Do something every day that scares you

Do something every day that scares you.

You know what’s really scary?

It’s being seen.

It’s putting ourselves out there, throwing our hats into the arena.

Ready to be judged.

And what’s even more terrifying? 

Saying out load what our hopes, dreams and aspirations are.

Then we’re fair game for others to tear down.

They can tear down our hopes and dreams, because maybe our dreams are dreams which threaten them in some way. They can say that they’re stupid, I’m being silly, they can judge in whatever way they wish.

And they can tear me down for achieving, or not achieving, my dreams.

They’ll tear me down if I don’t achieve my dreams. Of course. And then I’ll know that my deep down biggest fear, that I’m not good enough, is true. And everyone else will know that too.

That's the biggest reason that most people don't publicly say what their big dreams and aspirations are. Because of the fear of judgement.

And they’ll tear me down if I do achieve my dreams. They’ll say that I didn’t do it right. That I should have done it differently. That the dog that I have made it easy. That it was easy because (insert the reason blah blah blah).

And that, my friends, is why most of us keep quiet. 

We don’t want to pop our heads above the parapet. 

We don’t want to be change-makers.

We want to be people doing normal things in normal ways.

Liked by most people. 

And by doing the thing that scares me, by telling the world my dreams, and throwing my hat into the arena, I'm definitely threatening my sense of belonging. I'm perhaps ostracising myself. I'm choosing to stand for something. And that threatens people.

But it doesn't threaten my people.

And the people who shoot me down aren't my people.

The people who judge me aren't my people.

But what if I felt that there might be, just one person, who could be inspired by my bravery of naming my dreams. And the courage of going after it. And being bold enough to throw my hat in the ring?

Just one person who quietly found something in this that resonated, and made them want to do something that made a difference to one other person?
Well, that’s how change happens.

So it’s safer, easier, and you'll have more friends if you choose to sit on the sidelines heckling.

It’s braver, more courageous, more idiotic, to name our hopes and dreams and have others follow our journey. As I’ve said, whether I achieve my dreams or I don’t, I’ll be judged and shot down for that by the majority of people.

 
And what if, that was just fine by me? What if I welcomed people’s judgements? Negative reactions? Potential scorn?

What if I was just doing this as a practice to help me to recover from being a people-pleaser and caring about people’s opinions all my life. 

Well, then the point of the exercise would be justified.

And that one person who did read it and was inspired to be brave, then that'd be worth it. Because what if there is just one person who's life is changed by my bravery.

Because what is life if it’s about hiding? Being ordinary and normal? Not saying what’s important to us?

To me, that’s a half-lived life. I have things to say, I am a bit weird. My outlook is a bit different, I have a passion for learning, for curiosity, for doing things a bit differently, and if that appeals to you - subscribe to my Newsletter and you’ll find out about my audacious hopes and dreams and you can cheer me on or jeer me from the sidelines, depending your mindset preference. And the process will be a useful one for me whichever way you choose to take it, so thank you!