What would you do if you could not fail? Go on, answer me honestly. Would your life look the way that you currently live it?
I no that for me, the answer to that is no. There are loads of things I wish I could do but I don’t because the cost of failure is too great. The cost of time spent on a project that could have been spent with my children is too precious. But looking back year after year and thinking about the roads I didn’t travel is just as much a let down as trying and failing.
You won’t know this about me, but I used to write poetry and stories. When I was still primary school aged, my mum sent some of my work off to a publisher and they wanted to include it in an anthology. Of course, I freaked out and refused to have my words published. I was like some sort of closet writer. Happy to sit in my own world and create to my heart’s content but absolutely terrified at the idea of my work meeting any sort of critique. I think in some ways, this still holds true today.
But Tinuke you write here, and have been doing for many years, I hear you say. Yup, very true. But I have also hidden away for months on end too. Too scared that what I have to say isn’t important enough to share. That if I’m not going to be bringing in hundreds of thousands of page views each week, then my words aren’t worthy of being published. But I’m here to say that they are. Because they are mine, and we are all worthy.
That idea you’ve been mulling on for ages. The one that you keep on falling back to just before sleep overwhelms you; do it. That novel you’ve been toying with for the past few years; write it.
Life is too short for what ifs. I can’t promise you that you won’t fail. I really wish I could. But I promise you that you have 100% more chance of succeeding by taking action and taking a chance than you do if you never bother in the first place. Genius right? So go on, what would you do if you could not fail?
Featured image Jaroslaw Knapek
This is so true. Indeed, where did doing nothing get us? I think failing is still better than not doing any efforts at all. Thank you so much for sharing this. Love lots, xoxo