Greatness and embarrassment exist in the same place.

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We all don’t like to get embarrassed, right? It is so uncomfortable and shameful. But it happens, a lot of times. I am sure you have ever sat down with some friends somewhere and the topic of discussing your most embarrasing moments of your life comes up. You tell the story with a bit of fear dreading the shame that will come after they learn about these embarrassing moments. Despite all those embarrassing moments, there are chances in our lives that we depict greatness and escape embarrassments. So yes, some chances lead to greatness while others lead to embarrassment because this two; greatness and embarrassment, exist in the same place. So don’t fear to do something just because it will be shameful when you fail. Remember that you could also be great at it. Even if you fail, that shame you feel is irrational. That embarrassment is not as bad as you may make it seem in your mind. It will not kill you, and what doesn’t break you makes you stronger. Look at the bright side, you will have an embarrassing story to share with your friends someday, and you will laugh while sharing it. In his book, “the 101 secrets to your twenties,” Paul Angone describes how he once missed an opportunity to play and win a guitar due to the fear of failing to play well and get embarrassed. He was riding his bike in a park when he came across a band playing to a crowd of almost 500 people. The band announced that they needed five volunteers to play a guitar on the stage. The crowd would vote and determine the best among the five. The winner would win a white Las Paul guitar. Instead of making a decision to grab the opportunity and go up on the stage and play the guitar (which he was really good at), Paul Angone stood there, analyzing the crowd, deliberating and debating. Probably imagining how shameful and embarrassing it would be to play the guitar badly. Then he decided that he did not know anyone in the crowd, so the embarrassment wouldn’t hurt so much. He could even climb up the stage put on a show. By the time he started walking up the stage, the five had already been chosen. He missed the moment. While he stood there watching the five play the guitar, he kept saying to himself that they were not as good as he was at it. He felt bad because the guitar could have been his. But you have to be on the stage to win. The guitar was not going to be given to a bystander on the front row who swore that he could have played it better. Don’t let your irrational thoughts and beliefs block you from great opportunities. Remember that greatness and embarrassment exist in the same place, just take the risk!