Being brave.

I seem to spend a lot of my life worrying and over analysing absolutely everything until I squash myself into a tiny corner of my brain and do absolutely nothing.

 There are lots of things I am interested in and want to pursue, and last year I was regularly beating myself up trying to work out what it was I wanted to do. So I ended up not doing any of them and cried most evenings to Tom asking "Is this it? Is this actually it now?" Really cool Gemma.

But then I realised, why am I only be allowed to pick one thing to do forever? Try as much as possible before you talk yourself out of it, how do you know it won’t work out until you’ve tried it?

10 top tips for becoming a brave warrior.

1. Just start. Stop thinking so much about it and begin. You won't really know it won't work out until you've tried it. Just give the poor thing a chance and begin, what's the worst that can happen? Actually, don't answer that. Just take that first step and start! It could lead to something amazing.

2. Ask. Simple. You'll never know what they really will say until you ask. Maybe they'll even say yes?

3. What's your end goal? Whether it's a super fancy job or just being happy, what do you want your life to be? When you know that, everything else will just fall into place because you will stop accepting the things that don't fit into the life you're imagining.

4. Cut out the things in your life you really don't want. Hate your job? Get a new one. No, but it really is that straight forward. I'm not saying hand your notice in tomorrow, but when you get home tonight, write your CV and apply for 3 new jobs. The more negative things in your life you cut out, the more room there will be for things you actually like. 

5. Text them. That boy you keep bumping into accidentally-on-purpose, the new girl at work you're sure is your future best friend. They're probably too scared to text you too, and someone's got to start it off! Why not you?

6. Say yes. Yeah it might not be a good night out, and you might end up sitting at the bar wishing you were at home in your jammies, but what if it's not? It could be the best night ever and you nearly missed out! What if it turned out Ryan Gosling was there and you said no! Shame on you. 

7.  It's meant to scare you. If it doesn't you're not being brave enough. Being brave isn't about saying things don't frighten you, it's about knowing they're terrifying and doing it anyway. Shaking hands and hearing your heartbeat in your ears are what life is meant to be like! Not all the time though, a safe cup of tea with your mum and the dog is also living.

8. If you know something is going to come up soon that you're nervous or not sure about, prepare. It's the first step to accepting it. And then when it does happen, it definitely feels better to know you are fully ready to face it fully prepared and at your best.

9. You are stronger than you think. Stop telling yourself you're not that person and that you couldn't possibly do the things that she's done. You really can! There's already enough people in this world who will tell you what you can't do, don't be one of them. Be your biggest fan! Go you!

10. Just be yourself. That's the bravest thing ever. Maybe eating chocolate in my pyjamas and watching Gardeners World isn’t the coolest way to spend every single Friday night from Spring to Winter (god when will it start again – I need Monty back in my life). I like art and animal programmes (but like, in a really really not cool way). But that’s okay, because I’m being brave. See how this works? 

Go on! That thing you've been dreaming of doing and putting off for so long.
Just do it!

I dare you.

Gemma
xXx