Stuck in neutral – the inability to move forward or back or anywhere at all. Whether it stems from a particular set of circumstances or something else such as a lack of motivation or fear of failure, it’s debilitating and it can waste years of your life.

Surely you have found yourself in a situation where you felt you couldn’t move forward. Perhaps you were waiting to see which college would accept you or if you would receive a job offer or a promotion. Such matters are largely out of our control. However, there are other matters over which we wield significant if not total control.

Lack of Motivation

In one of my many adventures in home budgeting, I laid out a plan to purchase automobiles. For me, eight years is about as long as I can stand to own the same vehicle. Ten would be better, but I’m only human. In the process of doing the math, it occurred to me that for the balance of my life I would only own three or four new vehicles. That was depressing.

Though it was sobering, it also motivated me. It forced me to face my mortality and do something about it. My wife and I have since created a bucket list. We add to it from time to time as new ideas come to mind. Actually doing them is another matter, but one step at a time. The point is, sometimes we need a swift kick to get us moving.

When you feel compelled to do something, it’s important that you listen. It may not come around again anytime soon, if ever. Make a note of it and follow up. 

That doesn’t mean you have to pursue every thought that pops into your head, but neither should you ignore your ideas and inspirations. Don’t subscribe to the theory that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. That may apply to things in the physical world, but you are not a toaster or a blender. You are a living, breathing human being who is forever growing and changing. You have but one life to live, and this is it.

Never lose sight of the miracle that is you. In body and soul, you possess something utterly priceless. Mankind has spent billions of dollars and countless hours in pursuit of an elusive goal: to replicate a human being. While the advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are impressive, they don’t even come close to achieving the objective. No robot will ever compose a symphony like Mozart or dance like Ginger Rogers. Robots will never dream, never feel, never love.

Fear of Failure

The fear of failure is something that we all experience from time to time. It can be a good thing, like if you were thinking of crossing the Grand Canyon on a tightrope or diving into the hotel pool from a fifth-floor balcony. The fear of failure helps keep us safe, but it can also immobilize.

It took years for the Wright Brothers to invent the airplane, and by his own admission Thomas Edison failed more than a thousand times before he invented the lightbulb. Great people succeed because they accept failure as a natural part of the process. They learn from their mistakes. The only people who never fail are those who never do anything. 

No matter whether your dream is to invent the next big thing or simply find a hobby that you enjoy, don’t be afraid to fail. Expect it, embrace it, and learn from it. Failure is a normal part of life and to deny it is to deny your own humanity. Some people think it makes them look good to never apologize or admit they were wrong. Instead, it exposes their disingenuous nature.

Closing Thoughts

Stand up, take action, and do something! Do not be afraid to try new things. Expect to fail at first, because you will. It’s normal and it will pass.

People on their deathbed do not express regret over the things they’ve done, but rather the things they haven’t done. Live every day like it might be your last. One day you will be right.

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