Letting Go of “What If,” Ignoring Judgment, and Choosing a Life That Feels Honest, Bold, and Unapologetically Yours: It is Time to Start Taking Chances
Taking chances can be hard as there are so many unknowns that you face. These unknowns make is easy for us to stay in our comfort zone; however, when we do this we don’t ever end up with cool stories to tell.
Most of us get stuck in the “what if” whirlwind stories in our head, and ultimately, the longer we stay in this story cycle the worst the “what if” gets. If this is you have no fear. You control the story you tell yourself!
For the majority of people, the problem is that the “what if” story always results in a negative outcome. But “what if” it did work out, what will people say or think. “What if” people think I am an idiot because I did something they wouldn’t do or believe in and they don’t like me anymore and I lose friends. My simple answer…who cares what they think and if they want to walk away from you, o’well life goes on. And honestly, where they ever really your “friend” in the first place?
But the give “what if” question you should answer is: “what if” I really like it and want to do it again. What if it brings me joy and warms my heart and I am truly happy. Would it be worth trying out?
You will never know if you don’t control the story in your head. You will never know if you allow the “what will others or X think if I do it” narrative to control your life. Overcoming fear of judgement can be hard, as you were raised to value the opinions of others (especially your elders). But it is time to start to take control of YOUR life and step outside your comfort zone. Live with authenticity and courage, and most importantly, learn to live an unapologetically life YOU want to live.
Trust me, I love living outside of societal norms. I still get the “what will they think” thoughts that comes to mind when I think of new things, or getting ready to do things I enjoy doing. The only difference is, I have the ability to say “f*ck them if they don’t like it, it is my life, my world, my choices”.
I have a ton of fun stories and memories by taking chances in life, and to be 100% honest they are stories from things you would never do and that is okay. Hell, some of you would probably walk away and not be friends with me, and that is okay as well. While taking chances has resulted in some bad outcomes, I am still alive and here today writing this blog.
So as we close out 2025 and move into 2026 I challenge you to start taking chances and get some good stories to tell. Live life on your terms, not the terms of others (which varies on their mood). Others shouldn’t dictate your happiness, if that is the case you will truly never be happy. You will always live the “I would love to try/do that, but XX doesn’t believe in it” so I shouldn’t either.
There is an old saying “you can please some of the people all the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time” ~John Lydgate
Every day you wake up is a gift, but trust me, one day that gift will come to an end. One day soon you will be to old to get out and do the things you want to do today.
So, I encourage you to make 2026 the year of taking chances. If it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out. If you don’t like it, cool at least you tried. However, the one most powerful thing you will get out of the whole experience is the inner strength you gained from the courage of at least trying. And hell who knows, maybe you will find a cool story or twenty along the way. And, if you lose some people in your life along the way…maybe it was meant to be. Take a quick read from my recent blog “World Doesn’t Dictate What is Possible”
Don’t keep people in your life that slow you down, or hold you back. They don’t get to live your dreams, fantasies and your life. Hell, to be honest, you should try new things just to see who leaves and who stays.
In your corner taking chances and creating fun stories.
Ryan
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