MY BIGGEST REGRET IN LIFE: REFLECTION FROM THE ZANZIBAR JOURNEY

Last Sunday, I set off on a journey to Zanzibar, leaving Dar es Salaam around 2:00 PM.

The boat cut through the cool ocean, and as the waves rolled beneath, something stirred inside me.

It wasn’t just the breathtaking view or the calm of the sea—it was a moment of deep reflection on the missed opportunities in my life, all because I allowed fear to hold me back.

I still remember one day like it was yesterday.

I stood outside the door of an opportunity I’d dreamt about for years. My heart raced. My palms were sweaty. Every part of me wanted to step forward.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I let the fear of judgment stop me.

- What if they laugh at me?

- What if I’m not good enough?

- What if I fail?

Those thoughts haunted me, and I turned around, walking away.

I convinced myself it wasn’t the right time, but deep down, I knew the truth: I let fear win.

For years, I thought I was afraid of failure. But as I reflect, I realize it wasn’t failure that held me back.

It was the fear of being judged. The fear of what others might think. The fear of being criticized or misunderstood.

• I avoided risks—not because I didn’t believe in myself—but because I didn’t want to face disapproval.
• I said “no” to dreams—not because I couldn’t achieve them—but because I didn’t want to stand out.

And with every decision to stay small, fear quietly took away pieces of the life I wanted to live.

Here’s what I’ve learned through all of this:

If you keep running from fear, you’ll never become the person you were meant to be.

Fear doesn’t protect you. It imprisons you. It convinces you that comfort is safer than growth, that safety is better than chasing your dreams.

But in reality, fear steals the very moments that could have shaped you into who you are meant to be.

How to Escape Fear’s Grip

1. Realize failure isn’t fatal. Every mistake is part of the journey—each step teaches you something valuable.
2. Stop living for others. The opinions that matter most are your own.
3. Take action—even if it’s small. Fear shrinks the moment you move forward.

Life is too short to spend it in regret. You only get one shot at it. The worst thing isn’t failing—it’s looking back and wondering, “What if I’d been braver?”

Today, I refuse to let fear decide for me. Whenever it whispers in my ear, I remind myself: Fear doesn’t control my story—I do.

Thank you for reading!

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Stay focused and impactful,

ASTONE NGAEJE

Turning fear into freedom, one step at a time.