Yes, trying does come with some risks. But not trying is worse because you lose the strength that comes from making mistakes and trying again.
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There have been so many times in my life when I’ve wanted to do the right thing or make the right choice, but I didn’t know what that was.
It seemed like there were all these options and each one led down a hidden path. So instead of choosing I did nothing. I would wait, think, and do anything other than act.
I did this because I was afraid. I was scared of making mistakes, of screwing up, and of failing in a sublime and fantastic fashion.
And every time I’ve been in this place there’s only one thing that seems to work: I just have to try.
I have to swallow my fear, close my eyes, and take one small step into the unknown.
The time before I take that step is always a fog, but as soon as I do, the fog begins to clear. I’m able to see what I’ve done right and what I could be doing better. I see where I’m growing as a person and what is holding me back. But I can’t see any of it until I try.
Yes, trying is scary and it does come with some risks. It’s possible you’ll make the wrong choice and lose some time or some money. But not trying is even worse. When you don’t try you not only lose time, but you also lose the strength that comes from making mistakes and trying again.
What I’ve learned from years of trying is that being happy isn’t about making the perfect choice.
Being happy is really about trying to be good, trying to be nice, and trying to do the best you can, and accepting that even when things don’t turn out the way you hoped, you can always try again.
Toku is a mindfulness expert, speaker, and coach. He lived for over two years at a Zen monastery and now helps passionate people who are good at what they do, be the best at what they do. This post was originally published on MindFitMove.
Unedited Photo: Flickr/Simon Blackley