In the earliest days of MakeLifeClick, we spent time exploring the 7 values that underpin the community. These are:
- Trust
- Humility
- Honesty
- Kindness
- Appreciation
- Courage
- Curiosity
We explored each of these in season 1 of the podcast – you can listen to the final wrap-up episode here.
Alongside the podcast, members of the community wrote some heartfelt posts, expressing what these words/values mean to them.
Over the next while, we’ll be re-sharing some of these, beginning with a post about a question we asked back on day one…
How might your life be different if you based your decisions on hope rather than fear?
Questioning a life lived in fear
If I made decisions based on hope not fear, life would be very different…
I don’t consider myself a pessimist. Sometimes I’m an optimist. But most of the time I’m a realist, or so I like to think, at least.
Looking around me, so many others seem to be doing amazing things. So what’s stopping me from doing these things too?
Fear.
Always fear.
And the fear of failure more than anything.
I think it comes from being a perfectionist. I’m always quick off the mark to criticise others. And it’s that fear of being criticised that holds me back.
I don’t want to do the ‘wrong‘ things, or not be seen as ‘good enough‘ by others.
Judge as ye shall be judged.
A life ruled by fear
If life wasn’t ruled by fear, I’d have gone freelance much sooner. But I didn’t feel ‘ready’. I’ve now been freelancing for 6 months, and I’m still not sure I’m ready.
Some days are good. Some days are bad.
Some days I don’t overthink things and just get on with whatever the day brings.
Those are the days that aren’t governed by fear. I wish there were more of these days.
Fear of being told, “it’s not good enough“. Fear of not being as good as my peers.
If life wasn’t ruled by fear I’d allow myself to feel proud of my achievements to date, rather than comparing myself to others who’ve been doing it for years.
If life wasn’t ruled by fear, I’d be more able to focus on the successes I’ve had since I stepped into the unknown, instead of still worrying about what is yet to come.
If life wasn’t ruled by fear, I’d share the work that I do more freely. My opinions, my successes and my failures.
I’d share the big things and the little. I’d join the conversations that I felt I couldn’t add value to and not be scared of being shot down.
If life wasn’t ruled by fear, who knows where I’d be. Who knows what I’d be doing. Who knows what I could be.
A time when life wasn’t ruled by fear
I’d never have travelled to the places I’ve been. Seen the things I’ve seen, or met the people who’ve brought joy to life in so many ways.
I wouldn’t have jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet, or bungee-jumped off a high wire in the middle of a canyon.
Back when I was a child I was scared of nothing, so when did I let the fear take over? When did I stop feeling the fear and doing it anyway?
A future lived in hope, not fear
Where could I be if I stepped into the unknown?
At the end of the day, what’s the worst that can happen? Whose opinion matters?
Who am I trying to impress and why do I feel such pressure to feel that I’m seen as “successful” and “interesting“, “funny” and “smart“?
Why doesn’t the opinion of my friends and family matter more to me than that of strangers and peers?
If life was governed by hope not fear, it would be a world of opportunity not threat.
Maybe it’s time I started living in hope, not fear.
~ By Andie Coupland
About the Author: Team MLC
