think I will just try to get over this by trying to use logic, knowing that my finances are in very good shape and my wife and I are both working in good jobs and I need to relax. Seeing my parents waste money with 24 hour. Caregivers has changed my perspective on when I should use my money perhaps sooner rather than later.

I'm thinking about this question in terms of my work and my training, but also the kind of person I am, my efforts to have a strong character and be kind and aware. I think I fear--no, I KNOW I fear, not being good enough, talented enough, and having inherent disadvantages because of my working-class background. Especially in a field like theatre which is so chockfull of privileged and entitled folks. I mean, seriously, I don't know which is worse--theatre or the academy (the fields that my partner and I are in). But I do think something is bubbling up in me. During the days of Awe (which have also this year been my Days of Having Covid for the First Time Ever) I woke up one morning and I heard a voice. I'd say that voice came from what Suzan-Lori Parks describes as "the spirit". It's her name for what is eternal, what is sacred, what is true. Some people call it G-d, some people call it other things. But I believe in it. And Judaism has only served to strengthen my belief in it. And you know what that voice said to me in the bleary, barely-awake hours of one Covid morning? It said, "You know what, Lisa, hardly anyone knows shit about playwriting, not matter what they've written, who they are, and where they teach. So just write your damn plays, trust the teachers and the mentors that have proven themselves to be worthy, and write your damn scripts." That was a really liberating moment. It made me trust myself, it reinforced my belief in the teachers who have formed my understanding of craft (Thank you again, the amazing Suzan-Lori Parks) and it gave me a place to go, a future way of dealing with obstacles and doubts. It is trust in myself and my voice. I'm really looking forward to building on this for the upcoming year.

I am scared of not being in control and going back to my old paths and I think it’s all anxiety and it comes down to how self aware I am but it’s wish I could be a little bit less critical with myself. I also hope I’m less scared to talk to people who scare me and make me twist my words and to trust that I can be liked by a variety of people even if we’re super different cause if you’re confident and nice that’s what’s people impression of you is going to be regardless of similarities.

I fear dying before I have my affairs in order. I have been procrastinating seeing a lawyer to get my estate plans in order and I just need to bite the bullet and DO IT!

I am not enough, I have nothing to offer other than surface level. I am forgettable. I don't try to make connections or foster relationships and friendships because who would want or need me when there are so many others worth pouring in to. This is a limiting belief but I've felt like this for so long I don't know if I can overcome it.

I fear running out of time - dying tonight. I also fear living too long - beyond when my mind and body still work. If I can no longer live independently, will I want to go on any more? What will I do? For now: Eat, sleep, walk outside, read. Stay open to whatever, whoever is right in front of me. Live. As fully as I can.

I’m afraid of rejection. I’m going to practice putting myself out there to try and address that fear.

I fear falling prey to the creatures of self-doubt, low self-esteem, and low agency that plague my mother. These traits limit my ability to believe I can learn new skills or subjects, figure out how to solve problems or navigate new challenges, or be attractive to other hiring managers, particularly in the age of AI. Aside from going to therapy to further explore these feelings, I don't know how to overcome these. I thought I can find alternative sources of power from other aspects of my identity that I feel confident about--my empathy, creativity, and optimism.

Urgh change as illustrated by the fact I said the exact same thing last year

Fear has ruled me and it's everywhere I look to.

On one level, I fear the issues in politics and world war, artificial intelligence and many things beyond my capacity to change. On the other hand (remember I am a Gemini) I fear losing my ability to keep up, get things done, keeping up with friends (not that I am in my 80's), unknown medical issue, being able to keep up my household and ability to travel and how to do everything quicker and you should seen my list . Problem is where do I start????

I don't know that I have any kind of specific fear, except a kind of generalized anxiety about other people while driving, and the vast numbers of people who truly do not give a rat's ass about other people, and seem to be willing to let everyone else die.

Failure. It has affected my choices, my sleep, my security, my sense of self worth and my overall direction. Working the last several years to see my circumstances in a more realistic way, celebrate the wins, and examine the patterns and evidence have taught me that I'm doing quite well. I want to strive do my best, AND be proud of my accomplishments. I want to practice this more. Without expectations ;)

Being alone and broke I'm going to diligently stick to a budget, get involved with activities

I fear what is going to happen to my childhood family. There is a lot of dysfunction there, to say the very least. I am trying to remain neutral, to not put up any "bulletin board material" for any of them to get mad at my wife and me. Nonetheless, I fear that the problems that they are having will eventually become irrevocable, resulting not just in emotional harm but physical harm to one or more of them. I also fear that some of them may be left without a place to live at all - literally on the street. The problems that they face are largely self-inflicted, a period of poor decisions and behavior dating back over 20 years. Thus, my sympathy for them has a limit. I am definitely not going to throw the live that I have worked so hard to build down the drain to address their preventable foibles. However, I also cannot let my loved ones end up literally on the street. It does not matter if they end up in a poor place, as long as they end up in *some* place. Beyond that, their problems are their own and I have - and will continue - to let those problems be theirs.

Fear of irrelevance, climate disasters, loneliness, loss of democracy. Plan to continue inner work of acceptance, finding meaning ways to contribute and socialize, and taking care of my health.

Well, there is the fear of screwing up in the play I am performing in if I should forget my lines. I don't think it will really happen, and I am rehearsing a lot! Then, there are other actors to cover for you if it should happen, or perhaps, I may have to cover for them. Working with a cast, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts! Definitely!

That I shouldn't be myself, that I shouldn't be honest, shouldn't write, shouldn't be who I am, shouldn't have my own opinions. It's kept me from my life. I plan on just doing one thing a day - having an opinion, writing, being myself where I normally wouldn't.

I’m afraid of worsening disability and not being able to get the needed to be able to stay living independently. The anxiety it causes is not good for me. One day at a time.

Aging. Live each day to the fullest and maintain gratitude. Stay mindful and in the moment. Noone, no matter the age, knows what tomorrow may bring. Stop anticipating and waiting for the next shoe to drop.

The fear that I have is the direction of this country under the present administration. What keeps me going, sane and particularly joyful is when I spend time with my young granddaughters.

For some reason the bottom of the pool and open water scare me when I'm swimming. I think it's an excuse to stop/a physiological reaction due to lack of oxygen. It's like a fear of the dark, it's unfounded... I'm just gonna have no excuses.

Confidence in myself and my skills and abilities has long been limiting. I still suffer from imposter syndrome and I think with my future being so uncertain it’s something I have to confront. Sometimes I believe that my soft skills matter and other times I don’t. I have to let go of the idea of being good and just accept the idea of “being,” without qualification. I can let go to some extent but I also probably can overcome by not putting as much pressure on myself. But I also can just try something like starting a business and if I do fail, feeling on with that. As Gordon Lightfoot once said: “Sometimes I think it's a sin When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again”

I fear for the future of democracy if this administration is allowed to steal this year's election. There is no way that a majority of voters will elect people who operate in service to trump, so if such people are elected, there's a good chance something was corrupt.

Not knowing what my limitations are. Keep trying and pushing

In 'making the most of my life' - I'm afraid it depends too much on David - I fear what my life would be without him. I will try and consciously develop plans, activities etc that are not dependent on him.

My fear is that I wont have done all i could tomprepare my son , who has a fisability, for life after im.gone. This is my ongoing fear. I have done everything, I receive lots of confirmation of that but still.... i think the key now is to accept that I have and trust the process.

I’m afraid to not be able to sustain ourselves, me and my son. Of Losing my job and not getting one that pays me the same. Or getting sick. I don’t know if I can overcome it. But i often go back to reflecting on the difficult times and knowing that we’ve always been okay. There are some things in life that you can’t control.

Fear of scarcity - 1. money (though definitely improving my relationship and fear of it since last year); 2. grandchildren - it's out of my control but I want my kids to have this joy in life of having children. I know they'd be great parents. 3. relationships - I am planning to listen more, reach out more consistently and nurture/nourish the relationships I care about. My default has been to be comfortable "alone" since Covid days - but I may be using alone-time as a crutch for deepening some relationships that would be good for me to cherish more deeply.

I am afraid that my life will never improve. I want to let it go by reducing any demands on myself that I can.

That my attachment and desire for something is what keeps me from it. Surrender surrender surrender

Not a fear so much as a real impediment--all the health issues that isolate me from the world. I fear that will continue and only get worse with age. I can't overcome it or let it go; that's kind of an ableist question.

I fear that I am not equal to my peers and therefore my participation is hesitant when it comes to the real moment of truth. mI choose to let that go and acknowledge the truth of I am enough and my projects are fantastic and will be recognized by my fellow professionals in the coming year.

Fear of missing out on my kids childhood. They're growing up so so fast. Trying to really engage with them this year and do 1:1 activities or time with each of them.

Fear of falling as there is no one here to pick me up. Fear of having no food

My fear now is not being able to look after my mom

I fear stepping into the dating pool. It's limited me as being in a relationship is one of life's milestones that hasn't happened yet. I plan on letting it go by trying to meet new people and seeing where things go.

I seem to have nothing BUT fear! Fear of failing, fear of missing something crucial, making a mistake, missing out, not living purposefully, wasting my one precious life, messing up my kids, not fulfilling my so-called potential, people not liking me, embarrassing myself. Mostly wasting my life. The plan to let this go — whew! I know I need to. Um, I guess do one scary thing like publish an essay? As Ilya said, yes, it is scary, but you are brave.

The fear is that I can’t do it on my own It limits me by doubt, lack of self-confidence, staying in situations that I don’t want to not trusting myself in my heart to power I think I let go of this fear by taking action that is contrary to my fear. By walking through my fear for the lies that I tell myself because my experience shows me that this is not the truth and it’s definitely not dodgeball for me

I have a fear of traveling too far away and not being close enough should something happen with my father. That is partly what has kept me from doing a long trip such as visiting Israel. However, I have been overcoming it by traveling more in the US, not being so far away should an emergency arise.

I can't think of a fear that has limited me. My life is blessed with a caring and beautiful wife, a loving family and good friends. Being caring considerate and loving to my relationships is my focus. My work is also a blessing, and I am happy to have the mental stimulation and relationships in that sphere as well. I have a few health issues that I approach as required maintenance for an aging body, and I just get about managing them.

Too often I think about my own mortality, and I get so sad when I think I won't be around for the majority of my grandchildren's lives. I certainly don't let it cripple me, I try to grasp my life and enjoy everything while I can. I plan on just being there for family and enjoy every minute I can.

I fear ... not like fear of missing out, but something similar sort of? It's more, I'm afraid of missing opportunities to experience life. I'm worried that I'm not doing enough to enjoy it and that, by filling the time with work and sleep and curling up into myself, I'm missing the chance to go out and live and grow and experience life with the people I love and care about. I don't want to look back and think about all of the missed chances to see them and make memories together and laugh. It's exhausting and unhealthy. I want to feel grateful for the time I had with them, not dream about a time that never was. I'm not entirely sure how to overcome something like that. I think... that living in the moment, allowing myself to fully enjoy the memories that I am making, and being grateful for what time I do have/have had will be important in the process. I can't be everything and do everything. I can't afford it financially, sure, obviously. But also just allowing myself to say no to people more often, protecting the time I have by myself, and letting myself rest instead of constantly being in "go mode" is an important lesson that I'm still trying to incorporate into my life, but I think is what I need to squash this fear. Maybe?

I often cannot remember the next word I was going to say while I am talking, and am afraid it is a sign of dementia. I passed the cognitive test at my last annual exam, but losing my ability to communicate truly worries me. I read, play word games, do crosswords, etc to try to keep my mind sharp and will continue to do so. I don't see how I can let go of this fear, though.

I think it may be summed up as Imposter Syndrome. It has kept me from really diving in to specific things rather than skimming the surface and being more concerned with appearing competent rather than truly building and earning competence.

As in previous years, driving continues to be my biggest fear because of the vision issues that make it feel unsafe. While I have mostly adjusted to the limitations in my daily life, it continues to impact the activities I am able to participate in. In the coming year I will try to get creative in finding alternative ways of getting where I need to go, and shifting my mindset towards more acceptance of what is not doable.

I am afraid of change so uprooting that it disrupts my life in ways I have experienced in the past, leaving me unable to care for myself or others. I'm trying to let it go but my fears are very good at seeming good praxis.

A fear I have is of making mistakes, especially public ones. It has limited me from being myself around strangers and acquaintances. It has kept me embroiled in guilt, shame, anger, and sadness - only a fraction of which has been something I cope with. I clutch on to expectations and assumptions about how things *should* go, so hard that I cycle through grief over the "just fine" with a depth of emotion that has kept me from functioning on a basic level. The patterns I mention here have fed a lack of mental health, and have for years. I have a new reason in all sorts of ways to commit to living the life I have landed myself in. My son was born this year. And I can't help but maintain that what others think of me is nothing compared to caring for my child and finding joy in the ways that tie to my unique self, which is quirkier than I've often liked to admit. I'll know by next year that I have overcome this if I have examples of meaningful times I let go of protecting my image and instead if I embraced the heart of my humanity when it was hard. I will need to ask myself to account for times when I, simply put, showed courage. These would mostly involve my speaking up when I'd like to stifle my words. I strive to be vulnerable about why I am upset and to stand up to power.

I fear asking people to support me, because typically when I have done so it has resulted in people not being willing or able to do so in ways that actually meet my needs. I want to grow in communicating my needs more directly and explicitly, and in feeling confident that I can give myself some of the things I need to the extent that I am not devastated when others cannot meet those needs. I also want to be intentional in seeking out community that is able to meet those needs moving forward and feeling rooted in my needs not being too much simply because they are too much for some people.

I think I have really feared blending my family with my partner’s family because I imagined nobody would accept it/him. What am finding is that my family is more accepting of his family than I am. And this is helping me to find more acceptance. I would like to continue working toward this harmony of our separate lives and making more of a blended whole.

Oh...where to start? That our Constitution and government can't hold. That AI is going to destroy us all. That climate change will destroy the planet and that it will be too late to fix. That we are so hopelessly divided that it's hard to imagine something happening to help us come back together. That the forces that are pushing bigotry, racism, anti-semitism will prevail. I try not to let these fears limit me. The best way to overcome is to be online less probably. And to fact check and work to combat the lies and disinformation that foments on the Internet. Staying engaged and voting.

What’s interesting about reflecting back on last years answer is that one of my worst fears came true. I indeed lost my job. If I’d had had to put them in descending order, this would have won pole position, because in my mind it surely led to the economic collapse of the inhabitants of Gilpin Mews. And yet here I am still standing. I wouldn’t say thriving by my standards, but I earned £65k in consulting fees between April and August - well over the national average income for a year. And the surprise outcome is that I’m GLAD it happened. I’m glad the boogie man came and got me. So what I think has happened is that I’ve become a little less scared of my Greatest Fears. But it’s not all Kumbaya. The fear of not being able to pay our mortgage, and us drowning in the incoming tide of rising mortgage rates and cost of living. It’s led me to work myself into the ground and this weekend I yearned for a Xanax to bring the stomach-churning anxiety down. So the fear I hope I find mitigation for is our economic situation. Through Alwyn bringing more in. My business bringing in more. Us finding ways to reduce our own outgoings (she says sitting in Soho waiting to get her face jabbed 25 times for £300). I hope I find the way through this to steady the ship and my perpetual fear of financial ruin.

Same as recent years. Fears of retirement and of losing Chris. Watching my Mom struggle in her 90s after losing Dad and in an obvious physical decline, I can't help but worry about what my later years will be like. No plan other than to savor what I have, with Chris and the high points of my job.

I have great fear as an American Jew for the first time ever. If I let it go, I'm complicit, just like German Jews in the 1920's and early 1930's. I am fighting it at every turn and will do so for either as long as it takes or the rest of my life, whichever comes first

Not being able to pay for needed repairs at the house. Saving every paycheck from the boat to pay for the repairs in cash.

My husband at 87 is in pretty steep decline, mentally and physically. The icing on the &$#@ cake is my own health: at 82 I’ve recently lost a lot of energy (hyperparathyroidism) and an operation seems likely. Who takes care of the caretaker? Thankfully, we’ve got the means to buy care and not impose on our kids’ lives. But I’ve been working hard to give my husband days that are as good as possible. What if I’m no longer able? Mortality sucks.

Not trying to let go of, or overcome, anything. I have some fears, of course, but none that limit my life significantly. Just let me be, without trying to change me.

one of my biggest fears i’ve seen over the past year is not being noticed or seen by my friends. i find myself constantly thinking about whether i’m being thought about, whether people notice me, like me, etc. i really want to find my self confidence and see how i can grow into the best version of myself.

Here's my answer from last year: "Rising fascism and anti-Jewish hatred. Fighting with building community and appreciating each moment. I frankly don't have any hope for the future. But all the more reason to grab these moments of joy tight and build lifeboats." My answer this year is the same, except that the more time passes, the more I accept the world we're in and appreciate the good people--especially the non-Jews--who are working to build a better future.

I am afraid of letting people get really close to me. Key people in my life have taken advantage of my vulnerabilities, and that's really difficult to get over. But humans need humans. It's just how we are designed. And without them, I get lonely. It is a slow process, but I am learning to trust others' good intentions along with my own intuition.

I fear physical decline, and even more, mental decline. I hope to, following Zalman, love this phase of my life, not fear it. Welcome it, harvest it, and pass on a legacy. Then I have little to fear.

Last year I said I didn't have any fears and that is bullshit. I am afraid of never having someone in my life who loves me and accepts me for who I am without needing me to take care of them. I know I am part of that cycle. It's hard for me to believe anyone would love me unless I serve a purpose because wanting to enjoy my company isn't enough. Because I believe I must be needed to be loved, I gather those to me that need help. I have been trying to break that cycle but damn, it's hard. I have made progress as I have made some new connections and am trying to keep them active. I spend a lot of time alone and I enjoy it but when I need someone to talk to, it gets tough. I am going to commit to opening myself up to making new connections who will value me for who I am, not the purpose I serve.

That my offer will be refused by the clients. I will contact people directly, and even I will be refused, every month I have to contact 3 new clients with a personalised offer.

I have more anxieties this year - about the main relationship of each daughter, my own health - and the future for Israel and with AI. I feel the best way of overcoming these is to be readier to 'go with the flow' about the first two and try not to be controlling, to analyse risks and benefits before deciding on the third - and then put it out of my mind; and to focus on anything I could usefully do about the last two (the future) and keep them under review

Trump and all his thug friends have taken away my hopes for the country. I think the USA will survive, but at what cost? How could so many people have voted for this man and how can the GOP do nothing to put the breaks on his grift, revenge, and bullying. Is the only thing I can do is wait for 2028?

I feel very stuck in my life right now. I can’t advance in my career because I have little education. I can’t get the education I want because I live paycheck to paycheck and can’t stop being full-time. I’m too disabled to do school and a full time job, but I’m not disabled enough for any help. I don’t know how to fix anything. Sometimes, I can’t help but think death is so much cheaper.

I have a fear that as the current administration continues to deplete the countries stockpile reserves of oil , gas, and weapons that the USA is more vulnerable for attacks from other countries. I also fear that our former allies will not help us given the way they have been treated by this administration with unprecedented tariffs and abuse. This is daily news and I hope the midterm elections can reign in some level of control to ease my concerns

I've been thinking a lot about death this year, even more than last year. However, I have less and less fear of it which feels comforting. I am concerned that I might be thinking a bit too much about it and that perhaps there is a dark cloud hanging over me. BBG keeps trying to normalize this but I think there is something else at work in the astral plane. Il y a quelque chose qui cloche pas. On a productive note, it is making me more disciplined and organized and my business succession planning is basically done. Last week I sent a detailed AI summary of the last 18 BOD sessions to my siblings with all important financial and legal information summarized. So perhaps thinking and planning for death is normal for this age and even beneficial.

Similar to last year, I need to resolve the fear of never having been loved. 65. Guess it's never coming. So get at peace!

My daughter thinks I have ADHD because I start a dozen projects, or more, and never finish them. I know that I should be setting deadlines and once a week evaluate progress.

A fear that I have is getting sick. I have had a lot of pains this years with various parts of my body. Luckily nothing has been a concern, but I’m constantly thinking the worse. I’m trying to ignore it and not let it disable me, but it’s hard.

I have a fear of not figuring out how to support my family. Like going back to school or creating a career that really brings in the money necessary to support a life where I could travel with her and expose her to enriching experiences.

Failure. I fear failure. It’s crazy because the more I fear failure, the more I try to control EVERYTHING - situations, outcomes, others - and that is the most direct path to failure. I have to give up control to God. I realized a few weeks ago that I’ve even been trying to manipulate God!!! I make big sacrifices, such as fasting, and give this appearance of righteousness. But it’s like I’m holding it up to God and saying “See all I’ve done. Now what are you going to do for me.” It is disgusting and, now that I’m aware of it, I have to do better.

That I will wait too long to retire and miss the good-health years with my wife. Get a handle on our finances to better make decision (and make better decisions).

It's the fear of missing out on finding my life partner. It's definitely the biggest one. And not becoming a mother. Also, not living out my purpose. Yeap, big ones. I plan on praying more, trusting divine timing. That's really what I need. Go inwards and trust.

Not good enough. Imposter syndrome. Someone’s going to find out who I really am. Work on self development.

I’m afraid of decreasing mobility due to joint pain and how that will limit me. Exercise, exercise, exercise. I want avoid joint replacement for as long as possible.