Embrace the Unknown: How to Overcome the Fear of Trying New Things

We often say things like, “I dream of spending a month in India, exploring the slums to truly experience life,” or “I want a paragliding lesson certificate for my birthday.” Yet, in reality, we hesitate to even trim our bangs an inch shorter than usual. Meanwhile, the ability to adapt quickly to new conditions and continuously learn has become one of the most valuable skills in the job market. Therefore, overcoming the fear of trying new things is essential. Here’s how you can do it.

Understand the Root of Your Fear

From an evolutionary standpoint, trying new things has always been risky. Our primitive ancestors knew that sticking to familiar paths increased their chances of returning safely to their caves.

“Deep within our brains, there’s a fear of looking bad, failing, or making mistakes,” explains researcher and author of “What to Do When You’re New: How to Be Comfortable, Confident, and Successful in New Situations,” Keith Rollag. He states:

One of the problems with new hobbies is that you meet new people, new groups, and have new experiences, which causes a lot of anxiety because we are novices.

There are specific phobias—like claustrophobia, hydrophobia, or acrophobia—but a healthy person can’t be afraid of everything. Therefore, your fear of skiing or learning a foreign language is just your primitive brain resisting something new.

It’s Okay Not to Like It at First

Rarely do we instantly fall in love with a new activity. Initially, you might feel like makeup artistry isn’t for you, that you lack taste, or that you look foolish. This internal resistance at the beginning of learning is completely natural, according to psychologist Mikhail Labkovsky:

Change is always difficult; it’s real work. If you feel like it’s hard and you’re “lagging,” it means that your brain is changing its neural connections. Your psyche will resist, and that’s normal.

When you feel down and want to quit, rejoice—your brain is actively changing.

Remember, No One Cares as Much as You Think

You might have heard of the “spotlight effect,” or perhaps you’ve felt it. It’s our tendency to believe that everyone is watching us, even though, in reality, no one pays much attention to us. This paranoia hits me regularly. Sometimes, I walk down the street feeling like a penguin that accidentally ended up on a Milanese catwalk.

To rid yourself of this effect, return to reality. Look around—everyone is passing by, not turning their heads in your direction. Think about how often you notice others’ awkwardness.

Focus on Learning, Not Impressing

There are two approaches to learning a new skill: the desire to understand it, learn its intricacies, and be interested in the process, or the desire to master it to impress others. The latter approach causes fear of making mistakes, which are essential for success.

Turn off perfectionism, don’t think about others’ opinions, and do it for yourself, not for anyone else. While having a final goal, like a toned body or a successful design project, is good, focusing solely on the result can deter you and increase insecurity.

Prepare Before You Start

If you struggle to start something new, try gradually preparing your brain for it. Watch educational videos, read articles on the topic, and see how others do it. As Keith Rollag says: