Don't Let Embarrassment Stop You

I thought I would share with you this commencement speech delivered by Steve Jobs to graduates at Stanford University. I love it because he addresses one of the primary reasons that people are unhappy — we live our lives for other people.

We hang out with the right people, get a job that is good on paper and live in a good neighbourhood - even if it doesn't suit us. I vowed a few years ago not to do anything I didn't want to do and to not let embarrassment stop me from doing anything I desperately wanted to try. Of course, it helps that I can use cognitve therapy to talk myself through worrying what others will think!

I have to say, this little experiment is working out quite well. More fun and less aggravation has been a great choice and it has taken me in some unexpected directions (I would have never thought last year at this time that I would have become a blogger and  a cartoonist or enrolled in so many classes at ACAD).

Gradually, I have been able to move my life into a more fun filled direction and it's a lesson I want to pass on to my kids. There is still some room for improvement but it's hard to be proud of your accomplishments if there are no obstacles or hard work.

I hope you enjoy this speech and that you are inspired in your life to not let embarrassment stop you from living the life of your dreams.