I did an exercise in a class once, perhaps you have done it as well. If not, give it a try. Number 1 through 5 and write “If I didn’t have to do it perfectly, I would . . .” Then give yourself the time, and the honesty, to fill in those lines. How many of us have dreams that we don’t reach for because we are afraid?

What is that we are so afraid of? I think the answer for many is the same, we are afraid we will fail, with whatever “failure” means to us. We may be worried about opening ourselves up for criticism or exposing our own vulnerabilities. It may be that we are risk averse, unsure as to what might happen if we try something different or reach too high.

All those limitations, all those negatives, come from ourselves. That little voice in our heads that says “What makes you think you can do that?” It’s the little voice that whispers our doubts, undermines our confidence, stirs our fears until, too often, they paralyze us.

The enemy of reaching for lofty goals is always ourselves, always the naysayer rather than the cheerleader. “Stay with what you know,” we tell ourselves. “Who do you think you are,” we murmur as we stick that long sharp pin into the fragile balloon that holds our dreams.

So what do we do to face down the negative? How do we set ourselves free to try? The questions we started with are a good beginning. What would you do if you didn’t have to do it perfectly? And once you know what that is, ask yourself what would happen if you did it and it was not perfect? What would happen if you gave yourself permission to hush that nagging little voice and let yourself try?

If we each did one thing that scared us, if we put ourselves forward to try without judgment, we stand a real chance to make change, to open ourselves and to open our full hearts.