Zainab Aderounmu 
Let 2026 be the year you stop doing things afraid! I know this might sound strange, especially because we often hear the popular advice: “Do it afraid. Do it scared.”
But, doing things in fear is not always courageous. Sometimes, it’s limiting. When you act from fear, you end up doing things halfway. You shrink yourself. You hold back. You don’t stretch into your full capacity. Fear keeps you from showing up excellently, because excellence requires rest, confidence, and clarity, not paranoia.
Think about public speaking. You can be on stage, holding the microphone, saying the words, yet trembling so much that your message becomes incoherent. Technically, you’re “doing it afraid,” but your message is still lost because you’re not speaking from a place of calm or conviction. The same thing happens in life. When fear leads, impact suffers.
So instead of doing things afraid, do them in faith.
Doing things in faith doesn’t mean you are unaware of your limitations. It simply means you are more aware of who your Lord is. You act not because you believe in your own strength alone, but because you trust in a God who is limitless.
Consider the story of Moses and his people. When they got to the Red Sea Pharaoh and his army were furiously racing towards them. Ahead of him was an impossible body of water. They were between the devil and the sea.
If Moses had been acting from paranoia, he might have asked the Israelites to run into the sea, or even turn back to beg Pharaoh, or surrender entirely. But he wasn’t operating from fear. He was operating from assurance, from deep conviction that his Lord would make a way. And a way was made. You know how the story ends.
That is the power of acting in faith. You move forward, not because the path is clear, but because you trust the One who clears paths. Nothing is beyond God’s reach. Nothing is too big for Him.
So what’s that project you’re executing, who’s that client? Lead with faith, lead with rest, lead with assurance . Do it big. Do it boldly. Move assuredly.
Zainab ADEROUNMU A. W. is a First Class graduate of English Language and the Overall Best Graduating Student from the Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria. She’s a professional Master of Ceremonies, known as The Hijabi Compere , a public speaking coach and Communications Professional. She is currently a Youth advisor to the European Union where she doubles as the Spokesperson and Head of Communications & PR for the Youth Sounding Board.