“Of all the people I have ever known, those who have pursued their dreams and failed have lived a much more fulfilling life than those who have put their dreams on a shelf for fear of failure.” ~Author Unknown
Have you ever noticed when faced with a new situation, a career change or another life altering choice, you are plagued with the WHAT IFs? What if I don’t make the right decision, what will happen?
We are all faced with what ifs almost every day and they can really drag you down. The mind doesn’t like change so what ifs are a great way of keeping you stuck in a rut, never to reach your true potential.
How do you quieten those what ifs? As someone who can really ramp them up in her own life, I have realized that some what ifs are a good thing. The good ones are the first to appear and challenge the choice you are facing, making you look at both sides. After that they start dogging you every hour of the day. They weigh you down, make you feel like you are stuck and beat your confidence into the ground. These are the ones that you have to let go.
Here’s what you do the next time the what ifs start wearing out their welcome in your life. Realize that failure means you let the what ifs win and you will remain stuck in your rut. Success means that you let go of the what ifs and moved one step closer to your true potential. So turn off the incessant chatter of the what ifs, run them out of town and stand firm in your decision. The strength you will gain by taking this step will far outweigh one more WHAT IF.
I would love to hear your comments on how you conquer the WHAT IFs in your life.
OMG! What perfect timing. I don’t do well at quieting the What If’s in my life but am facing them big time at the moment and need to make a decision. It’s easy to stay stuck in the rut. Society approves of it, family approves of it; playing it safe, making sure you can pay the bills, etc. The Universe is screaming at me right now and I am not doing well in ignoring it. My heart of heart tells me everyday to quit my job and go after my dreams. And every day I keep going to work because it is the “right thing to do”. I need a sign….
Sounds like Brenda you have moved past the “what ifs” that have you look at both sides of the decision and are now dealing with the other ones that drag you down. Just remember that you can always do something different if it doesn’t work out but you may just need to try and see if it will. You know my motto, “McDonald’s is always hiring”…LOL. You will know what’s best for you, trust your heart.
I am facing a “What If” and I think the “What If” is the failure it’s self. Like,”What if I am a failure”? Should I proceed and be laughed at or give it a shot? Questions? Yes, they consume my mind and drag me down.
Okay Darlene, what did I say about failure, it means you didn’t try that new thing and you stayed stuck. Take a deep breath and dive in, I really don’t think you will regret it. And if it doesn’t work, at least you TRIED. Go girl!
My problem is the “What If’s'” have merged into my opinion/vision of myself…I have let it be my “past”…my history…and without a doubt, cloud my future! I find myself asking the What If question to the point it has also become a blueprint for my future!! Even though I can step back and see that I’m doing it, telling myself to stop just makes me do it more!!! Breaking the mold is a tough thing to do!!!
Yes girl it does take time and a determination to break those old “what if” habits. But keep at it and I have no doubt that you will be successful at it. Also remember that NOT doing something for fear of failure is not true failure, failure is not trying at all.