…this is a question that echoes in moments of hesitation, and it doesn’t matter if we are facing a life-changing decision, a simple trip out, or something in between…

I wonder how many of you reacted like I did when we received the invitation to meet up with other Moodscopers in London at the end of this month? I was torn between comfort and curiosity. I’d like to meet up and put faces to some of the many names that have appeared on my screen over the years, but I’m filled with anxiety about doing so. I rarely write in response to blogs and have never written a blog, so I don’t feel as though I’m part of the ‘in-crowd’. That is my anxiety speaking, because I’m sure that everyone will be very warm, welcoming and inclusive; but then my inner voice says, ‘It’s natural for people to gravitate towards the people they know – perhaps to their buddies, if they are present, or the people who write the blogs or reply to them’, and I start worrying again! 

Sometimes saying yes to things means embracing risk or a challenge, and this can bring growth and opportunity as well as fear and uncertainty. Saying no offers safety and familiarity but can lead to missed chances and regret. What we decide ultimately hinges on weighing up our values and goals together with the state of our mental and physical health… are we protecting ourselves, or are we holding ourselves back? There’s no universal answer. Sometimes, going leads to good memories and maybe even transformative experiences. Other times, not going is an act of wisdom and self-preservation. But in asking the question we can maybe find the clarity that can be more powerful than the actual choice itself. 

I’d love to hear if any of this resonates with any of you, or to hear of times when you went and wished you hadn’t – or didn’t go and wished you had?

With warm wishes to you all,

Catherine x

A Moodscope member

… and yes, I’ve booked my train tickets to London, so I hope to see you there, if it’s right for you…