Brian Shoff

Don't Let Looking Silly Stop You

It’s safe to say that at some point in our lives, we’ve all tried something new.  Something we’ve never done before or don’t normally do in public.  I think it’s also safe to say that, at least one of these times, we ended up looking silly.  Maybe you said the wrong thing during an important presentation, tripped on your own feet walking down the aisle at your wedding, or drank too much and danced like a fool at your company’s Christmas party.  Whatever it was, the result was the same.

It’s natural.  Everyone feels embarrassed when they do something silly.  What’s worse; is these experiences make us second guess ever trying again.  We remember, in agonizing detail, how we felt the instant everything went wrong.  How our stomach dropped, face flushed, and mind raced as we wished that it’d all just be over.  We certainly don’t want to feel that way a second time.  So, for protection, we close ourselves off and find it more comfortable to simply let these moments pass us by.

Suddenly we forget that we are all afraid of looking ridiculous.  That we all worry about what other people think.  And we all want everyone to like us. 

It’s such a shame to see a person be the biggest barrier to their own happiness.  Living their life closed off to any positive new experiences and letting the fear of being laughed at dictate their actions. 

I think that’s just silly.

Though I’m not a big sports fan, I believe what Wayne Gretzky says to be true, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”  So the next time you’re given an opportunity to live life, take it.  I promise I’ll try not to laugh.

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