The Fear of Starting and The Regret of Not Trying

Standing at the edge of something new is terrifying. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dream, a goal, or even a simple decision. Starting always feels like the hardest part.

Doubts creep in. What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? What if people judge me? The mind creates a hundred reasons to wait, to prepare more, to postpone the leap just a little longer. And so, time passes.

But there’s something worse than fear. Regret.

The kind that creeps in late at night when you wonder what could have been. The weight of realizing you let an opportunity slip away, not because you weren’t capable, but because you never gave yourself a chance.

The truth is, no one is ever truly ready. No one has all the answers before they begin. The only way to learn is by doing, by making mistakes, by adjusting along the way.

Fear of failure is temporary. Regret lasts forever.

So, take the step. Even if it’s small, and if you don’t know what comes next. Because years from now, you won’t remember the moments you were afraid. You’ll remember the moments you dared to try.

Words by Matheesha Prathapa

(Life is not about "i can", but about "i will try".)