How do you want to end this sentence? Here are some examples I’ve heard lately:
- Open a creative painting studio
- Have a small organic baking business
- Play in a band
- Create a travel agency to guide people to my favorite places
- Write a book
What’s stopping us from pursuing what we’re so passionate about, what feels so natural to us? We talk about obstacles, circumstances, not enough of this or that, but I think there is something more fundamental behind avoiding our biggest aspirations. Here is my theory:
Let’s imagine you go for it. You’ll manage distractions, create opportunities, overcome obstacles, and put everything in your power into pursuing the burning desire. And then you fail! It’s possible. No clients come to your painting studio, no fans listen to your band, and nobody reads your book. When you pursue something less important, the fear of failure is much smaller too. But when you go for something that defines you, that’s super important to you and then you fail, it may hit you hard, it may shake your core. The more we go for something that is related to who we are inside, the more vulnerable we become. This fear makes us choose the less interesting goals over and over, and keep us stuck in the dreaming phase.
So, what can we do? What’s worked for me over the years was taking small steps and testing assumptions. Call a friend and paint something together, bake something for your kid’s school event, play just one song with someone else, suggest a weekend getaway to your coworker, or get a journal and start writing whatever is on your mind. Try something that is exciting but not too scary and see what happens. Taking any step is way easier than dealing with the regret of not taking it at all.
No comments:
Post a Comment