Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hạnh once said, “People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of the fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” We tend to settle for a job that we hate, a relationship that doesn’t bring us much joy, or a life that is below our true potential because we think it’s safer. We are afraid of uncertainty. We would rather suffer than take risks.
What if we can’t find something better? What if something goes wrong? What if we end up not achieving our dreams? Well, the truth is, life only begins when we step out of our comfort zone. We can’t keep hiding if we want different results. Here are 6 reasons you should embrace the unknown:
You get only one shot at life
You’ll regret wasting 5 or 10 years of your life on a job you hate, staying with someone who doesn’t appreciate you, and not living the life you’ve always imagined. One day, you’ll realise years have gone by and end up despising yourself for being stuck in the same situation.
The longer you wait, the more time you waste
Fear will make you procrastinate and come up with all sorts of excuses. It can even make you feel numb and keep you idle for years. You have to stop waiting for something to happen. Go after what makes you happy!
People who live their lives take risks
Do you envy entrepreneurs, vloggers, or long-term travellers and wish you could be more like them? You can’t if you’re afraid of failure, roadblocks, and what people will say. You can create your own journey, but you need to want it bad enough and you have to learn how to hustle.
Curiosity will spark a light in you
Be curious about what’s out there, what you could be doing, and what it would be like to live your life without worrying about having all the answers upfront. Stop stressing about the future. You don’t need to figure everything out right now. Take it one step at a time.
Challenges will make you stronger
Sure, it’s safe to be complacent, but do you really want to pretend to be happy for the rest of your life? You don’t have to make drastic changes. Just try something small first and then move on to the next challenge. You will feel more confident and even proud of yourself once you start.
Getting what you want is the best thing you can do for yourself
Stop asking the wrong questions and worrying about ‘what-ifs.’ You will never be able to discover your strengths and potential with negative thoughts. Do what you love and get what you want because you deserve to be happy.
“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” – John Allen Paulos
