It feels scary because it’s unfamiliar, not because I’m incapable

Vashita Singh
Nov 25
2 min read

A Message for Every Teen Girl Standing on the Edge of Something New

There’s a moment right before you try something new - a flutter in your stomach, a tightness in your chest, a voice whispering, “What if I’m not good enough?”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Every girl, no matter how confident she looks on the outside, has felt that same fear.

But here’s the truth you need to carry with you like armor:

“It feels scary because it’s unfamiliar, not because I’m incapable.”

Read that again. Let it settle.

So many brave steps you will take in your life will feel scary - not because you lack talent, courage, or strength, but simply because you’re taking them for the first time. Your brain is built to protect you from the unknown. But the unknown is also where your biggest growth happens.

Think about it as a Teen Girl -

The first day of a new school? Terrifying.
Joining a club where you don’t know anyone? Awkward.
Speaking up, sharing your opinions, or going after a dream that feels too big?
Absolutely nerve-wracking.

But how many times have you stepped into something new and later wondered, “Why was I so scared in the first place?”

Fear is not a stop sign. It’s a signal

A signal that you’re moving into a new chapter. A signal that you’re expanding what you’re capable of. A signal that you’re stepping into the version of yourself you’re becoming.

If you wait to feel ready, you may wait forever. But if you move forward even while feeling scared, that’s where confidence grows - not before, but during.

Here’s what I want you to remember -

You don’t need to have everything figured out.
You don’t need to be perfect before you begin.
You don’t need permission to take up space, try new things, or change your mind.

Every strong girl you admire started exactly where you are - unsure, nervous, and second-guessing herself. What made her different wasn’t fearlessness… but the choice to move anyway.