Ten Things I Would Do If I Weren't Afraid

1. Write a book. Even if no one ever reads it, even if it is never published, I’d love to prove to myself that I have the talent and the discipline to fashion an elaborate idea and put it to words in a beautiful way.
2. Blog more often. Sharing my writing with others unleashes a swarm of butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I know I have talent buried within me, but I don’t always have the confidence to stand behind it. I write something, I click "publish," and instantly, I want to nosedive into my bed and hide under the covers. I’m so afraid of opening myself up to the world that so often I choose not to do it. Starting and staying committed to A Change of Pace is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself, because month by month and post by post, I’m proving to myself that I can do it.
3. Be confident in my abilities. I never fully believe in myself or consider myself "good enough," which deters me from realizing my true potential.
4. Be okay with saying "no." I always feel the need to satisfy other people, which can step on my own happiness at times. So often, I say "yes" when, deep down, I’m restraining myself from shaking my head "no." If "no" is how I feel, then "no" is what I need to say.
5. Speak my mind. Say what I want to say when I want to say it, no matter the repercussion.
6. Wear an outfit that feels out of my element and wear it with confidence. My wardrobe as of late has gotten a bit dull. I have a closet bursting with variety, yet day after day, I gravitate to what feels safe and comfortable - jeans and a t-shirt. When I think of myself in a fashionable top that shows off some skin, a sundress that shows off my legs, or a pair of edgy shoes that adds inches to my height, I always cringe and think, "Sam, you can’t pull that off!" I’m my own worst critic, and I’m constantly breaking down every part of my body to the point that I’ve become uncomfortable wearing certain things in public. If I want to wear a dress, I should wear it, because most likely, the only person staring at my thighs and thinking, "Wow, her thighs are so huge they should have their own zip code…" is me. Not only is it a waste of time to worry about what others may think, it’s about time I start loving the body I was blessed with.
7. Give myself credit where it’s due. I’m good at picking out the things about myself that need fine-tuning, but I’m not so good at playing to or acknowledging my strengths.
8. Strike up conversations with new people. Making small talk and attempting to befriend someone is one of the most awkward social situations in which I could possibly find myself. But if I fight the anxiety and strike up a conversation when the opportunity arises, I just might find new friendships blooming all around me.
9. Give up coffee. I’m afraid that trying to beat the addiction would wreak havoc on my life. A long period without coffee morphs me into a cranky, fatigued, stress-ridden, headache-suffering girl. Am I being overly dramatic? Possibly. The truth is, coffee is one of those sweet indulgences in life that I really enjoy. I don’t want to give it up completely, but if I say "no" to the craving more often, I’d have a little more cash in my wallet, and I’d feel better about myself for limiting the amount of caffeine I consume.
10. Splurge without feeling guilty. I’m starting to realize that life isn’t all about stashing away money for the future and cringing every time the digits in our bank account take a slight downward plunge. I doubt I’ll ever stop cringing, but I do realize that life is also about living along the way. I’ll never stop being mindful of our money, but I want to lose that guilty knot that forms every time I buy something for myself. It’s okay to splurge on something new and nice when it fits our budget.

What would you do if you were brave?