Don't be afraid of hope

A few days ago, I had a moment that completely shifted my mindset.

For the past 4 years, I’ve been building technical skills in data science - learning Python and SQL, completing projects, and constantly pushing myself to improve.

But despite all that effort, I found myself stuck. It became a pattern and showed up at the worst times: right before a big opportunity, I would self-sabotage.

I’d doubt myself and think:

• “I’m not ready yet.”

• “I just need to learn one more tool, or framework…”

• “Maybe one more course, and then I’ll finally be prepared.”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth I had to face: I wasn’t stuck because I lacked skills.

I was stuck because I was afraid…

Afraid of hope…

The Fear of Hope

A few weeks ago, a member of our community reached out to me.

He told me, “I am landing interviews and even passing the technical rounds. But when it comes to behavioral interviews, I shrink. I feel uncomfortable talking about my accomplishments or showing any excitement. I don’t even know why.”

The moment I read his message, I knew exactly what he was feeling.

It wasn’t fear of failure. It was the fear of hope.

The fear of believing in yourself, of dreaming big, and of risking disappointment.

Many of us don’t believe we’re worthy of the goals we set for ourselves. And that fear traps us in self-sabotaging patterns.

We hesitate.
We downplay our abilities.
We convince ourselves we’re not enough.

And in doing so, we stay exactly where we are.

What changed?

Before that realization, my motivation came from “punishment” and “musts”.

• “I must get this job”

• “I must land this project”

• “I must learn this new skill”

But I never stopped to ask myself if I truly felt deserving of my goals.

That shift - from “I must” to “I deserve” - changed everything for me.

I started approaching my goals with a different energy.
Instead of punishing myself, I began to nurture my confidence through kindness and patience.

I finally learned that I deserve to make mistakes, I deserve to “waste” time and effort in pursuit of my dreams.

And when the time is right, I need to run toward it, at full speed!

No holding back.

A Personal Note

P.S., I took my own advice.

And finally, after months of contemplating, I am launching an AI engineering BootCamp this March!

I am partnering with Hai Nghiem, the best LLM developer and founder of an AI startup, to create the best practical, hands-on learning experience in the market. 

This is something I’ve wanted to share for a long time, and I couldn’t be more excited to do this with you!

Be the first one to learn once this opportunity launches, fill out this form!

Until then, remember: you’re capable. You’re deserving.

And the only person who can make things happen is YOU.

What Can You Do Now?

If this message resonates with you, here are 3 steps you can take today:

1. Reflect on this question: Where in your life are you afraid of hope? Where are you holding yourself back?

2. Go deeper: Pick up a copy of How We Change: (And 10 Reasons Why We Don’t. This book helped me uncover the old fears that were holding me back. Changed my life, seriously.

3. Get tactical: Once you are ready, apply all the advice from yesterday’s webinar we hosted with Karun. It’s packed with actionable strategies for resumes, interviews, and landing your dream job in 2025!
   P.S. If you share your key takeaways from this webinar on Linkedin, Karun will pick 3 winners and provide a free resume review!

And here’s the truth you should never forget:

You deserve a career that excites you, challenges you, and fills you with pride.
You deserve to believe in your goals — and in yourself!

And whenever you are ready, we are right here to help! You can apply for the next Break Into Data PRO community membership opening here.

…

You got this!

See you next week,

-Meri