Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Thisiswhypeopleareoftensoafraidofsuccess—fortheexactsamereasonthey’reafraidoffailure:itthreatenswhotheybelievethemselvestobe.

           Youavoidwritingthatscreenplayyou’vealwaysdreamedofbecausedoingsowouldcallintoquestionyouridentityasapracticalinsuranceadjuster.Youavoidtalkingtoyourhusbandaboutbeingmoreadventurousinthebedroombecausethatconversationwouldchallengeyouridentityasagood,moralwoman.Youavoidtellingyourfriendthatyoudon’twanttoseehimanymorebecauseendingthefriendshipwouldconflictwithyouridentityasanice,forgivingperson.

           Thesearegood,importantopportunitiesthatweconsistentlypassupbecausetheythreatentochangehowweviewandfeelaboutourselves.Theythreatenthevaluesthatwe’vechosenandhavelearnedtoliveupto.

           Ihadafriendwho,forthelongesttime,talkedaboutputtinghisartworkonlineandtryingtomakeagoofitasaprofessional(oratleastsemiprofessional)artist.Hetalkedaboutitforyears;hesavedupmoney;heevenbuiltafewdifferentwebsitesanduploadedhisportfolio.

           Butheneverlaunched.Therewasalwayssomereason:theresolutiononhisworkwasn’tgoodenough,orhehadjustpaintedsomethingbetter,orhewasn’tinapositiontodedicateenoughtimetoityet.

           Yearspassedandheneverdidgiveuphis“realjob.