Playing it safe is costing you

If you want to “play it safe” or to not be criticized, you can find ways to hide. Don’t take the shot. Don’t take the risk of losing, messing up, or looking foolish. Don’t play the game…

But if you do that, you limit how much you can grow and how great you can become. Each time you fail, you learn something. You grow. You become more anti-fragile. Use those failures as stepping stones for your success.

You can stay within your comfort zone, but by doing so, you’ll never reach your full potential.

Change and influence

Tony Gaskins was credited with saying, “If you can’t do anything about it, then let it go. Don’t be a prisoner to things you can’t change.”

I 100% agree with that statement. But I don’t want to just leave it at that. I would add that if you CAN do something about it, then do something. A lot of things are outside of our control, but inside of our influence. We have to take responsibility for our destiny by taking control of our effort and actions.

Did we try our best? Did we give it our all? Is something we’re doing (or not doing) helping produce the results we want? How is our mindset, our diet, exercise, and sleep? Are we learning new things? Are we feeling emotionally and spiritually fulfilled? What are we feeling anxious or stressed about and why?

It’s just like the Serenity Prayer…

“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Stop saying “I can’t”

We need to stop saying “I can’t”…if it’s something you don’t want to do, tell the truth. Not “I can’t,” but “I don’t want to.” If it’s something you’re not sure of, it’s not “I can’t,” but instead “I don’t know how.” But don’t just stop there. Ask yourself a question. Ask, “how can I?”

How can you achieve what you want to? What thoughts, words, and actions do you need to change? Do you need to ask someone for help as a mentor? Do you need to ask someone for help as a business partner, workout buddy, or accountability partner? Do you need to read more about the subject, research it, YouTube it?

When you’re stuck, it’s not permanent. It’s just a temporary road block. Figure out what you need to do differently or who can help you learn how to overcome that obstacle.

Change your mindset.