What My Dad Told Me That Changed Everything

The Hardest Thing to Live With Isn’t Fear—It’s Regret

You’ve had this dream sitting in your heart for years. You’ve mapped it out in your head, maybe even told yourself, this is the year I finally do it.

And yet… you haven’t.

Because fear.

Fear of failing. Fear of being judged. Fear of the unknown.

It’s loud, it’s persistent, and it keeps you stuck.

But here’s the thing—there’s something even harder to live with than fear: regret.

Regret doesn’t shout. It waits. It lingers. It grows.
And one day, when you’re looking back at the life you lived, it whispers:

“You should have tried.”

The Moment It Finally Clicked for Me

For years, I let fear hold me back from writing. I asked myself every question in the book:

Am I good enough? What if no one reads it? What if it’s not perfect?

I read the books, listened to the podcasts, tried the pep talks.
But I was still stuck.

Then I had a conversation with my dad—he had recently decided to pursue a dream of his. It was a big risk, and I knew it. When I asked how he moved forward, he said:

That was it. That was the shift.

Because the truth is, fear is temporary.
But regret? That sticks.

The First Step: Ask This About Every Single Fear

Get honest with yourself. Write down every single fear that’s coming up—all the ones looping in your brain on repeat.

Then ask this:
Is regret bigger than this fear?

Here’s what that sounded like for me:

• Am I good enough? → Maybe, maybe not. But I’ll regret it if I don’t try.

• I don’t know how to do this. → I’ll learn as I go, but I’ll regret never figuring it out.

• What if it’s not perfect? → It won’t be. But perfect was never the point—starting is.

• What if no one reads it? → At least I’ll have tried. That’s more than most people can say.

I asked myself this over and over again until it stuck:
Fear might be loud, but regret is heavier.

When You Hold Fear Up to Regret

Something shifts when you look at what’s been holding you back—and compare it to the cost of never trying.

Fear doesn’t disappear. But it loses its grip.

You don’t need to move fast.
You don’t need to feel ready.
You don’t need to be fearless.

You just need to care more about not missing your moment
than you do about getting it perfect.

Hit reply and tell me—what’s the dream you’re finally ready to stop waiting on? No pressure, just honesty. Let’s walk through the fear together.

🔄 Reset Moment

A little something to reset your perspective this week:

📺 Watching: A Million Miles Away on Prime — a reminder that even the biggest dreams are possible if you just keep going.

📖 Journal Prompt:
Write down your top three fears about your dream. Then, next to each one, ask: “Would regret feel worse than this fear?”

💡 A Thought to Carry With You:
"Fear is loud, but regret lasts longer. Choose wisely."

See you next week. And remember—you can always start over.

🫶 Bina

P.S. Forward this to a friend who needs the reminder. And if you’re new here, subscribe at resettheory.beehiiv.com/subscribe to never miss a reset.