I spent nearly 5 hours at the bookstore today. Its my cerebral playground... I walk in and simply get lost amidst the myriad of stories. I didn't INTEND to spend five hours there but when I looked at my watch I just laughed at how quickly the time passed.
Anyway... I read a short story that really made me think...
"A criminal committed a crime (because hey, thats what criminals do...right?) anyway, he was sent to the king for punishment. The king told him he had a choice, he could be hung by a rope or take the punishment behind the big dark scary steel door. The criminal quickly decided on the rope. The king chuckled to himself and said... "nearly everyone always chooses the rope." As the noose was being slipped on him, the criminal asked... "Out of curiosity, what's behind that door? Obviously I wont tell anyone" he said, pointing to the noose around his neck. The king paused and answered... "Freedom, but it seems most people are so afraid of the unknown, that they immediately take the rope..."
Is there anything in your life that is holding you back out of fear of the unknown? For that criminal, as far as he could see, he was gonna die either way so he chose the safe route. BUT look at what would have happened if he had chosen the unknown? Sure, it could have been a big hairy beast, but what a cooler way to die rather than a boring ol' noose! right?! (its all a matter of perspective my friends!)
As I evaluate my life, my business, & my goals in preparation for the new year, I am challenged to take even more risks!! I actually get a thrill off risks and crazy adventures....but I find that some I am too fearful to take. As I evaluate those risks, I realize they are based on fear... fear of failing, fear of getting hurt, fear of _________(fill in the blank).
Sooo... my challenge to you (and to me) is to not be motivated by fear of the unknown but to passionately and wholeheartedly say "I want to see what's behind door number 2 please, Bob!!"
What 'fear of the unknowns' are holding YOU back from the potential to live an amazing life... or to go to that next level in your business.. or whatever else you can imagine?!
:)
7 comments:
Ok Please tell me you went to Powells!! Oh how I crave the never ending floors of dusty books and cool wacky people! Portland just doesnt know how good they got it :)
shy-you amaze me. thank you for the challenge! you are so wonderful! I miss you dear friend!
Great post Shy!
Very thought provoking =)
Shyla I totally agree about fear. I posted something similar on my blog couple of entries back. Thanks for sharing. Let's not let fear dictate us next year!
Shyla, nice post! I've had a few moments of fear during my photography. And everytime so far, things have come out ok. Fear of the unknown is the one we needn't pay attention to!
thanks!
Mark
We fear the lamest things. What other people will think, what we will think. Who will judge us, how we judge ourselves. Really, why should we care? The biggest (calculated) risk takers take the lion's share every time. When you're on your death bed do you really want to think about all the risks you didn't take? GREAT post Shyla.
i loved this! I have dealt with major battles of fear throughout my life and for the last 5 months stepping out pursuing my dream of photography has brought many more. Thank God he has delivered me from them...and continues to pull and push me out to the edge of the cliff to just trust him. Can I just ask... how long have you been doing photography and how long was it before you were able to just do it...and nothing else? I'm pretty impatient and seem to keep fighting the fear of not being able to do it and work full time in the meantime :) thanks!
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