bhaskar saikia

We spend so much of our lives hesitating—worried about failure, about what others will think, about what we might lose if things don’t work out. Careers, relationships, opportunities—we treat them as fragile possessions to protect rather than as doors waiting to be opened.

But pause for a moment and consider this: in the grand scheme of things, what do we really have to lose?

Steve Jobs, in his famous 2005 Stanford commencement speech, put it beautifully:

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

That reminder is both sobering and liberating. Death is inevitable. The time we have is limited. When you keep that truth close, the fears that once felt overwhelming shrink in comparison. The embarrassment of failure, the sting of rejection, the risk of starting over—all of it becomes manageable, even insignificant, because life itself is the real stage, and we only get one chance to perform.

So why not follow your heart? Why not pursue the dream you keep postponing? Why not say what you mean, take that leap, or build something that feels impossible today? If failure comes, you will still learn, still grow, still be alive. If success comes, you will have honored your deepest calling.

You are already naked. Nothing is weighing you down except the illusions of fear and loss. The courage to live fully is not about avoiding mistakes—it’s about moving forward anyway, knowing that time is precious and that authenticity matters more than approval.

In the end, the only real risk is not living at all.