What If?

“There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask “What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?”
Erin Hanson

Dreams
What did you dream about when you were a child? Children have big dreams. Nothing seems impossible to them. Too often, as we grow, we start to doubt our ability to bring those dreams into reality. We begin to settle for the way things are and lose our joy for life.

What hinders you?
My dreams have often been hindered from thinking I was too young, and then, I was too old. I was not smart enough. I was too busy. I didn’t have the needed finances to learn what I would need to learn. And, sadly, I was afraid I might fail.

Paralyzed by Perfection
That fear of failure has kept me from pursuing so many things in my life. Why is it that we only embrace those things that we think we can do ‘perfectly?’

I can remember when I was first asked to write for a local magazine. I was not a writer and felt terrified of looking like an ignorant fool. It is one thing to say something and have people judge your comment, but it is another thing to write something that will be out there forever for others to judge. My solution? I would write very simple bullet points to avoid having too many words in an article for people to evaluate. As my confidence increased, I added more words. I realized the only way to learn to write is to write! Yes, I need to study, read, and learn from others, but it is in the doing where I find joy, and potentially, mastery. My writing didn’t need to receive a literary prize to be valid. My writing could simply be a way to express my thoughts.

The Goal
If the fear of not being the best at a particular skill limits what you attempt to do, you limit your ability to experience new things. What if joy is found simply in the doing? What if the goal is to embrace the experience? What if the aim is to learn a new skill? What if the result is that you finally did what was in your heart? Maybe this should be the prize you seek.

The Benefit
The act of diving into something that ignites your passion can provide you with great joy. You will experience a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and increased confidence. Maybe it is only something you do once, but it will add to who you are as a person and enrich every other area of your life.

Invest in yourself
While many things can come and go, your life experiences and your education will remain. They become the fabric of who you are. Houses, cars, jewelry, jobs, and even people can come and go, but your life experiences and education will always be with you.

When was the last time you pursued something you desired? What is holding you back? What if you took one step in that direction? What if you tried? You might find that you will soar and experience a joy that surpasses your dreams.

7 Social Skills Everyone Should Master

©2015 What Would Mrs King Do? If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog, you may do so. Please include our credit information: Written byDeborah King, What Would Mrs King Do? © Copyright 2015. I would also appreciate it if you would send us a copy for our files to [email protected]. If you would like to learn more about social skills contact Final Touch Finishing School, Inc.