What would you do?
You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could only know how seldom they do. – Olin Miller
I’m reminded of a lot of things when I read this quote, but most prominent are all the people who have ever said to me “I don’t go to the gym because I don’t want people looking at me.” My response is always the same “Trust me, no one is looking at you except you.”
I have come to believe that worrying about what other people think is about two things: 1) my ego and 2) an excuse I use to avoid facing my fears.
Someone once asked me the following two questions that really made me take a step back and reflect. The answers that came of them were very powerful and today I share them with you along with the challenge of answering them truthfully for yourself.
- What would you do if you didn’t need the approval of other people?
- What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
What if believing in yourself was enough? Would you have the courage to live out the answers to these questions? I love answering these questions, for me they are an automatic invitation to dream big.
I’m not sure knowing the answers is enough, I believe we still have to work through the fear and that’s not easy to do. In a future post I will share my recent journey of working through my fear, stay tuned.
Very good points, time to ponder a bit….
Mark Salinass last blog post..Core Challenge
What a wonderful quote…then, what I’m often surprised by is that, contrary to what I always other assume, what people think of me is often positive.
YogaforCynicss last blog post..It’s So Cold In Alaska….
These questions do require us to really step back and think about what they mean to us. And they’re questions we don’t often ask - probably because, even though they’re important, there doesn’t seem to be an urgency to answer them - there is always tomorrow. Until, pretty soon - tomorrow is 10 years, 20 years, or more down the road. And we’ve forgot all about the dreams we used to have.
I’m going with a short answer here - because I haven’t given these questions the proper time they deserve. But I will, I promise. So, back to the short answers. And remember - these are kind of off the cuff - without a lot of thought yet. If I weren’t afraid, or needing approval of others - I have a couple of things that have danced in my head. One would be to open a fitness center/gym geared toward teens/adolescents. Another would be to work in the fitness industry. And a third would be to get into life coaching. The fears I have: fear of not being able to provide for my family. Fear of others I value thinking these are hair-brained ideas. Fear of getting burned out. Fear of having to go back to a job I don’t like (for the record, I do like my current job very much, but I just don’t love it). Fear of being unhappy with the choice I made. I guess you can see I could go on and on…
I felt some of these fears also when I began blogging. But you know what, it doesn’t matter anymore, because I feel that when I write it really touches my soul. And I’ve decided that’s more important than what others think. The thing is, I consider blogging to be more of a pasttime, not a career right now. And as such, I don’t feel like the stakes are as high as when I’m talking more about a life decision. I’m rambling on here, and I know the answer is that I should follow my dreams anyway. I’m not there yet…
Lances last blog post..Stimulate Creativity
I echo Lance,
I would–and will- become a Life coach and will become a writer- book form-( I already consider myself a writer)
It’s a great question..it reminds me of what would you do if money was no object and you knew you couldn’t fail…sky’s the limit…
as so then…what’s holding us back?
For me, I have a plan, it is just taking the steps to get there, it takes time. The map is in place.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Changing Colors
@Mark Salinas - I know, it is worth taking the time!
@YogaforCynics - I hear you - we are often our own worst critics. I used to be surprised when I received positive feedback!
@Lance - I think we all need to follow our hearts and do the things and make the choices that feel right. Rather than “should”. I was a market research professional for 10 years because I thought I “should”. You’ll know when the time is right!
@Wendi Kelly - So true - it takes time. Often we’re looking for quick results, not so, the steps are part of the experience to be enjoyed. Sounds like you are on your way - good luck!
That is a fantastic quote, and I’ve found it to be overwhelmingly true in my life. Not everyone is watching and waiting for me to trip and fall. Those that are, are the ones who will laugh with me and offer a hand up.
Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..What Could You Accomplish If You Truly Freed Yourself?