The Subtle Art of Bold Decisions— Gregory Russell Benedikt

What if I said that yes? What if I did it instead of wondering about the consequences? What if it did not go down as I imagined? And a dozen more what-ifs later, the questions remain unanswered.  This TED talk by Gregory Russell Benedikt about bold decisions does not answer any of them either. Instead, it reveals a delightful discovery that the answers, in fact, do not matter as much as we think.

Gregory Russell Benedikt

Boldness — in character and in choices shapes the person we decide to become. The inherent judgment for self and others fuels the illusory manifestation of NO. This ‘no’ that we say to ourselves, we imagine the world echoing back to us. The undisputed truth is that the world can prove our fears right, but that does not make the moment of courage go in vain. The liberation of making the effort, of going for that one leap, is the shift of attitude that makes it worth it.

Gregory shares snippets of his random moments of boldness, like asking a neighbour to take a dip in their backyard pool or inviting them for a jog, some of which gave him lasting memories, while others ended in rejection. His central thought was not that the universe manifests our visions to reward our boldness, but that the very act of pushing through what the mind warns might let us down is the reward itself.

The heart wants what it wants, and while it does not want to be rejected, it doesn’t want to regret inaction either. All it takes is ten seconds of courage and a tad bit of playful rebellion to make it count.

This is the sign to knock that door, post that picture, sing that song, and let go of all the hesitation because the fear of staying put should not stop us from moving forward.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage - Anaïs Nin

Credits

Oshi Shrivastava

2025-27