What's holding you back?

I’ve recently had a couple conversations with people who I really admire and have been surprised to hear that although they are dreaming big, they are playing small. They have a clear vision for what they want to do, but they aren’t going for it. When they described the thing they were daydreaming of, their voices were full of excitement and enthusiasm, but that turned to a combination of frustration, confusion, and disappointment as they described how they couldn’t see it working or they were too scared to go for it.

I believe that following the voice inside that is saying, “I wonder if I could (fill in the blank)” is really your heart guiding you to contribute your unique gifts to the world.

So, why then do we so often hush that wise voice and focus our attention on what could go wrong? Going after something new is unfamiliar and requires us to be vulnerable. There’s simply a chance it won’t go according to plan and failure can be one of the most difficult experiences to endure. The thought of vulnerability and failure can trigger your internal alarm system to shrill.

In response to the internal alarm bells ringing, we come up with stories that quiet the fear and lull us gently back into the quiet safety of the status quo.

My personal favorite “safe” stories: “You can always try that later, when the timing is better” and “You just need to spend some more time getting ready. You’ll know you can go for it when you feel like you’re ready.”

Here’s the truth I’ve learned:

1. If you think being “ready” means you won’t be scared, you’re never going to be ready. There is always, always fear in the unknown and when you’re up to something new, there is always the unknown.

2. Nothing great comes without risk. Failure is evidence of trying. What a delightful world it would be if more people were chasing after their dreams because they embraced failure, rather than hid from it.

3. The fact that you’re making up stories to feel safe is proof that you’re up to something important. You wouldn’t need a story if you weren’t taking a risk.