Never be afraid to do this...

Is there anything you really want to do in your life, but find yourself paralyzed by the fear of failure?

Maybe you want to leave your comfortable job for a more challenging post with another company, but you're worried it won't work out.

Perhaps you wish to propose to your girlfriend, but you can't quash a nagging fear that she will say no.

What do such hypothetical scenarios have in common?

That in each case, we tend to think the very worst. No sooner do we set a goal than we imagine ourselves being unsuccessful.

Sure, falling short is a real possibility for every one of us. But are we really going to let the prospect of failure keep us from even trying?

Never be afraid of taking a risk, so long as you feel that:

1. Provided that you invest the time and effort, you have a real shot at succeeding.

2. If you do succeed, you're certain the benefits will outweigh the costs of taking the plunge.

Of course, if you don't plan to work your butt off to make your dreams a reality, then you should not bother.

At the same time, if the payoff seems tenuous at best (e.g., spending $100,000 on a master's degree in women's studies at Harvard will not yield any return on investment), don't waste your time.

I'm all for striving to achieve goals that are sensible. As with everything else in life, doing things haphazardly -- without putting serious thought into them -- will only end badly.

If you have carefully thought through the pros and cons and know the prospects look good, don't be afraid to pull the trigger.

It's better to give it a try and not make it to the finish line (whether because you're short on funds, didn't get the job, etc.) than it is to not try at all.

No risk, no reward.

No guts, no glory.

We only have one life to live, and while it's great to be cautious, we'll never know what we can achieve unless we roll the dice.

Nelson Mandela once said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

Remember, you can achieve whatever you aspire to do as long as you never waver in your persistence and determination.

Be positive. Rather than imagining yourself not succeeding, why not picture yourself meeting your goal?

Believe in yourself! If you don't take the risk now, you may regret it later on.

Franklin D. Roosevelt wasn't bluffing when he warned us that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Comments

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

An important note to women about men and attraction

I was raised by my mom, grandma, and two older sisters. Growing up, never did I ever take any interest in the girls at school who tended toward exposing more skin. I always treated them as I would my female family members -- with the utmost courtesy and respect. And anytime I suspected that a male friend or acquaintance of mine adopted a hump-and-dump attitude toward women, I nixed them from my life. I held men who treated women as objects in very low regard, and still do to this day. If women feel empowered to show off their bodies because they love and work hard on their physique, more power to them. In other words, if they're doing it to please THEMSELVES and no one else, good for them. However, those who do it specifically to curry men's favor are making a big mistake. It sends the wrong signals and actually makes it less likely that a man will want to stick around for a committed relationship (if that's what you want as anyway). Granted, if you're not lookin...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog