Roughly 21 years ago I attended a seminar by Anthony Robbins. One of the questions he asked the audience to ponder was “What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?”
This question has stuck with me ever since, and multiple times it has helped me to take the step I should take when my self-doubts and fears could get in my way. As I have personally evolved and spent time working with, and mentoring, many people I have come to realize that there is a further aspect of the question that is a major factor in the decisions people make.
The real question is “What would you do, if you knew you could not fail and you didn’t care about what someone else’s opinion is?”
It took me many years to get to a place where I truly don’t care what someone else thinks of my life choices. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have very human moments where it creeps up on me…it means that when it happens I recognize it right away and then I can move on. If I hadn’t adopted this mentality I shudder to think of what that would have cost me in terms of lifestyle and fulfillment. Even in my day to day work this is important for me, because in my business I focus completely on helping someone else. I only succeed if they are benefitting. If I were to worry about what they were thinking about me, then I would be focused on me and not them and I would be selfishly taking away a chance for them to help themselves, because of the paralysis of worrying about how they might perceive me.
Too many people live lives that are restricted by the invisible chains of other people’s opinion. Life should be cherished and lived. There is abundance and opportunity all around. If you have a secret passion or desire to do something…why is it a secret? Let it out. Pursue it.
“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something…almost everything-all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure-these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” -Steve Jobs, CEO Apple Computer
I cannot understand why someone would want to work at a job they don’t love, when anything is possible. I know that as we get older and have built lives that require us to maintain a certain standard of living, it is harder to make a change….but so what? So it’s harder. Anything that is worthwhile in life is going to be challenging…that’s the exciting part. Some people love their job, but still have it in their heart to do something else too. Begin it. Write that book. Begin that cause. Learn to dance. Whatever it is….DO IT!
Never worry about what someone else is thinking about you when you take steps to live a better life. Beside, they aren’t thinking about you anyway. They’re thinking about themselves. I once heard it said “What other people think is none of your business.”
Plan like you will live forever. Live like there is no tomorrow.
