Would You Still Do It If Failure Were Guaranteed?

Photo by Giancarlo Revolledo on Unsplash

When I was a life-coach a common question I used to ask was — “What would you do if it was guaranteed that you couldn’t fail?”

This is a freeing question which allows people to brainstorm possibilities without having to commit themselves to potentially difficult consequences. It teases out of them what they really want to do with their life.

Many people refrain from working towards their deepest held dreams and goals because they are afraid of failure. We tend to feel shame if we fall flat on our face in front of an audience, particularly if that audience contains people close to us who are critical of our endeavours.

Some people won’t even admit that they have a dream, something their soul cries out for them to do. In not admitting that it exists, then they are not putting themselves in a position where they might have to do it. And therefore they are not risking failure.

Let’s change the question

In her creativity book, Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert asks this question differently. She says:

What would you do even if you knew that you might very well fail?

When I read this, it stopped me in my tracks. What a powerful statement! What would you do…