22 April

Fear of Failure

My friend has always maintained that she can’t sing so I was surprised when she told me that she had joined a choir.

“How come they accepted you?” I asked.

“Ah, well, it’s a special choir” she answered “it’s called the Can’t Sing Choir. It’s for people who think they can’t sing.”

The leader of the choir is adamant that everyone can sing. Some will have more aptitude than others but nobody should exclude themselves by refusing to attempt it for fear of failure. You may not be the best singer in the choir but that should never be seen as a failing: quite the opposite, in fact. If you think you can’t sing but you make a point of overcoming your inhibitions and trying your best you will experience something that you would otherwise have missed – the sheer joy and pleasure of singing. You will also be able to claim a personal triumph: you will be able to say “I did it! I sang in a choir! I made a dream come true!”

Many of us have lost our sense of play, of doing things for the fun of it. We are constrained by fears; the fear of being derided by our peers; the fear of not being successful in everything we attempt. Such fears inhibit our actions and exclude us from adventures. My friend was fearless: she may not be a great singer but she is a great person. She was prepared to dive in and have a go, to ‘risk’ failure. Her action set her free from constraints, free from preconceptions and free to indulge in something she had previously only dreamed about. It doesn’t matter that you’re not the best singer in the choir: what matters is that you are prepared to try, to become a player – and to make it fun.

Generosity

It was my passion for walking that led me to the idea of legging it from Manchester to London via the canal towpaths but, in case you should think I’m completely crazy, I also sought sponsorship as a way of rolling out more programmes to work with more girls. By the time I set off […]

Speak up and make your mark

Ever have that feeling that you just can’t face your workload, your problems or responsibilities? Well, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: anticipation is the worst part. Once you determine to tackle an issue it starts to become just another challenge that you can take in your stride – like worries in the night […]

Confidence = can-do

Girls Out Loud was mentioned twice during a House of Commons debate at the end of November when, in the context of a debate on the ‘Girls – educational development’ we were given credit for the effectiveness of our mentoring model. MP’s were discussing the fact that studies over the last 30 years show girls […]

SISTER TALK – PRESTON EVENT

The Big and Little Sisters at Blackburn Central High School experienced a real treat back in September when they were invited to an event celebrating 100 years of women in Policing in Preston. The event was attended by over 100 Policewomen and the Girls Out Loud party were treated like VIPS for the day, attending […]

Pole Dancing For Seven Year Olds – We need to WAKE UP!

I can stay silent no longer! Please or offend, time to comment on pole dancing as a keep fit activity for young girls. I am so fed up of listening to women, some of them mothers, defending this pursuit as nothing more than a body toning activity, nothing sexual just good exercise for their seven […]

Don’t forget the ‘I’ in IWD

Members of the Girls Out Loud team joined the women of Nantwich in their candle-lit ceremony on Friday evening. It was a reminder that although the women of Britain have fought long and hard for sexual equality they still have a way to go. Women’s rights have been enshrined in law but many men pay […]

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