The best piece of advice I’ve ever received is simply this: be fearless. My grandma makes a point of reminding me to “be fearless” every so often when we speak on the phone or visit with each other when I’m home from school, and it’s become a sort of mantra from her to me- something shared between only the two of us. As an important figure in my life, I can always count on my grandma to have my best interests at heart and for her words to reflect this.
When she says, “be fearless”, she means to be authentic and to not worry about what other people think about me. It means going outside of your comfort zone, trying new things, and embodying a true “You Only Live Once” mindset. Most importantly, it’s looking at your fears, acknowledging them, and then doing what scares you regardless.
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I won’t lie, however, in saying that I occasionally wonder if this advice is truly meant for me. Though short and simple, those two words, be fearless, can sometimes be difficult to live up to. I don’t always feel fearless, no do I always feel the inclination to try to be fearless. My thought process is this: if I still struggle to do something as straightforward as making my own appointments over the phone, how fearless can I really be?
Whether I live up to “being fearless” or not, there are certain things that have inspired me to continue trying to at least go beyond my comfort zone every once in a while, and the Yes Theory is one of them. Primarily run by three entrepreneurs and YouTubers – Matt, Thomas, and Ammar -Yes Theory is a digital media brand and YouTube channel that seeks to evoke positivity, encourage personal growth, and create social connections. They post regular videos that feature out-there content like staying in a foreign city for twenty-four hours with no money, opening a one-night-only five-star restaurant in their backyard, and convincing complete strangers to accompany them on impromptu trips of a lifetime. In other words, they do things most people only dream of doing. The channel is radical and inspiring in its message to fly by the seat of your pants and never take anything too seriously.
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My personal favourite video of theirs, titled “Crossing off an 88-Year-Old Grandma’s Bucket List”, features Ellie, an adventurous 88-year old, whose passion in life was skiing. After experiencing an injury that prevented her from being able to ski anymore, her dream of being able to go down the slopes again was fulfilled when she was outfitted with a wheelchair-ski hybrid contraption. The video’s message of chasing after adventure even when you might not have thought you could is heartwarming and emotional.
Yes Theory’s motto, “Seek Discomfort” is embedded in everything they do. Discomfort is needed for growth, as is perseverance and a sense of adventure. While my grandma’s message to “be fearless” is always there in the back of my mind, seeing regular people like the boys of Yes Theory put this advice into action makes it seem that much more possible.
There are still days where comfort is unavoidable, where fear takes over, where you just need a break to relax and recuperate. That’s okay; it’s necessary, even. However, feeling authentic in your own identity and visibly projecting this confidence is becoming a top priority for many people, including me. To maneuver through life with a sense of radicality in pursuing whatever it is you want to pursue is success, and seeking discomfort and being fearless are stepping-stones in this path.