Raise Your Hand If You Are Willing to Feel Like a Fool (Yeah, Didn’t Think So)

Raise Your Hand If You Are Willing to Feel Like a Fool

Even the word fool makes most of us cringe. No one wakes up thinking, You know what would really make my day? Looking completely ridiculous. But if we took a step back and watched our lives like a reality show—without the glamorous edits—how much of our daily existence would actually look…well, pretty foolish?

Would it be the 5th time we hit snooze, despite swearing last night that this would be the morning we’d finally wake up early and seize the day? Or maybe it’s how we casually walk past the overflowing laundry basket like it’s modern art, a decorative statement rather than a glaring metaphor for avoidance.

Or how about that call we promised our mom we’d return on the way to work, but instead, we opt for yelling at the radio, debating talk show hosts as if they can actually hear us? Better yet, let’s talk about that raise we were promised nine months ago but still haven’t asked for, choosing instead to aggressively type emails like our keyboard is the real villain here.

And then there’s the ultimate modern-day self-sabotage: doom-scrolling through other people’s highlight reels—watching them claim their best lives while subtly selling us the “proven process” they swear will fix our stagnant existence. So, naturally, we buy into it. And where does it lead? Back to the same loop of dissatisfaction, convincing us that maybe we’re just destined for mediocrity.

The Great Irony of Foolishness

At some point, we all engage in this foolish cycle of inaction. Then, something pushes us—a frustration, an existential crisis, or the realization that our life is starting to resemble a rerun. We get fired up, ready to make a change… but only if we can do it without looking like a fool.

And there’s the trap.

Because what do we do? We slap limits on our own transformation. We tell ourselves, I’ll go after my dreams, but only if it’s smooth sailing and I never feel awkward, incompetent, or out of my depth. In other words, I want to grow, but can we skip the uncomfortable parts?

Nope! We cannot.

Feeling Like a Fool Is the Ticket to Fulfillment

Here’s the truth—we will always look a little ridiculous before we look impressive. Learning anything new, stepping into anything unknown, and breaking out of old patterns requires a period of discomfort (aka: the Fool Phase).

• Want to master a new skill? You’ll be bad at it first.

• Want to finally speak up for yourself? You’ll probably stumble over your words.

• Want to chase a dream? Expect people to question your sanity.

But the real foolishness? Letting the fear of looking foolish stop us from ever trying.

So, What’s the Move?

If you’re craving a life that actually excites you, you’re going to have to embrace looking like a fool from time to time. Not forever—just long enough to push past the discomfort and land on the other side, where fulfillment lives.

So go ahead—be the fool. Sign up for that class. Speak up. Apply for the job. Write the book. Take the chance.

Because in the end, the real mistake isn’t trying and looking ridiculous. The real mistake is doing nothing at all.

---

Feel like you need a sneak peek at how your life is unfolding before making any bold moves? No problem! Check out the Life Myth coaching tool—it’ll help you see where you’re absolutely crushing it and where there’s room for a little extra magic. Take a look: Life Myth Tool