A conversation with a good friend of mine inspired this article. Him and I are the same, just born to different parents at different times. We didn’t know each other very well until college, but since then have realized that we have similar thinking patterns.

We’ve lived very different lives, and yet have ended up wondering and struggling with the same things. What is my purpose? How can I be happy? Can I follow my dreams?

What came out of the conversation is that the answer to these questions does not matter. You won’t be able to answer these questions by thinking about it. Creating a list, doing research, worrying what other people would think, being afraid you might fail, is all overthinking it.

Instead, you just need to take your shot. Whatever that itch has been, just fucking itch it. You won’t know how it feels until you do. The journey and next steps starts to unfold after you take that first shot. Because what comes after, is the next shot. And the next. Then the next. Until one day, you’re doing something that you had no idea you could be doing.

This is really helpful for someone like me because I am an over thinker. I wonder what can make me happy. I question my questions. What can I do that will make me satisfied with the day? What action can I do to make today feel like a success? What can I do to make me smile? Is it music? Is acting my passion? What about a life in blogging and exercise? I ponder these questions all day, then try to write something about it, and then proceed to not take any of my own advice.

So when my friend told me to just take my shot, I responded with, “okay, you’re right. What are the things I should take a shot at? Hm, let me make a list.” No, you idiot. The entire point is to just do.

So what shot have you not taken because you’re too scared or too busy or too whatever? Listen to Nike, and this LinkedIn post, and just do it. Take your shot. Don’t wait to find the answers. They’ll come along the way.