Sometimes you gotta say…

There’s a famous line from a fairly classic movie that I like to use when something must be done that has no logical explanation, or that people just don’t understand. People who are afraid to take a leap of faith, to do what must be done, can all benefit from this all wise line, ‘Sometimes, you gotta say what the fuck’. This line has never failed me, nor will it ever fail you.

I don’t know why I have suddenly felt so strongly about what I must do RIGHT NOW, or why, but it’s something that I firmly believe I must do. I was not meant to sit behind a desk all day, doing what others ask of me. I have a greater calling, a bigger purpose. At a dinner a few months ago with one of my very philosophical friends, he asked me, “Why are you here?” He didn’t mean it in a, why do we exist kind of way, rather he meant it in a kind of, Why am I specifically here – what’s my purpose or calling in life? I couldn’t give him a better answer than “I’m not entirely sure, but I know that I’m a lot closer to figuring it out now than I was a while ago.”  I think sometimes people just have to take a leap of faith, and just know deep down that things will all work out for the best, even if it isn’t something that can be explained logically.

Since deciding to leave my job and do my own thing, I’ve had so many people say so many different things to me. I’ve had endless questions about what I plan to do, comments on what kind of a person I am, and numerous questions about how I plan to make it all work. And I honestly don’t know the answer to a lot of the questions I’ve been asked, nor do I care to listen to the doubters and naysayers. I have always been an incredibly determined person. When I set my mind to something, I do it. I don’t care what people think or say about me. Watch me and see for yourself. In the last few weeks, what has been one of the best things for me to hear, were the positive things people had to say about me. I was actually a little overwhelmed by the positive and supportive reactions I had from people. I’ve had a few negative and confused comments from people, but the majority have been overwhelmingly positive. My boss (well,  now my former boss) said in my goodbye speech that I am fearless. I don’t think anyone has ever paid me a better compliment. I’m not fearless in the sense that I’m not afraid of anything – of course I’m afraid of things. Some things scare the shit out of me, but I find that fear to be a driving force behind a lot of the things I do. I used to be terrified of heights. I still get a little funny when I’m in a precariously high place…but that didn’t stop me from going sky diving (which was definitely one of the top 3 most terrifying moments of my life).

Walking out onto the wing of an airplane at 25,000 feet in the air, jumping off, and then free falling at terminal velocity for a full minute before the parachute opens up is no delicate matter. And trust me, it’s the longest minute for your life! But I did it. And I’ll do it again (my plans are already well underway to go sky diving in New Zealand next spring).

In your life, a lot of people are going to have a lot of doubts about you. That’s part of life. I think the important thing is to ignore the negativity and to only listen to the voice inside of you that is driving you on. It’s so important do what you feel you have to do! Your intuition is quite possibly the only voice you should listen to. And as far as the negative voices and statements are concerned, what better fuel to feed your fire? The positive voices already believe in you! It’s the naysayers and haters who need to believe more than anyone else. If someone is lost and disillusioned enough to go out of their way to tell you that they don’t believe in you, then who better to convince that you can and will do what you’ve set out to do than them? So many people are so completely terrified of going against the grain, rocking the boat and rustling the world’s feathers. Who better to convince that anything’s possible than those who need it the most – the naysayers. So in times like that, I highly recommend that when a negative voice expresses their doubts (which are really just fears, bitterness or an inability to believe), I suggest you fall back on that fail proof line from Risky Business. Just look the naysayer in the eye and say, “Sometimes, you just gotta say, ‘What the fuck?”. And then do it. Show them through your actions, rather than with a verbal retaliation. Because actions really do speak so much louder than words. This is the scene from the movie that I really feel just sums it all up: