Why You Should Make the Most of Your Time and Just Live Life With The Brakes Off

When was the last time you did?

When was the last time you did something and genuinely didn’t care what people thought ?

From as early as I can remember, I’ve always been concerned about what others will think.

Essays I’ve written at university have been held back as I haven’t dared share views that might upset people.

My dissertation for my year abroad in France was ‘The History of Le Touquet During the Second World War.’

I mean, even now, it sounds dull.

But that’s my problem.

I’m fearful of giving my views or stepping outside my comfort zone or being wrong or failing.

And it’s slowly starting to dawn on me,

It’s no way to live a life.

I’m hesitant about putting my thoughts on platforms like LinkedIn because there are people on the platform who know me and may make negative comments about my posts.

Even the articles I write on Medium are tame and not aimed at dividing opinions or of giving strong opinions.

Look at my articles. They’re safe and give advice that anyone could give.

But I’m working to get over that.

Have you put this ingredient with this one? Why not?

Having no fear is the key

I watched ‘Masterchef, The Professionals’ recently, as the young chefs were put through their paces at a top Michelin-starred restaurant in London.

Classically trained, they followed the rules and did things by the book.

The chef patron asked the questions,

Why not try this?

He challenged their conventional thinking and admitted that sometimes it works.

Sometimes it doesn’t.

In my profession as a funeral celebrant, I have to write services to celebrate the life of a loved one.

And I’ll be honest, I hold back. I don't take risks. I rarely try new things.

I’m at the age now where I’ve said the words so many times, I don't need to look at my notes.

I feel the same with my writing on this platform.

I write with the brakes on.

I don’t let myself go and just let the words come out as they should.

I overthink and hold myself back with an annoying type of self-editing.

I read articles from talented writers like Tim Denning and Eve Arnold and wish I could find the turns of phrase that they use.

But they’ve been at this a lot longer than me.

Maybe it’s a time thing.

It set me to thinking how many of us are living our lives in 3rd gear. Struggling to reach peak performance for fear of failure or criticism?

From an early age, we are put into classes, dressed the same, and made to turn up at a certain time, and leave at another time, we go to work and do the same.

Our lives are controlled by what is expected because it's how it’s always been done.

I understand that in life there has to be some form of social convention and control otherwise it would be anarchy.

But there are areas of our lives where we can try something new and nothing bad will happen.

Writing is one of those areas.

I know we all have that voice in our heads telling us not to because people will laugh or criticize.

Ask yourself

What’s the worst that can happen?

And I don’t mean,

Someone will make fun of me

Let your imagination run wild. What’s the worst thing you could imagine happening in this life?

Got it?

Is that going to happen if you press ‘submit’ on your article?

Answer?

No.

So what’s stopping you?