Take the advice given, but remember to follow your instincts

Growing up, people will always give you tips about life.

Although most advice that is given is meant for the listener’s well-being, listening to your own instincts is the best option.

Advice is defined as guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action, typically given by someone regarded as knowledgeable or authoritative.

Most advice is given from someone who’s seen as well-informed. Advice is usually given from that person’s past experiences. Just because something didn’t work out for that person doesn’t mean other’s shouldn’t try that route. Although advice is viewed as positive proposals, most advice handed down aims to insure a sense of maintaining. For example, “You should give that up, and give this a try,” or “It’s always best to keep a low profile,” might seem like legit advice, but it also implies mediocrity. What does it mean to keep a low profile to the person with no profile at all? Being told to give up on Plan A, and work on Plan B seems like the easy way out. If Plan A doesn’t work, instead of running to Plan B, put more effort into Plan A first. It is impossible to know your outcome and it’s even worse to be terrified by images of someone else’s failures. In other words, to reach a point one’s never been before, the only time that occurs is when you’ve obtain a level never reached before.

In Greek mythology, there’s a story of a craftsman named Daedalus who was imprisoned with his son Icarus. The father and son planned to escape imprisonment one day and fly out. Daedalus handcrafted two pairs of wings made of wax and feathers that would help them getaway. Before they took off, Icarus was advised by his father not to fly too close to the sun because the wax, and also not too lose to the ocean in fear of getting the wings too damp. Once in the air, young Icarus forgot about all that was advised to him and flew higher and higher. Eventually Icarus reached heights so close to the sun that his wax wings melted from the heat. Without his wings, Icarus fell from the sky and crashed into the sea where he drowned.

The myth is pretty understandable. It involves great advice, but the lesson itself should be ignored. No one is taught not to reach for the stars or not to follow their imagination’s greatest desires. Icarus escaped imprisonment, and reached heights he’d never seen before. His bravery and self-instinct kept him soaring towards something he had never seen before. Not being afraid to fly surpassed his fear of falling out of the sky.

We can never know the complete outcome of our actions. Nonetheless, the allure to always soar to new heights and boundaries should always surpass the fear of failure. Conquering the fear of failure substantially helps with the fear of success.