Fear or Shame of Taking Initiative

Do you recognize yourself? 🤔 Have you ever had an idea you wanted to test, a suggestion you wanted to make, or a person you wanted to start a conversation with—but did not dare?

What stopped you? Was it fear or shame of being judged?

1. Where does this fear come from?

From an evolutionary perspective, fear is an essential emotion that developed to protect us from danger. But how has this protective mechanism come to prevent us from saying what we think, approaching strangers, proposing new ideas, or trying something innovative? 🤷‍♀️ Is fear of taking initiative innate—or is much of it learned? Could it be a social construct, shaped by our family, school, culture, and childhood experiences?

2. Has caution helped—or limited you?

Think about the rule “better not to risk looking foolish.” 🤔 Has following this rule brought you success and safety? Or has it prevented you from trying things that might have changed your life? What opportunities might we lose simply because we are afraid of embarrassment, rejection, or failure? 💭

3. Who actually cares?

When you hesitate because you are afraid of what other people will think - who are these “other people”? How much do they actually notice? 👀 How long do they remember our awkward moments or failures? And an even more interesting question: who actually dares? What distinguishes people who take initiative despite the possibility of rejection, criticism, or embarrassment?

4. How do we treat people who dare?

How do you react when you see someone trying something for the first time? Do you encourage them, admire them, ignore them—or judge them? 🤷‍♂️ How do you react when somebody suggests an unusual idea, approaches a stranger, starts a new project, or fails publicly? Are you more judgmental toward yourself or toward others?

📍 Location: Stora Nygatan 31, meetup1, Stockholm

🌐 More Info Here