In my last post, I wrote about leaning into change—how adding a new bike and switching to the Calo AI food tracker reminded me that progress lives on the other side of change. That reflection came at just the right time, because I’ve also had to face something else: fear.
Change and fear are often linked. Sometimes the reason we resist change isn’t because we’re lazy or unmotivated—it’s because we’re scared. Scared it won’t work. Scared we’ll fail. Scared of what others will think if we stumble.
And here’s the truth I’ve been learning: fear loses power when you name it.
All through the Harry Potter series everyone in the wizarding world is afraid to utter the name Voldemort. Instead they just call him, ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named.’ Harry, being new to the whole Wizard thing doesn’t quite understand why everyone does it but he starts to do it as well. Dumbledore hears him and wisely tells Harry, “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” What Dumbledore is telling Harry is that mentioning Voldemort by his name takes away the mystique and fear that everyone carries. In short, it takes away some of his power.
Voldemort!
Voldemort!
Voldemort!
I mean it works but the dude is still pretty scary looking.
Why Honesty is the Key
Naming your fear requires honesty. Not the comfortable kind of honesty where you gloss over details, but the uncomfortable, gut-level honesty that forces you to admit what’s really holding you back.
It’s easy to say “I don’t have time,” “I’ll get back on track next week,” or “I just don’t feel motivated.” But those are surface-level excuses. The real truth, at least for me, has often been: I’m afraid.
- Afraid of failing again.
- Afraid of judgment.
- Afraid of trying something new and falling flat.
When I wasn’t being honest with myself, these fears hid behind rational-sounding excuses. But once I named them out loud, I stripped away their disguise and could see them for what they are.
How Fear Showed Up for Me
Recently, I avoided the scale for weeks. Deep down, I knew I’d gained some weight back. I hadn’t been as accountable as I expect myself to be, and the thought of seeing that number was a rude awakening. But when I finally got honest and said to myself, “I’m afraid to step on the scale,” I felt a shift.
So I did it anyway. Yes, the number was higher. Yes, it hurt. But now I had clarity. I wasn’t stuck in the fog of fear—I was standing on solid ground with a clear starting point.
That’s the power of naming your fear. It doesn’t erase the challenge, but it takes away the mystery and gives you something to work with.
Connecting Fear and Change
This is where the two posts connect: leaning into change and naming what you fear are two sides of the same coin.
- Leaning into change means being open to the unknown.
- Naming your fear means being honest about why the unknown feels scary.
Together, they form a powerful approach to growth. If I can honestly name what I’m afraid of and still lean into the change anyway, then fear no longer controls me—courage does.
A New Season, A New Start
This couldn’t come at a better time. The back-to-school season is a natural reset point. Kids are starting fresh, routines are shifting, and even as adults we feel the pull of a new rhythm. It’s the perfect time to name your fears, embrace change, and step into a new chapter.
Maybe for you it’s the fear of starting a new habit. Or the fear of letting go of an old one. Maybe it’s the fear of not being “good enough” to stick with your goals. Whatever it is, name it honestly, and then use this season of new beginnings as your launching point.
The Takeaway
Fear thrives in the dark, but it shrinks in the light. Honesty is the light switch. And change is the path forward.
Ok, so this is another one of those fabulous AI images. I wanted an image that reflected something hiding under the bed that looked scary when the lights were out but was not scary when the light were on.
I actually think turning the lights on made it more scary.
When all was said and done, I had to be honest with myself about my fear of slipping backward, my fear of judgment, and my fear of the scale. Naming those fears didn’t magically fix them, but it gave me the courage to lean into change anyway.
So here’s my challenge for you: as we head deeper into this season of new beginnings, don’t just think about what changes you want to make—also take the time to name what you fear about making them.
Because once you’ve named your fear and leaned into the change, you’ll discover the freedom that comes with moving forward, one honest step at a time.
