Get Rid of The Fear
- Jimmecha Carr
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
Last night, I was reading a book called Emotional Intelligence 2.0. In the early chapter, it shared a powerful story about a surfer who came face-to-face with a shark. Initially, he wanted to panic but he chose to focus on calming himself and reducing his fear, and that shift helped him escape.
That story stayed with me because fear is one of the biggest obstacles to our growth. Fear doesn’t just threaten us in moments of danger, it also limits us in everyday life. It stops us from learning, trying, and becoming.
Not long after that, I attended a conference themed Artificial Intelligence. I was networking with professors across the United States, and everyone seemed eager to have honest discussions about this new reality of how AI is being integrated into higher education. But a common theme kept coming up: fear of the unknown.
Many professors were hesitant about bringing AI into education. They worried it would change the direction of their teaching. They didn’t just fear the technology, they feared what it might do to their students, their craft, and the results they’ve worked hard to build over the years. They also shared anxiety about how to tell the difference between authentic writing and AI-generated writing.
Their concerns were valid. But I also realized something: fear can make people miss an opportunity to innovate.
Yes, there is still a lot we are discovering about AI. We are still learning how to use it responsibly and in ways that protect what matters most: critical thinking, creativity, and real understanding. But fear won’t solve the uncertainty. Fear doesn’t remove the “problem.” It simply amplifies your emotions, and that can block you from processing ideas clearly, planning thoughtfully, or moving forward with confidence.
With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to get discouraged. When you switch channels, scroll social media, or even talk with friends, fear can follow you everywhere, without knowing fear can shape your thoughts and choices.
But I want to remind you: fear of the unknown is part of being human. The difference is what you do next.
When you feel fear trying to take control, speak this truth out loud, words I learned from Pastor Steven Furtick: “It may end in failure, but I will not live in fear.
Because fear may show up, but it doesn’t have the final word. Your courage does.
