Be Happy: Don't Worry - Do It

What should we do
Has Should shaped your life? Forget Should. Should is Wrong. Should is what stops you doing what you truly want to. By worrying about what you 'should' do you allow your fear of doing something different or new to control your life.

The importance of overcoming this fear is obvious. A life lived in fear is a life of unrealized potential and regrets. After all, we can only truly regret missed opportunities and the things we wish we'd done.

We may be more relaxed than the Georgians or Victorians when it comes to social protocol, but even today there is still a perception of conventional behaviour. This code of behaviour - never stepping outside the 'norm' - is programmed into us early in life and becomes more entrenched the older we get. You won't find it written down anywhere; it's an unspoken code that society follows. It's something we know inherently.

The problem is; if we allow it, This code determines what we do and don't do. Without those who dared to think outside the box, just think what wouldn't have been achieved: the secrets of DNA wouldn't have been discovered and we wouldn't have electricity, penicillin or Darwin's Origin of Species to name just four.

On a personal level, your fear stops you from making the most of your life. How can you have a full and fulfiling life if you're afraid to do different things or try something new? How can you ever be truly happy?

Anticipated versus Actual

Do you envy people who 'have a go' and long to do the same, but never do?
Do you want to do something, but worry it might not work out?

You need to learn to differentiate between times when you're right to be cautious and when your fears are unfounded.

Here's a trick I learned. Take a look back at things that have happened in the past:

Do you remember what you thought would happen?
And do you remember what actually happened?

I'm betting they were often two very different scenarios.

The next time you're faced with the decision of whether nor not to do something, ask yourself if your resistance to doing it is due to a genuine need to be cautious or just your fear of doing something different or new.


Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

The only person who can stop you doing all the things you want to, is You; and the only thing that can stop you is your fear.

So make the decision to be happy and get the most from your life. Step outside your zone of comfort and do something you've always wanted to.

Be Happy: Don't Worry - Do It!