From a very early age, we are engineered to think how to avoid rejection; to avoid pain. From our first "NO DON'T DO THAT YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF" to the inevitable "Why the FUCK did you do that?". It seems that making mistakes is the only way to learn, however we have already learned that by making mistakes, we are led to pain and scolding. Our ego knows that making mistakes leads to consequences, and as such we would rather be kept in mind as “that cute stranger who smiled at me” or “that guy who I see walking everyday on the way to my health class”, or perhaps even “that girl who asked me for help with her English homework”. Taking the action, and going one step above to do more than what is asked for, or to even do the unexpected, we are engineered and literally steered in the direction not to, is exactly what we're told not to do.

“I have to protect myself. I can't look stupid in front of these people. What if they laugh at me? What if everybody knows what I'm talking about but me? What if I'm saying it wrong? What if? What if? What? If?”

What if you took that chance? What if you were that person who put your ego on the line in order to better yourself, to get what YOU want. Would people laugh? Would they remember? Would they respect you?

What if you blurted out something and everyone agreed? What if you asked that girl for her number and she's been waiting for you to ask to give it to you? What if that guy who you've had the hots for asks you a question about the lecture? What if you took that chance to ask him out?

The only mistake you can make again and again is not acting. And that is just not acceptable, making the same mistake twice.

The “What If's” of life are the ones that plague you for, two, maybe three hours? Days? Weeks? Years. Oh, that's right, years. I can still remember What If's from high school, and they come up every now and again. Enough of that shit.

The only “What If” from now on is “What if I never took this risk in bettering myself?”