What If It Turns Out Better Than You Think?

I've spent a lot of my career stuck in my own head. Overthinking, doubting myself, and being my own worst critic. If you're anything like me, you know what it's like to carry the weight of self-doubt around. You've heard those voices — real or imagined — telling you you're not good enough, not disciplined enough, not as capable as the next person.

For me, those voices sounded like:

But here's the kicker: none of them were actually saying those things. It was all fear. My own fear.

Fear loves to masquerade as truth. It convinces you that every doubt and criticism is reality. It whispers that you're stuck where you are because you're not good enough. But fear is a liar. And when you let it take the wheel, it will paralyze you. It will keep you picking apart your choices, doubting your abilities, and staying exactly where you are.

I know this because I've lived it. For years, I let fear dictate my actions. I worked tirelessly in jobs where I wasn't appreciated, telling myself that if I just worked harder, someone would notice. I stayed in situations that didn't serve me because I convinced myself I didn't deserve better.

Then one day, I asked myself: What if it turns out better than I think?

What if all the risks I was afraid to take weren't as scary as they seemed? What if, instead of letting fear keep me paralyzed, I took one small step forward? Not a leap — just a step.

So, I started. Slowly. I made a plan. I mapped out small, actionable steps to move forward — toward better roles, toward better connections, toward better opportunities. I prioritized what mattered most and let go of the fear that had been holding me back. And guess what? It turned out better than I thought.

I learned that progress isn't about being fearless; it's about taking action despite the fear. It's about asking yourself the hard questions:

The moment you stop letting fear control your choices, you open yourself up to opportunities you never thought possible.

This doesn't just apply to career moves. It applies to everything: starting that side project you've been thinking about, reaching out to that mentor you admire, having that tough conversation you've been avoiding.

Every big change starts with one small step forward.

So, I'll ask you the same question I asked myself: What if it turns out better than you think?

Take that step. It's time to find out.