Comments on: On How I Stopped Holding Myself Back and Where I Am Today

By: Matt Cheuvront

Matt Cheuvront — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:42:50 +0000

Hi Cheryl. I’m not sure why it took so long for you to find it – maybe i need to do a better job of getting the word out there? Regardless – I’m glad you did! I genuinely appreciate your kind words and accolades and I’m glad this post ‘hit home’ with you.

I can now look back on this and say that this leap of faith was all worth it – It was stressful, it was hard, it nearly broke me down – but here I am in a new city with a new job (which I love), about to move into my new place. It’s amazing how fast things move when you actually start moving. Living in Nashville, worrying about moving up here – seems like so long ago. This blog has been about much more than my personal journey – but it’s fulfilling for me to go back and read about my fears and doubts and how they motivated me to where I am today.

Thanks again – here’s wishing you well in conquering your own life, one step at a time!

By: Cheryl Elizaga

Cheryl Elizaga — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:27:51 +0000

I love your blog, Matt! Why did it take me this long to find it? Not only can I relate to the topics you blog about, but your layout is so aesthetically pleasing, as well!

This post definitely caught my eye. As a 22-year-old going on 23 in a few months, I was surprised to see that we’re about the same age. You have this je ne sais quoi (sp?) about your writing that is so personable yet professional.

Anyway, this post somewhat reminds me of the movie ‘Yes Man’ with Jim Carrey. Although I’m not so much a fan of Mr. Carrey’s obnoxious humor, that humor didn’t play out so much in this movie. Instead, the story was all about taking chances and saying “Yes!” to every proposal to show how far you could go with a positive mindset. I see you as that ‘Yes Man’ now, taking the chance to move to Chicago without any promises to hold onto. Money (or the lack thereof) is definitely a huge excuse for me – and perhaps many others – not to follow through with my dreams, but even when I have good friends proposing cheap and free alternatives I still find myself shooting their proposals down.

Like you said, YOU are the only person holding yourself back. I have this post-it pinned to my corkboard that screams: “KEEP MOVING FORWARD!” It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that despite all the rejection and complacency I’ve endured as a recent graduate, I seriously need to get off my butt and conquer the world.

Thank you, and good luck in Chicago!

Cheryl
@CheElizaga

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:03:36 +0000

The greater the risk the greater the reward – I can say that I’m a living testament of that as we speak. I quit my job, moved here with nothing lined up – and in the past two months I’ve settled into a new city, found an amazing job, signed the lease on my first place with my fiance – life is good – I’m a long way from home, and sometimes can’t believe I’m here doing what I’m doing – but I owe it all to my own ‘screw it and just do it’ attitude. We all have that inside of us, but for some, letting it out is a hell of an obstacle to overcome.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:01:03 +0000

Hey Timoteo – first of all I have to say that I love your blog – very unique and love the picture/writing combination you have going on there – thanks for coming by and sharing your story here! It sounds like we are both making things happen – and that’s what life is all about, putting your foot forward, one step at a time, even when people are telling you not to. I will say good luck to you with your upcoming move – it sounds like you have the right attitude – and with that, I have no doubt you’ll find success. Cheers!

By: timoteo

timoteo — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:41:36 +0000

Hey Matt, I felt like I was reading my own words for a minute there. I to am 23, I to quit my job in the middle of the recession and moved out to the north-end of Chicago with nothing but a suitcase and a backpack. I had this feeling that there is more to experience out there, but was being held back by fear of everything, of uncertainty. But I took a chance and went on an adventure. I stayed in Chicago for the summer and planned on staying there for a year or so, but an opportunity came up that would take me to NYC and that’s where I’ll be heading in just a few weeks. It’s something I think I would have never come across had I remained on auto-pilot, complacent with where I was career wise and personally. It took everything I had just to say, “OK, I don’t know what will happen, but it’s OK” I finally saw that sometimes you need to make opportunities instead of waiting for them. I just found your site and look forward to coming back for more. Good luck seems like the wrong thing to say here, because you’re out there making things happen. I will simply say to you, enjoy.

By: Meenal

Meenal — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:32:49 +0000

I liked this post! I agree that the “I can’t” complex and fear of failure so often hold us back from so many things we want to do. Every single day people talk about, “one day I want to…”–but why one day? Why not today? It’s definitely easier to hold yourself back, but sometimes just taking a leap can be so rewarding. We all need a little risk here and there.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:48:08 +0000

Amber – thank you for sharing your story here. It’s a clear example of how much you accomplish when you start trying. My opinion? As long as your learning, your living – You only fail when you don’t try, when you tell yourself you can’t when you really can, when you let fear and doubt consume you. As long as your moving, whether it be baby steps or giant leaps of faith – as long as you keep moving forward you’ll never live the ‘what if?’ lifestyle. Thanks again – and I hope you’ll become a regular read here and share your insight and experiences in further conversations.