42 things to do if you weren't afraid

“I wished to live deliberately… and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
Henry David Thoreau
 
Everybody has a list of things they’d love to do, “If only I weren’t afraid of…” That’s the worst thing about anxiety and worry – they hold us back from living the lives we dream about. They put the brakes on our potential and limit what we can become. One college professor asked his students to list the things they’d do, if only they weren’t afraid. Here’s the list they compiled. See anything that resonates with you?
 
If I weren't afraid, I would:

1. Go back to being the person I used to be.
2. Stop giving in to the demons in my head
3. Try out for a singing show
4. Dye my hair purple
5. Love myself 100%
6. Stop worrying about letting the people I love down and being a total failure at life
7. Ask my girlfriend to marry me
8. Not think twice about the choices I make that I know deep down are right
9. Freely express my thoughts and opinions without worrying about what others may think
10. Drop out and work on the startup I’ve always dreamed about
11. Hike the whole Appalachian trail
12. Be a high school History or English teacher
13. Coach football, baseball or basketball
14. Tell handsome guys I thought they were handsome
15. Go without makeup sometimes
16. Kiss all the girls I can
17. Take as many AP classes as possible without thinking of failing
18. Tell the boy that I like how I actually feel about him
19. Tell my fake friends how I really feel about them
20. Go to any college that I got into without fear of the loans I would take out
21. Do what I ACTUALLY want to do when I grow up without the fear of thinking I won't cut it
22. Stop believing that I’m disappointing my parents
23. Stop being afraid of failing at life
24. Ride roller coasters and do more things that give you an adrenaline rush
25. Speak about my religious beliefs to everyone
26. Audition for lots of dance opportunities
27. Skydive
28. Stand up for myself
29. Say “no” more often
30. Wear whatever I want
31. Become a public speaker
32. Bring awareness to the problems the world faces today
33. Sleep with the lights off at night
34. Stand up to people when they are hurting me emotionally
35. Voice my opinion and not care what other people think
36. Just up and go
37. Make more conversation with people I don't know
38. Become a touring musician
39. Write and publish a book
40. Attend a meditation retreat
41. Travel abroad … by myself
42. Earn a doctoral degree

 
Now, what’s on that list of yours?