Even When You Know You’re Capable
I used to think I was all in.
I worked hard. I pushed myself. I took risks.
But if I’m honest?
I was always holding something back.
I didn’t fully commit.
I left myself an out—just in case.
If I failed, it wasn’t really my fault. The odds were against me. The system was rigged. The expectations were too high.
That’s how I protected myself.
🏀 In high school, I chose basketball—not because I thought I’d dominate, but because I was short. If I failed, well, no one expected me to succeed anyway.
🧪 In college, I majored in chemistry—not because I had full confidence, but because girls “weren’t supposed to be good at science.” If I struggled, it wasn’t because I wasn’t smart enough—it was just that I was a girl.
⚾️ Even when I became one of only eight women to umpire at the Little League World Series, I didn’t fully own that success. I kept waiting for someone to say I got lucky. That I didn’t really belong there.
🚫 I had built-in excuses if I failed—but no system in place to acknowledge my success.
And that is what people are actually afraid of.
It’s not failure that terrifies us.
It’s owning success—because once you know you were capable all along, you lose the ability to play small.
Why You Never Fully Commit (Even When You Think You Are)
Most people think they fear failure.
That’s not true.
What they actually fear is having no excuses left—because full commitment means full responsibility.
As long as you don’t fully commit, you always have an out:
- “I wasn’t really trying.”
- “I could have done it if I had more time/money/support.”
- “Maybe I would’ve succeeded if I hadn’t gotten sick/distracted/busy.”
And this? This is your ego protecting itself.
If you never go all in, you never have to face the possibility of giving it everything—and still coming up short.
Because if you give it everything, and you fail? That means you failed.
Not the circumstances.
Not the timing.
Not the system.
And that is terrifying.
So instead, you subconsciously limit yourself.
You step up, but not all the way.
You take action, but you don’t go all in.
You show up, but you still hold back.
And because you’re talented, you still succeed—but not at the level you could.
You plateau just below your actual potential. You tell yourself you’re doing great. And maybe, compared to most people, you are.
But you know you’re still leaving something on the table.
And once you see that truth, you can’t unsee it.
Now, if you keep playing small, it’s a choice.
🔥 That’s the real fear. Because once you fully own your power, you have to do something with it.
How to Finally Go All In
If you want to transcend your current limits, you have to stop hedging your bets. You have to remove the escape hatch.
- Decide. No escape hatches. No Plan B. 100% commitment.
- Eliminate the ‘outs’ you’ve been giving yourself. Ask yourself: Where have I been setting myself up for failure? Where am I giving myself an excuse to not go all in? Identify them. Then eliminate them.
- Commit publicly. When I became an umpire, there was no backing out. I had to be good. I had to show up and own my space. Make your commitment real—so that failure isn’t just about you, but about the people who are counting on you.
- Measure success differently. Success isn’t “Did I win?” It’s “Did I give it everything?” If the answer is yes, you won. If the answer is no, adjust.
- Raise your standard for what ‘trying’ actually means. If you’re not risking embarrassment, discomfort, or looking like a fool, you’re still playing it safe.
This Is Your Moment
For years, I built excuses that would let me fail without shame.
Now? I build a vision that makes my old excuses irrelevant.
And you?
You’re at the edge of something massive.
What are you going to do now that you KNOW you’re capable?
🔥 Drop a 🔥 in the comments if this hit home.
💬 What’s ONE bold move you’re making today?
🚀 Let’s stop hedging our bets and go ALL IN.
After all, this world needs YOU!