Sometimes the hardest things we’ll ever do in life are the very things that bring us the greatest rewards. Sometimes you have to take a chance on failure to succeed.

Ever since I learned how to read, my dream has been to write stories other people wanted to read (and reread). Stories that made people laugh and cry and think…and maybe one day write a story that changes how society, or even a single person, thinks about or looks at something.

Have you ever wanted a dream that much? Had to work for years, heart and soul, to get close to achieving that dream? This was a comfortable and safe dream until recently.

Now that the moment of publishing one of my stories is drawing closer, I am faced with a dump truck load of doubt and fear.

What if it doesn’t sell? What if people post terrible reviews online about it? What if it’s a financial loss – how do I justify that expense when we’re already living month to month?

If you’re not an artist, if you’ve never put your heart and soul into an original work and then laid your child out for the world to see and cast stones at, it might be hard to understand. But this goes so far beyond art.

What decision, opportunity, task lies before you that you’re hesitating about? Does it involve risk? Does it involve doing something in a new or different way? Stepping outside your comfort zone? Does it contradict what a loved one or friend says you should do?

I just watched a great movie with the hubs called Listen To Your Heart. It was released in 2010. It’s not a big budget film, but it’s earned a slew of awards and nominations across the United States. Fabulous story. I encourage you to check it out if you can. Very well written. The main character, Danny, falls for a pretty girl but finds out she’s deaf.

His friend tells him that a relationship with her will be too hard, too difficult, he’s better to move on and save himself the heartache. And Danny’s reply was rather profound:

“I don’t want to miss out on something great just because it might also be hard.” Tweet this

When I brainstorm a list of hard things I think of marriage, parenting, holding someone’s hand through an illness, reconciliation, forgiveness. The really hard things that people walk away from when it gets tough, when it starts to hurt or they become uncomfortable. It’s too hard, they say.

You experience joy by risking profound heartache. Tweet this The biggest rewards come from scare-your-pants-off chances. Tweet this

You’ll never experience true love if you never take a chance on allowing someone else to hurt you. IMO

So, I could give in to the fear and doubt and slide the manuscript I’ve been working on with my cowriter for the last two years into a drawer and never let anyone see it. I can hide it to avoid the risk of rejection, of failure. But I’d also hide from the chance, the opportunity, for that story to entertain, to change someone.

Let me put it to you another way. I’ve been meeting with a group of people from my church once a week. The group has decided to volunteer at a homeless shelter. Great idea. I’ll stay in the kitchen and wash dishes. But no, you’re expected to not just serve food but talk with people, play a game of cards, etc.

That’s pretty risky.

Not sure I’m cool with that. My extreme introversion aside, that idea has so many red flags for me that it’s hard to pick out just one. But maybe I need to take a dose of my own medicine and do the hard thing. It probably won’t kill me, and who knows what I might gain from it.

Don’t miss out on something great because it might also be hard. Take a chance on making a mistake, on failing, on walking a different path. Offer a hand to a fellow traveler.

Have you missed out on something great because it would’ve been hard? Did you take a chance and work through the hard stuff to find something great? What advice do you give people — go for it, or play it safe?

Lisa

I blog when I have something to say, not on a set schedule. Make sure you don’t miss any posts by subscribing using the box below to have updates arrive once a week in your inbox. I would love to meet and chat, find me on Facebook here.