Fear of success or fear of failure.
Does it matter? Either way, you are stopped in your tracks.
By your own self!
There comes a time (or many!) that it happens to all of us. That fork in the road. The questions start to loom. Is this the right direction for me? Should I stick with the “known”? What’s wrong with the way things are? Who do I think I am anyway? And the all time favorite: What will people think?
The bigger question is always how will it change my LIFE?
Of course, we never really know the answer to that until we go forward. The only answers we have are the fictional ones that play with our heads. My thought is that your life will change, no matter what. If you go forward or not.
Why? Because that’s the way life is!
It doesn’t matter if you sit still or go forward, changes are coming! I can assure you, if you don’t persue whatever it is you are contemplating, the “what ifs” will always be talking to you. What if I had gone another direction? What if that was my destiny? What if that really was a golden opportunity? What if I had only (you fill in the blank)? Seriously, the “what ifs” can get you. Right in your gut.
The only thing you really fear is the unknown.
You always have two choices. To sit on the sidelines, play it safe with what is already known, or to go with your inspiration, reach for the new adventure, and strive to attain a bigger goal. That’s it.
The hesitation comes in the beginning.
Stop it. Unless you are getting a very REAL feeling that what you are about to do is just simply wrong, wrong, wrong (and I stress, do not ignore this type of feeling!) then step out. It may seem like a full-fledged leap but in reality, it’s just the next best step. Ignore the hesitation that says you can’t handle success or you don’t want to fail. You will never know unless you go for it!
The best part of “going for it?”
You will always know. There will never be any regrets. Because you tried. Trying is the mark of confidence. I know, at the point of hesitation, confidence seems to wain, but in the long run, your confidence will be strengthened because you overcame your fear. And the “what ifs” will go play with someone else!
I still say you don’t have to identify whether it’s fear of success or failure. It could be both! No matter. Walk over the fear. You can analyze the “why” later!
Peace,
-Martha
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Walk over your fear! I love that thought, and I couldn’t agree more. Too many people let themselves get sidetracked worrying about fear. If they spent as much time and energy actually moving toward their dream…
Peace,
Bob
Great post as usual, Martha. I’ll be joining the blog challenge this weekend.
No, I’m not waiting because I fear
I’m teaching a blog building class and my next session is the “How to install your blog”. Once I do that, I’m using the blog we’re building in the class for the challenge, to get more content and to encourage my students to post on their blogs!
Great blog Martha. The first step is really getting in touch with your self to identify – if it’s really fear that’s holding you back, or just a decision that doesn’t feel right. Knowing yourself, is a lifelong journey!
Laureen, I agree. Trying to really know ourselves takes a lifetime!
Geoff, cool idea. Good luck to you AND your students!
Bob, You are so right! Worry is wasted energy