Which of these fears is holding you back from your dreams?
- navenejb
- Oct 7, 2025
- 8 min read
I have always had a lot of dreams as I am sure you have too but I have often wondered why they haven't materialized yet. Why is it that some people are living these dreams and other not? What could I be doing to make them come to make my dreams come to life?
Fear in Our Everyday Lives
There are points in life where we are faced with having to make decisions that can help us move closer to our dreams but we feel paralyzed and don't do a thing! We attribute this paralyzation to lack of time, or feelings of tiredness or laziness and we end up distracting ourselves but watching shows, going on social media, cleaning or anything that could get us far away from the choice as soon as possible!
Why do we do this? The truth is what is masked behind all these feelings is...fear. Fear shows up in our lives in many forms and is often masked behind our feelings going unnoticed and ruining our chances to a beautiful, successful and fulfilling life. How does fear show up in our lives? Let's define them and know exactly how they manifest in our lives so we know what we are up against and get rid of them once and for all.
6 Types of Fear
There are 6 types of fears that can live within us unbeknownst to us. We all suffer from at least 1-2, and some of us more. These fears hold us back from achieving our fullest potential and living the life we only think happens in dreams and to the "lucky one".
We will first need to identify them, how they can show up in our lives- their symptoms and what effect they each have on ruining our chances of a beautiful and fulfilled life. Let's dive in.
Fear of Poverty.
This one is a big one in society and often times this fear is passed down to people easily via parents and relatives who think they are spreading caution but really it's their own fear in disguise. Recall the- "if you don't study hard/work hard, you'll end up a bum on the streets".
Fear of poverty is a mental and emotional prison built on the anticipation of loss rather than the pursuit of gain. It convinces a person to play small, avoid risk, and stay dependent — all under the illusion of safety. The people who say things like "we'll never get a parking spot", "they won't let us in the restaurant we don't have a reservation".
People who suffer from this fear are so focused on avoiding loss that they never pursue gain. Instead of focusing on the actual possibility that someone might have canceled their reservation and there is a table for you or that someone will be just leaving when you arrive to take their parking spot. It’s a mindset of scarcity, worry, and self-imposed limitation.
Symptoms of this fear include:
Indifference
Lack of ambition or initiative
Accepting whatever life gives instead of striving for more
Example: A talented person who stays in a job they hate because they’re afraid to lose the “steady paycheck.”
Indecision
Constantly wavering or procrastinating on opportunities
Example: Someone who keeps researching business ideas but never starts because they fear losing money.
Doubt
Questioning one’s own abilities and potential for success
Example: Saying things like, “What if it doesn’t work out?” or “People like me never get rich.”
Worry
Chronic anxiety about bills, income, or financial security
Example: Obsessively checking one’s bank account or staying in relationships/jobs out of financial dependence.
Over-Caution
Refusing to take any calculated risks
Example: Hoarding money, never investing, or rejecting new ideas because they “sound too risky.”
Procrastination
Putting off decisions or delaying important financial moves
Example: Avoiding learning new skills or starting a side business, always saying “I’ll do it next month.”
It’s not just about money; it’s about the loss of freedom, self-respect, and control. Do any of these sound like you?
Fear of Criticism.
Fear of criticism is the fear of disapproval, ridicule, or rejection by others. This fear in particular is often rooted in childhood, where many people are punished, scolded, or shamed for mistakes, and that conditioning carries into adulthood, making them terrified to fail publicly or stand out.
Symptoms include:
Self-Consciousness
Constantly worrying about what others think
Example: Editing your personality or speech to “fit in”
Lack of Initiative
Avoiding leadership or visibility because of fear of judgment
Example: Turning down opportunities to speak, post online, or start a business
Inferiority Complex
Comparing oneself to others, feeling “not good enough”
Example: Thinking, “Who am I to do that?” before even trying
Extravagance (Compensation Behavior)
Overspending or showing off to win approval
Example: Buying expensive clothes, cars, or brands to appear successful
Lack of Poise
Easily embarrassed or flustered in front of others
Example: Avoiding eye contact or public speaking due to fear of being judged
Fear of Expressing Opinions
Staying silent to avoid conflict or criticism
Example: Agreeing with everyone to avoid being disliked
Fear of criticism is a silent thief of greatness that convinces people to dim their light to avoid judgment. It makes them seek approval instead of purpose and choose comfort over courage.
It’s the reason many never publish their work, share their ideas, or live authentically, because they’re subconsciously asking, ‘What will people say?’ For more on how to live authentically and be who you are, refer to my article titled, "How to actually be yourself" here: https://shorturl.at/cAKEt.
Fear of Ill Health.
Often, the fear of ill health (or sickness) is often taught — passed down from generation to generation through constant conversation about disease, symptoms, and worry. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle: the more you focus on illness, the more your body responds to that thought.
Symptoms of this fear include:
Auto-suggestion / Negative Focus
Talking constantly about sickness, disease, and “not feeling well.”
Example: Someone always googling symptoms or saying, “I think I’m getting sick again.”
Hypochondria (Self-Diagnosing)
Imagining illnesses that don’t exist.
Example: Minor aches or fatigue interpreted as something serious.
Susceptibility to Others’ Illnesses
Feeling sick after hearing about someone else’s sickness.
Example: Hearing a coworker has a cold and suddenly “feeling off” yourself.
Self-Coddling / Over-Caution
Avoiding activity or challenge out of fear it will harm health.
Example: Someone who refuses to exercise because they fear it might “hurt their heart.”
Pessimism About Recovery
Believing illness equals defeat; expecting the worst outcomes.
Example: Saying, “My mom got this, so I’ll probably get it too.”
Self-Consciousness About Body
Overanalyzing bodily sensations, constantly checking for signs of aging or weakness.
Example: Someone obsessively checking their pulse, temperature, or wrinkles.
Fear of ill health turns the mind into its own worst physician, prescribing worry instead of wellness, and creating sickness through obsession. This fear as dangerous because it steals both peace of mind and physical vitality. It causes people to live in constant tension, which ironically invites the very illnesses they fear. Does this one sound like you?
Fear of Loss of Love of Someone
This fear is the most painful. This is defined as the fear of losing someone’s affection, attention, or loyalty — whether through rejection, betrayal, separation, or death.
This fear can make us jealous, possessive, suspicious, manipulative, and self-destructive, leading to emotional chaos and poor decision-making.
Symptoms include:
Jealousy
Constant suspicion or checking for signs of betrayal.
Example: Obsessively checking a partner’s messages or social media for reassurance.
Fault-Finding
Criticizing or controlling the loved one out of insecurity.
Example: Belittling someone to feel superior and less afraid of losing them.
Gossip and Backbiting
Speaking poorly of others to damage their reputation or appear better by comparison.
Example: Trying to make others look “less attractive” to keep attention on oneself.
Over-Caution in Relationships
Avoiding intimacy or vulnerability out of fear of getting hurt.
Example: Refusing to open up emotionally because “everyone leaves anyway.”
Self-Pity
Constantly replaying past heartbreaks, feeling victimized by love.
Example: Saying, “People always take advantage of me” or “I can’t trust anyone.”
Emotional Dependency
Defining one’s worth through someone else’s love or approval.
Example: Feeling empty or lost when not in a relationship.
The fear of loss of love of someone disguises itself as devotion, it clings, controls, and pleads for love while silently killing it. It is love transformed into possession, trust replaced by torment, and affection turned into anxiety. This fear is especially dangerous because it blocks true love. Real love can’t exist where fear rules.
Fear of Old Age
Fear of old age is is rooted in the fear of loss—loss of youth, vitality, beauty, freedom, power, and usefulness. This fear keeps people from living fully, taking risks, and feeling confident in their later years.
Symptoms include:
Loss of Initiative
Believing it’s “too late” to pursue new goals or ambitions.
Example: Avoiding a new career or passion project after 40 because it feels futile.
Excuse-Making
Using age as a reason to settle for less or stop growing.
Example: Saying, “I’m too old to do that,” instead of finding a way forward.
Declining Self-Confidence
Feeling less capable, attractive, or relevant with each passing year.
Example: Avoiding leadership roles or social events out of insecurity about aging.
Neglect of Personal Appearance
Losing interest in grooming or self-presentation due to resignation about aging.
Example: Dressing down or neglecting self-care with the belief that it no longer matters.
Fear of Financial Helplessness
Worrying about running out of money or becoming dependent in later years.
Example: Constant anxiety about savings, retirement, or future security.
Bitterness Toward Youth
Resenting younger people for their energy, beauty, or opportunities.
Example: Criticizing or dismissing younger generations to mask envy or regret.
Fear of old age is the subconscious belief that aging equals decline, leading to hesitation, loss of vitality, and avoidance of new opportunities. It is not the years themselves, but the fear of losing relevance, beauty, or control that ages the mind. This inhibits us from living life the fullest during all the time we are blessed with.
Fear of Death.
The fear of death as one of the most powerful and paralyzing fears of all. It stems from humanity’s deep uncertainty about what happens after life ends. This fear often hides beneath the surface, influencing thoughts and actions without awareness. It can lead people to cling to material things, avoid risk, or live cautiously instead of fully.
Symptoms include:
Anxiety About the Unknown
Worrying about what happens after death or fearing nonexistence.
Example: Feeling uneasy or panicked when thinking about mortality or the afterlife.
Clinging to Youth and Life
Trying to deny aging or illness to escape the reality of death.
Example: Overindulging in anti-aging treatments or health fads to feel in control of time.
Depression or Apathy
Losing drive or joy due to the belief that life ends in nothingness.
Example: Withdrawing from goals or passions because “it all ends anyway.”
Excessive Caution
Avoiding new experiences or risks out of fear of injury or death.
Example: Refusing to travel, fly, or engage in activities perceived as unsafe.
Religious or Superstitious Obsession
Becoming overly dependent on rituals or beliefs to calm fear of the afterlife.
Example: Constantly seeking reassurance through prayer or fearing divine punishment.
Grief Avoidance
Refusing to discuss or process loss because it triggers thoughts of death.
Example: Avoiding funerals or conversations about mortality to suppress discomfort.
The fear of death is the subconscious resistance to life’s natural cycle, a fear of the unknown that breeds anxiety, excessive caution, and avoidance of deep living. It makes one focus on preservation instead of purpose.
Review
These fears plague us all and disguise themselves in our everyday lives. They secretly live within in us, holding us back from living our lives to the fullest and robbing us of our dreams. But not anymore. Now we know their names, we can be honest with ourselves and clearly name them and after that we can begin the daily process of diminishing them and finally see the life of our dreams unfold before our eyes. Which ones plague you the most? Write it in the comments below, you will see you are not alone. But we can fight back, together we are strong and we can break these chains once and for all.
In my next article, I will discuss how to tackle each fear one by one and begin the daily process to dissipate these fears for good. Stay tuned for the most important article of all: How to to dissipate your fears and finally step into your dreams. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a thing! Join here: https://forms.gle/X2hFR9SewE1mVNKE8
I am looking forward to breaking the chains of fear alongside you and finally live a life full of abundance, joy, confidence and peace.
May all the joys of life find you in your day today. Until next time, avidazen!
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