Dash of Courage: If Your Life Were A Movie

"If you wait, all that happens is you get older." - Larry McMurty

I keep a notes folder on my phone with quotes: I'm up to 1,939.

The best one I heard last year was on The Diary of a CEO podcast from Chris Williamson:

"If your life were a movie and the audience had been watching up to this point...what would they be screaming at the screen for you to do?"

Not whispering
Not politely suggesting

Screaming

Book the flight
Send the damn email.
Quit stalling
Say what needs to be said
Leave what's draining you.
Stop waiting for your life to "start"

Because here's the uncomfortable truth he pointed out next:

Everyone thinks, "My life will begin when..."

When the timing is better.
When the money is right.
When the fear goes away.
When this season calms down.

Here's what we both know: life doesn't work that way.

From the audience's seat, it's obvious.
They aren't stuck inside your fear.
They aren't emotionally attached to your excuses.
They aren't confusing patience with procrastination.

They see the moment you are standing in right now.
And they know you won't get this scene back.

In every great movie there is a scene where the main character hesitates, overthinks, almost acts.

And everyone watching is screaming
"GO." "NOW." "THIS IS IT"

And the worst endings all have one thing in common: the character knew...and still didn't move.

Dash of Courage
Ask yourself one brutal question:

If my life were a movie, what would the audience be screaming for me to do right now?

Then do that.

Not the whole transformation.
Not the heroic ending.
Just the next step with courage.

Because stories don't change when the character feels ready.
They change when the character finally acts.

Courage over Comfort,
Garrett