Just Pitschin’ Ideas: How to be BOLD

by Madison Pitsch

Last week in my journal I was writing about what motivates me. I wrote God (naturally), and my family and then I wrote fear probably 86 times (I’m only exaggerating a little bit). If I perceived a chance of failure, it was really hard for me to go after something. I never wanted to embarrass myself because of failure. Why are we this way? I believe part of the reason we are this way is because we live in a society driven by perfection. If we are not going to be perfect, we are told we do not matter. That puts a lot of pressure on failure. That puts a lot of pressure on us.

Living this way has got to stop. We are not living to our full potential because we are afraid of falling and failing. I sound like a cheesy motivational speaker, but honestly, guys…   

What are we if we are not bold?

We are nothing.

So how can you start living boldly? An easy way to start is the 20-second trick.  Have you ever seen the movie We Bought a Zoo? The main character says, “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” This phrase is the epitome of the “fake it till you make it” attitude. It is the feeling that you felt when moving to college. When your fear comes sneaking up, just hold on. Be brave for 20 more seconds. You can accomplish way more in those 20 seconds of bravery than you ever could in your time of fear.

Want another trick for your nerves when applying to the job? Just remember, the worst thing they can say to you is “no.” While that “no” might sting for a couple seconds, I promise you it does not matter in the long run. And to ensure that the “no” doesn’t hurt for too long, I will teach you the rule of the “One Second.” The rule is: whatever happens, whether bad or good, you get to be disappointed/celebrate for one second before moving on. It is the best way to acknowledge your feelings and get ready for the next problem. The key to failure and being brave? Moving on!

My last nugget of advice for you? GO FOR IT! You have a lot of big dreams, and the only way you are going to accomplish those dreams is if YOU go after it. The more you do tiny brave acts, the easier they become. Sure, that first jump is a scary thing to do, but it’s an exhilarating habit. Be brave, my friend. Go for it!