In a bid to live her life to the fullest, artist Michelle Poler has decided to face 100 biggest fears. She’s calling the project ‘100 Days Without Fear’ and her goal is to do one thing that scares her, every day for 100 days.
Originally from Venezuela, Michelle recently moved to New York to get a Master’s Degree in Branding at the School of Visual Arts. She revealed that the experience of living in the city inspired her to take on the project. “Trying to control New York has been a nightmare,” she said. “But what has really pushed me to pursue this project was not the controlled lifestyle I left behind, it is the frustration of not enjoying this city and life in general to the fullest.”
46 days in, Michelle has done lots of interesting things: She tried Indian food for the first time, donated blood, rode a mechanical bull, fried something, drove alone at night, and used a porta-potty. These aren’t necessarily dangerous or bizarre activities; they’re mostly ordinary things that people might find intimidating to try. When she tried to donate blood, for example, she had to spend three hours in deep meditation before she could go anywhere near the blood bank. But she found changing a baby’s diaper more gratifying. “It felt good to take care of someone else other than me.”
Michelle shares video updates of her progress on her website 100dayswithoutfear.com, along with an ‘emoji meter’ depicting her emotional experience before, during, and after each challenge. Some of the upcoming ‘fears’ in her list include acupuncture, roller coasters, and skydiving, and Michelle admits she’s nervous about all of them. “The ones I haven’t faced, I’ve postponed for a reason,” she explained. “Some of those include skydiving, confronting someone with a different point of view, and spending a whole day without looking in the mirror.”
Although these tasks seem daunting, Michelle says that the real challenge was to take up the challenge itself. “I realised that fear is just an illusion that messes with your head and it is up to us to deal with it instead of ignore it. Fear is not worth it and it just takes away the true meaning of living life. Living courageously is much more rewarding. It helps build your confidence and self-esteem. I’m still afraid of a long list of things but now I’m excited to face them, not terrified.”
For those who want to face their fears, Michelle advises that they simply go for it. “If I did it, anyone can. It will change your life for the better and I promise nothing bad can come out of this. Except for the skydiving, maybe.”
via Bustle, Cosmopolitan
