Updated on October 17, 2026
The best things you can do in life are the ones you must muster the courage for and then simply do, because you’re afraid of them.
Photo by Xan Griffin on Unsplash.
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When Did You Last Step Out of Your Comfort Zone?
When was the last time you chose to step out of your comfort zone and try something new? When was the last time you chose to venture into the unknown and experience life beyond what you already know? When was the last time you gave yourself the opportunity to grow?
Sometimes we hit a wall, whether it’s with our writing, our mood, our state of being, our inspiration, our career … whatever it may be; sometimes we don’t know why, but that wall only seems to get taller and taller. (If that wall is writer’s block, my free guide can help you climb it.)
“How many times, though, do we stop and ask ourselves, “Am I making the most of my life right now?””
Do the Things That Scare You
We owe it to ourselves to live a life worth writing about. The best things you can do in life are the things you must gather courage for and then simply do because you’re afraid of them.
For example, take that new job you’ve been offered even though you’re scared you’re not qualified (gosh, I hate that word). Sometimes going through the fire itself is what sharpens us the most and makes us stronger. We may not always be at our best when opportunities present themselves, but most times the most important thing is simply taking the first step forward.
You’d be surprised how many people miss out on great opportunities simply because they never tried. Imagine how many times you could have won something by default simply because you were the only person brave enough to raise your hand and go forward… Now that should put life in perspective a little bit for you.
Photo by Ty Williams on Unsplash.
What to Write About When You’ve Written All You Know
The best thing to write about is what we know, but what happens when we’ve already written it all?
Fall in love again, and don’t blame a future person for another person’s mistakes.
Save up some money and finally take that vacation you’ve been planning for forever.
Go for a run. Get some exercise.
Try a new hobby.
Meet new people.
Get out of your room and live — and more importantly, get out of your current state of mind.
Every one of those experiences becomes something new to write about. I’ve said before that a writer is the sum of his experiences, and the more you live, the more you have to say.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
“Sometimes the biggest barrier we face is the one we unknowingly put in front of ourselves.”
The things we say to ourselves…
I’m not pretty enough.
I’m not strong enough.
I’m not smart enough.
I’m not tall enough.
I’m too young.
I’m too old.
I’m not good at writing.
Why me?
These are all lies we’re guilty of telling ourselves from time to time, but it’s our job to overcome these excuses by, again, simply taking that first step forward. (And if “I’m not good at writing” is the one you tell yourself, my course Becoming a Poet was made for you.)
What Bungee Jumping Taught Me About Fear
It’s kind of like bungee-jumping. In my experience, the scariest part of bungee-jumping is that last moment when you’re standing on the ledge right before you jump. And it’s in that moment, that split second, that you will either choose to back out or choose to take a leap of faith.
However, I can promise that once I took the leap of faith, not a second later after I jumped, all fear had evaporated from my body. I simply fell, and bounced, and came back up with an enormous smile on my face.
I like to think it’s like that with most things in life. The scariest part is the first step, but everything after that is an experience worth sharing, an experience worth writing about. The challenges we overcome bring spice and satisfaction to our lives.
Photo by Randy Tarampi on Unsplash.
Where the Phrase Comes From
The idea is an old one. In 1738, Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanack: “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” As a writer, I try to do both.
“Continuously pushing past our fear and collecting these kinds of stories in our lifetime … well, if that isn’t a life worth writing about, I don’t know what is.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to live a life worth writing about?
We owe it to ourselves to live a life worth writing about. The best things you can do in life are the things you must gather courage for and then simply do because you’re afraid of them.
Who said, “do things worth the writing”?
Benjamin Franklin, in Poor Richard’s Almanack (1738): “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”
Reading and learning are critical for living a life worth writing about. Discover a massive catalog of books, including some of mine, on Kindle Unlimited. Try Kindle Unlimited free.
Meet the author
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, raised in a military family, and a former U.S. Marine. Pablo Camacho is the author of more than eight books in English and Spanish, including the Pencraft Award–winning Bittersweet, and is currently writing his first horror stories. He lives in Florida with his wife and daughter.