I want to discuss why we fear doing what we actually want in life.
Fear, after all, is a powerful foe - it keeps us in line and makes sure we don't start doing interesting and exciting things. No shade to the fear - it's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing, and that is keeping us safe.
I've talked about this before and will talk about it again - we're biologically programmed to stick to the safe end of everything because it's predictable and, well, safe.
If we know the environment we're in, we know where the danger lurks, we know where are the metaphorical tigers (our brain still lives in the cavemen era) and we can sleep safely at night because we know we won't get eaten and will live to see another day.
That's wonderful, of course - but it also means that every time we step outside of our comfort zone, we get inner alarm bells and a million reasons why not to do this thing. Again, our fear is just doing its job.
But it's our job to ignore it (as always, let's be reasonable here and not do anything that could ACTUALLY hurt us).
To shake this Fear's shoulders and gently say "I'm driving now, and you can come along, but only if you sit in the backseat and stay quiet."
(For honesty purposes, I think I read a similar thought about the fear in the backseat in Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic" million years ago.)
Because all the good things happen on the other side of that Fear. All the growth, adventure, change, learnings, and the things that make you happy you lived.
It's scary, yes. But also so, so rewarding.
So the next time you feel scared, ask yourself: what's the worst thing that could actually happen?
I have a quote I love, by Peter McWilliams:
"It's a risk to love. What if it doesn't work out? Ah, but what if it does."
And so it is with everything. What if it doesn't work out?
But...
What if it does?
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