It’s Time to START Go Try!
Let’s talk about putting yourself out there, trying something new. We all know how difficult it can be to try something foreign or unknown. The fear of failing, the uncertainty of what’s to come… it’s the unknown that is the problem. Everyone wants to know the “end game” before getting started. They want to know all of the outcomes, consequences and potential results before choosing and moving forward. I get it… I’m that way too.
I show myself as being confident and having all of the answers, but at the same time and more often than not, I’m unsure, uneasy and at points not quite ready. Take this blog for instance, this is terrifying. It isn’t the writing that is hard for me, it is the publishing that concerns me. Going a step further, the thoughts and comments of my friends and family paralyzes me. I would love to be found and make a difference in my various mediums and platforms. Whether it is my writing, my videos on YouTube or my podcasts and audio chats; I do want to make a difference.
I have only just recently gotten over the fear of sharing my work. And the reason, I realized it doesn’t have to be perfect. I am more than okay having strangers read, listen, watch and consume my content; but when it comes to people I know, that is far tougher. Despite all that, I press on. Growing stronger and more confident with every post. Each piece of content increasing in value because I am able to pour more of myself into it, growing more comfortable exposing my true self and personality. This didn’t happen overnight though and took countless attempts and deleted and rewritten works before even getting to this point. But, it has all be worth it! I am continuing to try and grow and creating more content is helping me overcome my fears. As I create more, my confidence in my work grows and with it comes greater confidence in general.
And so, I say say the hardest part of trying something new is brought on from our fear of failure. Whether it is failure in our own eyes, failure that is brought upon by the thoughts of others or even from our belief and concern of what others may think. There is, unfortunately, no mystical answer or magic pill to get past this fear. It takes time and effort. Despite all of that, I challenge you to TRY! Go after it. Go after it with a child-like wonder. Return to that point in time when you could go after something new and try without fear of failure or what others may think of you. Look for that unwavering excitement to learn and grow. If it is too scary, then start alone. Write only for yourself, first. Sing only when no one else is around. Start quiet, start for yourself, but START!
Don’t live with the “What ifs?” Try! And continue on. You may find you love it and want to keep going. Maybe you learn it is not the right fit for you. Either response is more than okay because now you know. There will never be that lingering though of “what if?” or worse yet the realization of regret some point in the future. This is your time to shine, your time to act and your time to never let the thought of “I regret no doing…” cross your mind. I know it is hard. I know it can be frightening. I know it may seem that world is against you at times. But if it is something you are truly passionate about, then share. Share your passion with the world. Share your passion to help not only others learn and grow but for you to find true happiness. It is not just about be “found” or “going-big” it is about doing something you love and finding yourself. So let’s buckle down, take a breath and START!
Bradley Clemens