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I have a dear friend who is afraid of everything. Afraid of failure. Afraid of looking stupid, Afraid of being wrong. If I hadn't known her most of her life, she wouldn't be my friend, because she's so afraid of rejection.
She is intelligent, beautiful, talented, loyal, and fun. She's interesting and insightful. And alone.
The saddest thing is that by remaining isolated to protect herself from the rejection of a few, she has chosen the rejection of all. No one can love her because no one knows her. Only by accepting the risk inherent in life, will she be able to find joy, peace, and love.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
When I wake up in the morning and I see a new day dawning, and I see the sky above me and I know somebody loves me—Then I want to stand and shout it, tell the whole wide world about it: It’s a wonderful thing to be me! I can hear the birds a singin’ and I feel like singing’ with ‘em, and a breeze is softly blowin’: In my heart I feel love growing,
For this day is just beginning; All at once I can’t help thinking: what wonderful thing to be me, and to be free!
Oh the day has ended sweetly; Now the evening comes to greet me.
In my mind I see tomorrow: no, it won’t be filled with sorrow, for I see a new day coming, through the meadows I’ll be running. What a wonderful thing to be me — and to be free! –Marcy Henchen
jeri, way to add a positive note! Thank you!
This is a great message. I’ve been so low the past few weeks, which is why I read this blog. I need hope that thing will, or at least can, get better. Sometimes I give up hope of living my dreams. But I can’t give up.
connor, your dreams (or some version of them) can come true, as they say. Take some time to create a specific plan of action to move on. Shoot me an email if you’d like to share specifics. 🙂
Very good lesson in that. It’s easy to give up when I don’t know if I’ll be the success or failure.
Me too, money. I like to see good outcomes, but I don’t really have faith my hard work will pay off. How do you move on when you don’t see a bright future?
LOVE LOVE LOVE this video, Alison! I have heard all these stories, but when you hear the music and the narrator, it sends chills down your spine! 🙂
Bryan, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I felt the same way. Not much knew information (I did not know this about Ulysses S. Grant, however), but such a powerful presentation. 🙂
There’s a good proverb “Who doesn’t risk, doesn’t get anything”. I prefer taking risks and fail (if necessary) but only in this way my mind will be calm that I have tried it – at least.
By the way, great video – a very inspiring one!
Anna, I’ll definitely pass that proverb on to my friend. Maybe she’ll paint it on her wall to read every day!
You bring up such a good point. Although I do have regrets about some of my failures, they are almost always because I did something half-heartedly or took a wrong approach. I rarely regret the actual effort. On the other hand, I have a number of regrets about things I never did, never tried, or shied away from. I wish I hadn’t let the opportunities pass by.
Alison,
Everyone of us should watch this video every once in a while. It would be a great reminder for us, that even when face setbacks, we can succeed.
I think that failing and setback are part of the journey to success!
Great video! I have seen it before, but it is one of my favorites. it is sad about your friend, but I know a few people that are just like that. If they would put their self out there a bit, they would see a whole new world.
Sean, it’s so true. I don’t think she (or others like her) realize how relatively little effort it takes to make friends. There are crummy, mean people out there. But there are also boatloads of nice folks just looking for connection.
Thanks for the input.
I have watched this movie and it impressed me – one idea occurred to me: how many other people gave up when they failed once? maybe the world has missed many other Einsteins and Gates.
DiNaRa, isn’t that the truth? How many geniuses are unrealized? Maybe all of us.
On the other hand, aren’t there people who beat their heads against the wall and never move on beyond a failed cause? I knew a man years ago who was determined to “never work for anyone again.” But he sincerely had no business acumen at all — and he either wasn’t will or wasn’t able to get the needed skills to run a business. Consequently, he lived out his life in dire financial straights.
Sometimes we need to balance our fantasy life with the realities of our (self-imposed?) limitations.
Hi Alison,
I have never come across someone actually being afraid of everything ever. Of course, I can imagine how it must be, however it would not be “real”. Great article! It’s always interesting to learn about what kind of people live amongst us.
Thanks for dropping by Pix2Brix, George. If only everyone could see their potential for great things.
This is a great pick up if you are down. I get down very easily, but this is very motivational and can really help.
I have read only few posts that i can say about ‘Great’. This is one of them – I have never heard about these facts and it was really surprising for me.
I think about our kids who are pushed down every time they do something ‘unnatural’. Who knows? Maybe in future they would become some great personality.