Getting Un-Stuck When You Are Scared of Trying Something New

Trying new things? Wake me when it's over. Sometimes the best thing to do when you don't know what to do is S-O-M-E-T-H-I-N-G. 

Anything. 

I'm notorious for getting myself so caught up in the "what if's" and the "could happen's" that I become paralyzed at the starting gate. Not so in certain areas of my life--these, I've come to realize--are the areas where I feel more confident. 

But when it comes time to try something new business-wise, particularly in public, I start to second guess every decision. 

Should I really have said/written that?
Was that the right response? 
Couldn't I have done a better job at that if I'd only ... 

This is not only an unhealthy pattern, it's a self-destructive one. 

One can't reach big goals if they don't first take tiny steps. And one can't know what their goals even are if they don't allow themselves the freedom of potentially screwing up. Big time. Tim Ferris talks about this in his book, The Four-Hour Work Week, as does Napoleon Hill in his famous work, Think and Grow Rich.  "So, how do I get un-stuck when I'm faced with trying something new and scary?" For an example of what not to do: check out image of my cat, Magoo, above. He hasn't tried anything new in years. Look where it's gotten him!

Let's use a real-life example: this blog. For months I've been halfheartedly posting, wondering if I should just delete it from the website all together. I tried to follow what other mystery/action writers wrote about on their sites. Meg Gardiner has a great and funny blog. Hugh Howey's blog is interesting, entertaining and updated regularly. 

Problem? I wanted to write about things that I'm passionate about, not necessarily mystery/action themes all the time. Things like helping other first-time authors, entrepreneurship and creativity . But how does all of that tie in with my mystery/action novels? 

I didn't find the answer until I embarked on this January challenge . And even now, I'm still sorting out the details, clarifying my vision and future goals. 

The point is that I wouldn't have gotten even close to clarifying my new vision if I hadn't taken the leap and done this challenge. If I hadn't been open to attending an author's panel last week on a bitter cold night ... if I was content with hemming and hawing and wishing things would be different ... but not doing anything to make them so. 

So, whether you're facing a big decision like moving across the country or marrying someone, or a small one like whether or not to start working on your short story, take some action, any action in the direction you believe you should go and just see what happens. 

It takes courage for sure. But the results will likely be better than you have ever dreamed possible. 

Have you made a decision that you've been putting off for a long time out of fear or resistance? How did you feel afterward and what were the end results?