How many times have you wanted to do something but then backed out at the last second? Whether it be a business decision, asking a girl out, taking a chance on an opportunity or whatever it may be, I’m sure there are many of you who have experienced this at least once or twice.
Right after you back out, some time may pass and then what happens? You start to feel sadness. You start to feel a little bit of regret. Why is that? Because you know you should’ve taken that chance but you allowed your fear, anxiety and doubt get the better of you.
William James was an American philosopher who truly believed in taking a chance. He has a philosophy that I believe many people would benefit from even after all these years. The philosophy that he embodied was this:
“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
What William James is saying can be considered quite practical and down to Earth. His philosophy is realistic in saying that not every chance you take will bring you happiness, but every chance you take opens yourself up to the possibility of obtaining happiness. You won’t always succeed but you definitely will fail if you don’t take action. I think this philosophy is one that every human can benefit from.
To eliminate that feeling of regret or sadness, you must be willing to have the courage to take on your fear. If you always allow fear to have the final say, you will truly never accomplish anything worth while in your life. You will remain defeated until the day you choose to take action.
If you take action but come up short, you have not failed. You have not failed because you have conquered your mind and your fear by being brave enough to take a chance. So if there’s anything you can take away from this blog, it is this philosophy.
If you really want to do something but those butterflies come creeping into your stomach and your palms start to sweat, be brave, be confident and take the chance. You will be a much happier person because of it, regardless of the outcome.
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