“Not all those who wander are lost.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien   I will always remember those words. I had just decided to ditch my old life. Instead of pursuing a cushy career as a lawyer, I wanted to create a business as a freelance writer because it felt like a fulfilling thing to do. “You’ll never make it work. You’ll regret your decision,” a loved one told me. Those words pushed my buttons. I felt scared. What if I would regret it? Was I stupid, even delusional, for thinking there was an alternative to living a pre-planned life with a secure nine-to-five and a mortgage? Maybe I did think too much of myself, my abilities, and my potential? Maybe I was setting myself up for disaster? How to Find the Courage to Live a Life You Love Doubt is everywhere, isn’t it? People around you expect you to live your life in a certain way. Go to a good school, get a job that pays a comfortable salary, buy a house… And if you don’t? If you break the norm and live life differently? Whether that’s driving around the country in an RV, becoming a full-time yoga teacher in the Himalayas, or starting a passion project… Let’s put it this way. You will see a lot of raised eyebrows and hear a lot of surprised questions and doubtful side-remarks. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Comments like: “Why would you want anything other than what you already have? Don’t be so ungrateful.” “There is no way that will work out.” “Are you sure this is the best thing to do? Wouldn’t it be better to just stick to where you are now and see how it pans out?” The problem with constantly being questioned by everyone around you? Well, let’s take me as an example. When I heard those doubtful words (and many like them), I took them to heart. I subconsciously started believing them and created what in psychology is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you believe something about yourself, that influences what you do and, consequently, your results. For example, if you internalize what others say about your choices, you won’t believe you can succeed. And that means you won’t, because you’ll never even get started. But here is the good news: You can get past all that doubt. You can find the courage you have within you to not only take a step forward but also to live life fully without looking back. Here’s how:   1. Find positive examples around you. Think about someone who has succeeded at what you want to do—someone with a similar background, resources, skills, etc., or even fewer advantages. If they have succeeded, why couldn’t you? Let me tell you a secret (shh, no one else will know!): If someone else has done it, you likely can, too. I realized this early on. While, yes, the people around you might not understand how you [...]