hi, i’m sharmaine
It started on a ten mile hike.
The spark for Curiosity Over Fear was lit during a hike at Havasupai Falls with my cousin Daphne. Ten miles of conversation turned into a space of vulnerability, connection, and inspiration.
We hadn't seen each other in what felt like forever, so naturally, we spent the time catching up on life. I opened up about being bullied as a Filipino immigrant, enduring a volatile family dynamic, being molested, witnessing violence in the home, and carrying the weight of all of it. We talked about divorce, heartbreak, failure, healing, and the lessons I've carried from some of the hardest chapters of my life.
By the end of the hike, Daphne joked that our conversation felt like a podcast and suggested I start one of my own. Since I was already used to blogging, the idea didn't feel too far off from something I'd do. That idea stuck.
But the truth is, Curiosity Over Fear didn't begin on that hike. It had been quietly shaping my life long before then.
I've come to believe that fear and curiosity are often pointing at the exact same thing. When something scares us, it's usually because it matters. Because it's unknown. Because there's something on the other side that we can't fully see yet. And here's the thing about the unknown: fear and curiosity both live there. They're roommates. The only difference is the story we're telling ourselves about what's waiting for us.
Fear says, "Something bad is in there." Curiosity says, "I wonder what's in there."
Same door. Completely different posture.
What if that feeling in your stomach isn't always a warning sign? What if, sometimes, it's a signal that you're standing at the edge of something meaningful?
I've learned that fear often disguises itself as protection when it's really avoidance. It tells us not to go there. Not to ask the question. Not to take the chance. Not to have the conversation.
And because fear feels urgent and convincing, we listen. Curiosity offers a different response. What if going there is exactly the point?
Curiosity Over Fear isn't about pretending fear doesn't exist. It's not toxic positivity or blind optimism. It's about recognizing that fear isn't always a verdict. Sometimes it's simply an invitation wearing a scary costume.
The biggest fears I've faced weren't in the ocean or on the other side of the world. They were the ones I carried inside me.
My life has been shaped by moments where fear could have won, but didn't.
Like failing the NCLEX (my nursing licensure exam) three times while going through a divorce and choosing not to give up.
Learning freediving to overcome my fear of drowning.
Traveling solo to South Korea after heartbreak.
Packing up and moving alone to cities where I knew nobody, navigating a new job, a new place, a new culture, and sometimes even new weather, with nothing familiar to hold onto.
Choosing difficult conversations instead of avoiding them.
These experiences taught me that fear isn't the enemy. It's a guide. It points toward the places where growth, healing, connection, and possibility are waiting. The question is whether we let fear stop us or whether we get curious enough to see what's on the other side.
That's why I started Curiosity Over Fear. I know how powerful it can be to hear someone else's story and realize you're not alone. I know how life-changing a single question can be. This space is for meaningful conversations, personal stories, and ideas that help us move toward life instead of away from it. Because I've learned that life isn't about eliminating fear. It's about stepping into the unknown before you feel ready and discovering that you're capable of more than you imagined.
It's about falling in love with the process, being vulnerable, going deeper with ourselves and with others, and finding beauty in the journey, not just the destination.
Fear and curiosity will keep pointing at the same doors throughout your life.
My hope is that when you find yourself standing in front of one, you'll choose curiosity.
i n t h e s p o t l i g h t
Podcast Guest: "Same Business, Different Day"
She shared the leap she took to pursue her passion, highlighting how her philosophies on courage and curiosity, though not rooted in entrepreneurship, stem from overcoming life’s challenges. She also talked about balancing her daily work, which literally gives life, with the moments away that make it all worthwhile. Listen here.
Featured in SD Voyager: "Conversations with Sharmaine Magsipoc"
In this interview, Sharmaine deep dives into her story, the origins of Curiosity Over Fear, and how she use curiosity to empower others. Read the full interview.