To DO or Not to Do

Overcome Fear and Unlock Growth

We all know what it's like to feel hesitant before trying something new. The fear of failure can be overwhelming, right? You get excited about an opportunity, but then doubt creeps in—What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail? So often, this fear can paralyze us. It convinces us that the best choice is to wait—to wait until we feel “ready” or until the conditions are perfect. But here’s the reality: doing nothing is far worse than making mistakes along the way. Benjamin Franklin said, “The man who does things may make many mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all... doing nothing.” If you let the fear of failure stop you from trying, you’ll never know what could have been. You’ll never see what’s on the other side of your hesitation.

Take this into account: there’s a saying that goes, “’Tis better to have tried and failed, than never to have tried at all.” It’s a simple truth that many successful people, including psychologists like Dr. Jordan Peterson¹ (whom I just love!), have pointed out in their teachings. Peterson often talks about the necessity of taking responsibility and stepping out into the unknown—even when it’s uncomfortable. He reminds us that “You can’t just sit there waiting for the world to be perfect before you start doing something worthwhile.” He also stresses that mistakes are inevitable when you take action, but they are a crucial part of growing and improving. Dr. Jordan Peterson often discusses the idea that life is filled with suffering, and one must face it courageously and take action despite it. This is powerful because it reflects how action, even in the face of uncertainty, is the key to moving forward.

Let me give you a personal example. In our backyard, there were two trees—a cedar and an arborvitae—that were growing too close together. Eventually, we had to cut them down, so I asked the guy to chop them into pieces I could handle myself. Now, I’m someone who loves working with my hands and crafting things—spoons, trays, and even a back-scratcher. So, when I picked up the wood to work with it, my husband started to panic. He was worried that I would hurt myself using the tools. The thing is, it wasn’t me who was afraid—it was him. His fear of failure was trying to hold me back, even though I trusted myself. I’ve always loved experimenting, seeing what I can create, and the fear wasn’t mine to carry. But it got me thinking: fear is a sneaky thing. It can creep in and stop us from doing the things we’re fully capable of. I knew the risk, but I also knew the reward—if I didn’t try, I’d never know what I could make. So I asked him to go back upstairs and leave me to it. I would call him if I did hurt myself… which never happened.

In Ecclesiastes 11:4, we get a clear warning: “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” If you’re always waiting for everything to line up perfectly, you’ll never act. Life doesn’t work that way. Perfect conditions don’t exist. If you keep waiting for them, you’ll never plant anything, you’ll never take a step. Instead, you have to move forward, even if things aren’t ideal. You have to make the effort, even when it feels risky or uncertain.

This is the core of Dr. Peterson’s philosophy. He encourages people to “do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” He points out that perfection is a myth. The more you wait for things to be perfect, the more you miss out on the opportunities in front of you. Life doesn’t offer guarantees, but it does offer experiences—and those experiences come from stepping out, acting, and learning through trial and error.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 paints a vivid picture of what happens when we do nothing. The master gives three servants talents (money) to invest. The first two take action, make a profit, and multiply what they’ve been given. But the third servant? He’s afraid of losing what he has, so he hides it. When the master returns, he’s furious. “You could have at least put it in the bank to earn some interest!” (Matthew 25:27). The problem isn’t that the third servant made a mistake. The problem is that he did nothing. He let his fear paralyze him. The worst thing you can do is nothing at all. As Peterson often puts it, “You will never have everything figured out. You can’t be afraid of making mistakes. Action is where you learn.”

In life, making mistakes is part of the journey. It’s how you grow. Just look at people like David in the Bible—he didn’t wait for the perfect moment to face Goliath. He stepped out in faith, even when everyone else was too afraid. He trusted God, took action, and faced the giant head-on. David didn’t wait for the right circumstances—he just took a step. Similarly, Peter didn’t wait for the storm to calm down before stepping out of the boat. He took that first step in faith, trusting that Jesus would hold him up, even in the chaos. Yes, he stumbled, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was the only one who walked on water that day.

As we see in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” God gives us the strength to move forward, even when we feel weak or unsure. We’re not meant to walk this path alone. Even in our uncertainty, even when we’re scared, God empowers us to act. It’s not about having everything figured out—it’s about taking the first step, knowing that He will be with you every step of the way. When we take action, God is there to guide us, strengthen us, and help us learn from our mistakes.

James 2:17 tells us that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” You can have faith all day long, but if you’re not doing something with it, nothing will change. Faith isn’t just about believing; it’s about acting. It’s about trusting God enough to take that first step, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. You can’t just talk about your faith or dreams—you have to act on them.

This idea isn’t new. In fact, thinkers like Dr. Peterson have long championed the importance of taking action. He points out that the best way to stop feeling stuck is to do something—anything. “Start with small, manageable tasks,” he suggests. “It doesn’t matter if it’s perfect. What matters is that you do it.” This is exactly what the Bible teaches us: take action. Step forward. Trust that you’re not alone, and that even in your mistakes, there’s growth.

Dr. Peterson’s influence in the world of personal development and faith overlaps with what the Scriptures have taught us for centuries. He, along with others like Brene Brown², and Tony Robbins³, were even thought as leaders in the Christian faith, all emphasize one simple thing: action. It’s better to try and fail than to sit back and never try at all. As Peterson often says, “Don’t be afraid to fail. Just do something, anything. You’ll learn more from that than from sitting on the sidelines.”

So, stop waiting for the “perfect” moment. It’s not coming. Take that first step, even if it’s small. Don’t worry about being perfect. Just act. God has given you the strength and the ability to move forward, and in doing so, you will learn, grow, and experience life in ways you never imagined. Even if you stumble, even if things don’t turn out as expected, you’ll be far ahead than if you’d never acted at all. Trust that God is with you every step of the way.

Remember: the biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing. And as the Scriptures, Peterson, and Franklin all tell us, it’s better to try and fail than to never try at all. So step out in faith. The journey starts with a single step, and that step will lead you to places you’ve never imagined.

1 Dr. Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist and author known for his teachings on personal responsibility, meaning, and self-improvement. His book, 12 Rules for Life, offers practical advice on living a meaningful life, blending psychology, philosophy, and religious insights.

2 Brené Brown is a research professor and author known for her work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Her books, like Daring Greatly, explore the power of embracing imperfection and vulnerability to build stronger connections and foster personal growth.

3 Tony Robbins is a motivational speaker, author, and life coach known for his self-help seminars and books like Awaken the Giant Within. He focuses on personal development, empowering individuals to take action, improve their mindset, and achieve their goals.