A reality I avoided for a long time was that the only way for me to make a difference was to risk with something new.
There are many of us who can’t make any impact by living the way we do now. We might acknowledge this, but are too afraid to admit it. Why?
Because we’re afraid to start something new.
I’ve spent time with many artists and entrepreneurs who only found success in their calling by leaving their worn-out path and starting something new for themselves. As usual, their stories inspired me. The way they garnered tremendous courage, left security, and forged a new, more successful path for themselves was exhilarating to hear about.
In many ways, it reminds me of the actions of Jesus, who abandoned traditional conventions of His society, and ended up adding value to the world. I think we are called to this mission as well—to work for the common good just as Jesus did. But sometimes, this means we must start something new.
But if we’re honest, many of us don’t want to do this. We would rather be comfortable than live according to our calling.
What do we have against starting something new? Why do so many people shudder at the thought?
While thinking upon this question, I reflected back to the fears I felt before becoming a writer. That’s when I realized something crucial about our inhibition to start:
Many people are afraid to start something new because they believe the wrong things about what it means to risk on a project.
If you have a passion burning inside you, it’s necessary to start pursuing it. It’s time to correct these fears holding us back:
The Fear of Public Rejection
“… We are no trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” –1 Thess. 2:4
It’s true: when you start something new, the greater public might not be %100 on board. If you start something new often, they might have greater reason to not trust your latest endeavor.
But the public isn’t you. You do need to appeal to the public, but that doesn’t mean you always listen to them when they don’t want you to pursue a new project. Instead, it’s your responsibility to make your project outstanding. It’s your job to make them approve.
The Fear of Failure
The fear of failure is one of the oldest fears in the book. For centuries it has kept hundreds of willing and able individuals still in their tracks.
Yet, if you spend so much time trying to avoid failure, then we’ll miss out on the glorious things that require failure. In other words, you need to be a person who fails if you want to be a person of success. You need to perfect the ability of failing forward – learning from your mistakes and moving on.
The Fear of Spending
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” –Mathew 6:21
Anything you spend money on is something you’re invested in. Sometimes you fear spending on your project because that means you must take it seriously. If you’re putting cash down on it, it needs to be worth it.
The reality is, however, you pay for many things in your life. You pay for items at the thrift store, an awesome dress you see in the window, or the latest gadget to adorn your accessories. Doesn’t it make sense to also pay for your passion? Doesn’t excelling in your passion mean more than anything else you spend for?
The Fear of Insecurity
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 18:4
The final fear is possibly the fear I felt tug at me the most. Simply put, I didn’t want to come across as being insecure. I didn’t want to admit that I didn’t have life all figured out already and that I was flip-flopping till I found something to satisfy me.
When you start something new, there’s a moment of humility that happens. It is the moment when you come to grips that the life you’ve been living isn’t the best one for you. This isn’t insecurity. This is a revelation we should welcome.
So what if you decide to change course? All that means is that you’re committed to living the life God designed for you. People should praise that instead of deem you as insecure and unhappy.
If you don’t start something new because of your fears, your fears will soon turn into regrets. And the reality is, living like Jesus doesn’t involve regrets; it involves living according to our calling. We have the freedom to be creative with our lives, to side step, start something new, and discern what that calling is. It’s our responsibility as Christians adding value to the world.
Let’s not let our fear take this away from us.
If you liked this post, check out:
God Cares about Your Job Title
Christians Should Never Be Afraid to Make a Profit for their Work
How Finding Your Calling Leads to Selflessness