Do you have a dream? Something that you want to accomplish? Maybe you’ve always wanted to run a marathon or participate in a fitness competition. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to write a book or start your own business.
Are you actively moving towards your goals? If not, then what’s getting in your way? Maybe you’ve been telling yourself that it’s just not the right time right now — things are hectic, and COVID-19 isn’t making anything easier. Or maybe you’ve focused your attention on something else, and you just don’t have the energy to pursue your dreams right now.
Maybe you really are busy, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say this: You’re afraid of failure. You’re afraid of chasing your dream and having it blow up in your face. You’re afraid of what people might think about you if you try.
First of all — I’ve been there. Fear of failure is a very real pressure, and it keeps so many people from pursuing their passion. And I’m not going to lie, when you do pursue your dream, you’re going to be met with failure. You’re going to make mistakes. But you can grow in that discomfort and become a better person in the process.
If you’re struggling with this fear, then this episode is for you. I have one of the most inspirational women on the podcast today — Luvvie Ajayi Jones — and she’s going to share her wisdom about overcoming fear while chasing your dreams.
Who Is Luvvie Ajayi Jones?
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a New York Times bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and podcast host who thrives at the intersection of comedy, technology, and justice. Her debut book, I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, was an instant bestseller when it was released in 2016. In this hilarious book of essays, Luvvie Ajayi inspires us to have good behavior, one sharp and funny side-eye at a time. It’s a book that will make you laugh and also make you think.
Luvvie is an internationally-recognized speaker with a highly popular TED Talk, Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, which has over 5 million views and has been transcribed into 22 languages! Her podcast, Rants & Randomness, is also a massive hit with over 2 million downloads! In the podcast, she discusses life, lessons, and the pursuit of always doing better.
Luvvie has received numerous accolades, including being chosen by Oprah Winfrey as part of her inaugural SuperSoul100 list as someone who “elevates humanity.” At the base of it all, Luvvie is committed to creating content and doing work that informs, inspires, and convicts others to make positive change. What started as a hobby has become a global business and has allowed her to help people in more ways than she could have ever imagined.
The first line of Luvvie’s bio says she thrives “at the intersection of comedy, justice, and professional troublemaking.” What an awesome description of Luvvie and her work! I asked Luvvie what it means to be a professional troublemaker, and she had a great response:
“I’m the person who, at no point, could you put in one box. And people were like, ‘What do you do?’ And I’m like, ‘A lot of things!’ … I really care about the world, and I’m usually shaking the table. I’m making you laugh, I’m making you think critically, and hopefully making you leave the world better than you found it.” – Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Luvvie is a genius. Her wisdom and humor are so inspiring to me, and I’m really happy she could join me today. Let’s go!
Speaking Your Mind in a “Cancel Culture”
As a professional troublemaker, Luvvie speaks her mind. Through her writing, podcasting, and speaking engagements all over the country, she shares her thoughts on everything from TV shows to social justice issues.
But in our current political climate, it can be difficult to speak up. We have this fear of “cancel culture,” and it can discourage you from sharing your truth with the world. It makes sense — social media can be an excellent platform for sharing our opinions, but it can also be a toxic and scary place. We’ve all seen that arguments on Facebook and Twitter can get pretty heated, and facing that kind of backlash can be daunting.
Thankfully, Luvvie’s here to bring us some wisdom on the subject:
“There’s a thousand reasons not to speak. It’s sometimes just easier to shut up and face the wall and be in the corner. But I really challenge people to not fall into that temptation because I feel like part of the reason why we find ourselves in these moments that feel deeply uncomfortable in the world is that we’ve been too quiet for too long. … Oftentimes we’re like, ‘Yo, the world is a dumpster fire,’ but I’m always like, ‘Okay, the world is a dumpster fire, but what am I doing in my own space to try to clean up the fire?’” – Luvvie Ajayi Jones
That is so true. A lot of us are afraid to speak up. But when we don’t speak up, we create a more problematic world. When we don’t share our thoughts and carefully consider other people’s opinions, we don’t get to grow as a society.
And here’s some good news: social media is not the most important platform. It’s important to use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram wisely, but it’s even more important that we really walk the walk and act on our values.
“… Here’s the thing: No matter what we’re saying online, it does not matter if we’re not saying it at home. I can say a thousand things to my followers, but if I’m not holding my friends accountable, if I’m not holding myself accountable, then the talking and the grandstanding is just that — it’s empty.” – Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Ask yourself, “Who is watching me? Who is looking at me as a role model? How can I hold myself and my friends accountable?” It doesn’t matter if you have five followers or five million — you’ve got to speak your truth to the people around you.
