¿Cómo superé la gran fobia de mi vida? | How did I overcome the biggest phobia of my life?

I think that when you overcome a phobia, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

The biggest phobia of my life was the fear of the dark.

As a child, I hated having the lights turned off, I hated going to the bathroom at night, I hated being alone in a dark place.

My reason was that I watched horror movies, series like CSI, and I loved vampire movies. So I was afraid of running into one.

Growing up, I don't know why I was afraid of the dark.

I know, I was very innocent, like everyone else.

Until one day, I told my dad that I was afraid of something, and he told me: Don't be afraid of even the most painted tiger.

This phrase stayed in my mind. Although I didn't pay attention to it immediately, over the years I understood.

The crisis hit the country, the constant blackouts, and the whole disaster. From that moment on, I completely understood my father's phrase. And I feel like that helped me move forward despite my fears.

It's a small, battery-powered candle, but it lights up quite well when there's no light. It's also decorative.

I've been afraid of the dark.

I've been afraid of not being able to accomplish something.

I've been afraid of dying.

Until I realized there was nothing to be afraid of, and that I can accomplish anything I want to do.

But this enlightenment didn't come overnight. I had to face my fears to move forward.

I walked in the dark to find a candle at night because the power had gone out. Or, I walked back home because I was leaving college late. Or, I walked in the dark along a road because there was no way to go.

I had to face those fears because I had to do things. There's no choice. So I guess that's what led me to not be afraid of anything, to be a risk-taker.

The most interesting thing about all of this is that overcoming fear actually makes you stronger. Things don't intimidate you, neither do people; nothing can stop you because you know yourself. You know what you've overcome, you know how strong you are, you know how resilient, how persevering you can be.

And this helps you a lot in life, because sometimes you face situations that can stop you; however, just like I do in the rain, I keep moving forward.

First, because I don't like getting wet; it's uncomfortable. And second, because my city always floods. When that happens, you can't get home, and you have to wait hours for the water to recede. So I developed the strange habit of moving forward in the rain, even if it's pouring down.

Sometimes you have to take advantage of those insecurities. Since I like photography, I often take photos in shadows. The one you see in the photo is of my syngonium.

I apply that same principle to my life.

Although I still can't stop being afraid of toads... I think it's not fear, but rather a bit of disgust at the texture of their skin. Maybe one day I'll face it, but, as long as it's not necessary, I shouldn't.

Unless I'm in the wild Amazon, then I would consider it a priority. For now, it can wait.

As for the rest of my fears, I know I can overcome them. Clearly, it's not that easy. So I do some things to confront something I don't want to, like singing.

I've found some relief from some phobias when I sing. It calms me down. Although I'm not that good at it, that's the truth. A bird can explode with my singing like in Shrek. But it's what we have, and we use it.