be brave enough to try - Issue #38

Dear you,

How are you doing?

I did something super interesting. I went Kayaking in an ocean. It was something I had never done before. And the instructor only paddled beside me, he was not in my own Kayak, he was in his, and I was in mine. I had never done it before and this first time, I decided to do it in an ocean! It felt like a crazy decision.

Why would I choose to learn in a spot that wasn't safe?

The answer is I don't know but I dared myself to try. It looked scarier than it actually was. My brain made it so much more dramatic than it actually was. I almost scared myself out of the amazing experience. I imagined crazy things. What if I tumbled? What if I fell? What if I drowned? What if I froze? So many negative "What Ifs", so I tricked my mind to imagine positive What Ifs and counter my fear. I am so glad I did, because I almost cheated myself out of this wonderful experience. I did it afraid until I was no longer afraid. 

I realized that this is exactly how we cheat ourselves out of great opportunities and experiences because we give in to fear, instead of taking the courageous path of "trying". You don't have to do it all the way, you just have to try.

Just try

That thing you have been procrastinating out of fear, just try! What's the worst thing that could happen? Also, What is the best thing that could happen? Don't cheat yourself out of the best thing that could happen because you are scared of the worst thing that may not happen.

With love,

Blessing Abeng

Ps: I wore a life jacket before leaving this shore and kayaking into the ocean.