Stop Playing It Safe
I’ve witnessed people literally talk themselves out of pursuing their dreams and fulfilling their passion right in front of my eyes. First, they tell me their aspirations, then, in the next breath, they share dozens of reasons why they need to play it safe. It mystifies me to see what fear of the unknown can do to squash a dream.
For the past few months I have been touring the country promoting my book “Protected by Purpose.” During my journey, many individuals from different industries and professions have asked my advice on how to recharge or reset their career goals, but then file it away in the cobwebs of their minds.
What is stopping these individuals? Do they think they’re unworthy of living their dream? To get a dream or vision accomplished, you’ve got to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
This pattern of behavior got me thinking. Why are people comfortable with settling and procrastinating, opposed to taking a risk on themselves to live their best life? Understandably, today’s culture bombards us with negative and controversial news and media, which is likely driving these feelings of anxiety and insecurity about the future. The one thing I know for sure is that we can never let our fear of the unknown outweigh our desire to pursue a life of purpose. As a woman of faith, I am a firm believer that if God put the vision in your head, he’s showing you what is possible. It is up to you to put in the work with fortitude to make it happen.
I have been fearful of many things in my life, but what I learned is that the more I acted with courage, the more courageous I became. When I began to step out of my comfort zone, it provided me with the armor to build confidence and take more risks. The results have not always been what I anticipated, but taking these risks have opened many doors of opportunity for me in my life and career.
Here’s my advice…do not put yourself in a restricted circle by overestimating the impact of risks and underestimating your ability to handle them. Make a commitment to release the fear! Think about your life 10 years ago. Were there things you were fearful about pursing that your older self now knows to be minuscule and insignificant? Don’t allow your future self to continue following the pattern of looking back with regret.
Take the bull by the horns, be courageous and create a plan for how you are going to achieve that vision in your head and start executing and documenting your progress. And, when you start to feel complacent and see yourself in doubt or procrastinating, remember this quote by Harry Gray, “No one ever achieved greatness by playing it safe.”
Peace and blessings to you,
