I grew up hearing, “Erin, you can be anything you want as long as you put your mind to it and are willing to work for it.” That led to dreams of being president and the greatest WNBA player of all time. After not growing past 5’5” and not always enjoying the darker side of politics, those two career paths were taken off the table only to be replaced with others.
Because of my childhood, there is one question that often rings above all others in my life and serves as a guiding light for me: Why not? Seriously though, why not? I know it’s much easier to find the million reasons why something won’t happen, but isn’t it more fun to hold onto the one or two reasons it can? I get that it’s scary; putting yourself out there always is. You might falter and fall. People might criticize you. It might all blow up in your face, but it might also be everything you ever wanted. The possibility of that, to me, will forever outweigh the negatives that could happen.
I’m terrified that one day I will be at the end of my life and realize I waved the white flag purely on unsubstantiated fears of failure, rejection, and self doubt. I’m terrified I’ll never chase after my dreams because the type of plans I have for my life, “never happen for people like me.”
Does that sound familiar to any of you? I’ve met way more people who are holding onto a flag rather than their dreams.
Why not? When my heart literally aches to work for Oprah and write for Arianna Huffington, why can’t I? I know it seems farfetched. It’s Oprah. I’m Erin Parker. I can’t help but believe that Oprah wants people who have an unwavering desire to change the world, who aren’t afraid of hard work, and who see the world for what it could be. If she wants people like this, why can’t it be me? Why can’t it be you?
We are so quick to throw up barriers for ourselves, unconsciously getting in our own way. Fight that urge to shoot down your dream before you even let it get off the ground. Dream because you deserve to and because you can. Once you find a dream that moves you enough, chase it with a reckless abandonment.
Live a life with “Why not?” on repeat. Assume you can before looking for reason you can’t. You’re so much more than you even realize.