Thank you for writing this. This post came at the right time for me, and I just found it really interesting how I wrote about taking baby steps and setting up realistic goals on the same day you posted this. I think it either means that I was meant to find this or that Medium’s algorithm must be pretty good… (I’ll go with the former though.)

Your message really resonated with me because I’ve given up on my goals so many times, and pretty much because of the reason you pointed out. I was scared to fail in public, scared that someone would see me daring to try and would judge me if I stumbled and fell, embarrassing myself and laughing behind my back at my silly attempts. It’s very hard to break out of this mindset, but after a few years of struggling and doubting my capabilities and ambitions, I had to tell myself that I was living this life for myself and that no one should be able to control my own desires and dreams. No one should be able to dictate what kind of life I should live, what the correct way to live should be.

I couldn’t let anyone tell me my “why” — I had to figure it out on my own. But I couldn’t sit there and find out what it was by philosophizing and thinking about it. I had to do something. I had to try something. So I did and I finally feel like I can move forward and I no longer feel as helpless and lost as I had when I was only thinking about my purpose and my dream life.

The 5-second rule sounds like a great strategy that I’ll try implementing in my life. I think it’ll have great results :) Also, I really enjoyed your quote on why you write. I think I share that feeling as well when I am writing.

I choose to write because it fills my heart and clears my mind.

Thanks for this thought-provoking post Dr. Knobelman.