Hey Fear. How You Doing?
Staying in Motion While Fear Watches Silently | I Am What an Intellectual Property Attorney Looks Like.
Hey Fam,
Can I be real for a second?
This quarter has been one big, messy lesson in fear.
Not the kind of fleeting anxiety that flares up before a big deadline—but deep, gut-punching, generational-curse-breaking fear.
The kind that sits heavy in your chest, makes your hands tremble, and has you questioning if your dreams are too big to handle.
For context: It’s been a flurry of changes in these last few months:
I’ve been deep in a financial stock investment course.
My team and I are also building out new systems and automations at Firm for the Culture to serve clients more efficiently as well as launching new services.
Personally, I am focusing on my health and wellness (working out more, watching what I eat), and traveling more.
Oh, and I quit drinking. 🎊
In many ways, I’m stepping fully into the version of myself I worked for years to become.
And that makes me so proud.
But with all this growth has come something I didn’t expect: a wave of fear that hit hard and fast.
Fear of messing up.
Fear of not knowing enough.
Fear of stepping into spaces that no one in my family or community had ever entered before.
But something is different this time.
Yes, long gone are the days I would avoid any responsibility by retreating to my bed, or engaging in self-sabotaging maladaptive coping behaviors.
Instead, I keep going.
Even when my voice shakes, even when my inner critic screams “you’re wrong, you’re wrong,” I’ve committed to finishing what I started—and taking action anyway.
If you feel anything like me right now—whether you’re stepping into something new, leveling up, or just trying to keep your head above water—here are three things I’m practicing right now to keep moving while fear sits comfortably in the corner, trying to distract me.
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Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
Here’s the thing I keep learning: fear doesn’t pack up and leave just because you’re doing the work.
It lingers.
It sits in the corner, crossing its arms, waiting for a moment of weakness to shout, “See? You can’t do this.”
…with its corny self…
But what I’ve realized is that while fear might be loud, it doesn’t have to be in charge.
The real power comes from choosing to move anyway—especially when everything in you is telling you to freeze.
If you’re navigating something big (or even something small that feels big right now), here are three things you can do right now—even when fear is doing the absolute most.
Let’s dive in.
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is this: questions unlock doors.
When I worked in Big Law, I made a personal commitment to ask at least one question every single day. It didn’t have to be a groundbreaking question—but it had to come from a genuine place of curiosity.
That one habit? It leveled me up in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It positioned me as someone who was not only smart but deeply engaged. It showed others that I wasn’t afraid to admit what I didn’t know—and that I cared enough to find out.
What I’ve realized is that sometimes the hardest part of growth is simply asking the question.
Fear wants us to stay quiet. It tells us that if we ask, we’ll look foolish or weak.
But the truth? Every answer you get brings you one step closer to your purpose.
So, whether you’re tackling a new course, starting a new role, or just figuring out your next move—don’t be afraid to ask.
The right question can change everything.
Fear is tricky—it makes everything feel overwhelming. It piles on the pressure, whispering that if you can’t do something perfectly, you shouldn’t do it at all.
That’s a lie.
What I’m learning (over and over again) is that small, consistent action is the antidote to paralysis.
Not up for writing a whole brief today?
Cool. Write one paragraph.
Not feeling like walking three miles?
Fine. Walk around the block.
Don’t have the energy to tackle a full-blown project?
No problem. Spend 10 minutes researching, and jot down your notes.
That one small action creates momentum. And momentum is magic.
Because once you start, you usually find that you’re capable of a lot more than you thought.
This is, hands down, the hardest for me.
As a child of a single parent household, I had to grow up fast, supporting my two brothers, both of whom were born with severe developmental disabilities.
One of them passed away when I was 15. So I became the emotional support and financial foundation at a young age.
With that as the baseline, I didn’t have the luxury of not knowing.
In fact, not knowing wasn’t an inconvenience—it was a threat to survival.
It was the difference between getting safely to school or walking into danger.
It was the difference between getting into the magnet school or being left behind in an underfunded educational system.
So yeah, being a beginner? It still feels unsafe to me sometimes.
But I’m learning that it’s okay to not have all the answers (repeating this to myself as I write this…)
Being a beginner isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength. It’s a reminder that I’m still growing, still learning, still expanding into new territory.
And every time I give myself permission to not know, I make space for grace, growth, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from lived experience.
Fear isn’t going anywhere. It’s part of the process—especially when you’re breaking cycles, building legacies, and stepping into bigger spaces than you’ve ever occupied before.
But here’s the thing: fear can sit down.
It can get comfortable.
It can even talk a little mess.
What it can’t do is stop you—unless you let it.
So, hey fear. Guess what?
We’re going to keep going.
We’re going to keep moving.
And we’re going to make space for the dynamic and grounded person we’re becoming.
What’s one small action you’re taking this week to move forward despite fear?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
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If you are unsure—or if you know you need to take action—reach out to us.
We have helped countless founders and creatives safeguard their intellectual property, and we would love to do the same for you.
If you need further guidance, reach out to me and my team at Firm for the Culture.
We’re here to help you navigate the copyright, trademark, and thought leadership journey.
Can’t wait to help you protect your dynamic impact.
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Thanks for reading.
See you next time.
My faith in God has given me a better understanding in actualizing the promises and grace and mercies.