I’ve always been a fan of the phrase, “What if…” The chance to wonder, what if this were different? What if I changed this? What if X was Y instead? The “What ifs” can push you, encourage you to dream bigger, drive you to reach new goals, keep your mind swirling late at night, and drive you to try new things. New things full of possibilities that inspire you.
But this little phrase of “What if” can also stop you in your tracks. What if it doesn’t work out? What if I fail? What if I make a mistake? What if I fail? Did I mention failure?
The “What ifs” can become your enemy. Your roadblocks. The voices of doubt in your head that make you dream small, keep things the way they are, and miss opportunities to find greatness. The comfortable voice that creates routine that’s empty of change. No more wonder, just repeating the same. Acceptable repetition. Settling for what is. Is that what we want for ourselves? Even worse, is that what we dream of for our students?
So, what if we stop settling for what is? What if we push the fear back and just go? Do something. Be something. What if it doesn’t work out?
And just what if, things don’t work out the way you plan, but they work out even better? Risks are scary. But what’s even scarier? Not changing. Not finding “better” because we’re holding onto comfortable.
What if I’m wrong here? I know. I could totally be wrong. But what if I’m right? Anything is possible. And possible is filled with opportunity.