Life’s lack of guarantees often leaves us wrestling with doubt, hesitation, and the fear of failure. Imagine, for a moment, a world where success is promised—where every venture, dream, and risk you take is certain to result in triumph. It’s a tantalizing idea, one that stirs the mind, heart, and soul. If you knew you could not fail, what would you choose to do?

The possibilities seem endless when success is assured. Freed from the restraints of uncertainty, you could allow your true aspirations to take flight. Perhaps I would finally finish my degree in Counseling and pursue a career helping others and succeed in building a respected private practice. Maybe I might open a charming shop downtown, specializing in old and vintage treasures, complete with a cozy coffee nook for customers to enjoy, never having to worry about whether the business would thrive.

Maybe I could start a cottage bakery and farm stand, sharing your love of fresh bread and homegrown produce with the community, confident in its prosperity. Maybe I would buy a motor home and travel across the country, experiencing all the wonders of nature my heart desires, certain that each adventure would be rewarding. The thought of journeying to Ireland, discovering a stone cottage, and beginning a new chapter in a quaint village becomes plausible when risk is eliminated. Or, perhaps, I would move to Vermont, start a bed and breakfast, and live contentedly among the mountains, assured of lasting happiness and achievement.

I suppose the reason life does not come with guarantees is that life is unpredictable and does not come with a warranty, The only things that most say are guaranteed in life are change and death… Those come for us all. Despite the allure of guaranteed success, life remains unpredictable. There is no warranty when it comes to our choices, and no promise that things will unfold as we hope. This unpredictability is woven into the fabric of existence, and urges us to be resilient, resourceful, and courageous. We cherish the moments when things work out and learn from the setbacks when they don’t. I consider myself an evolver, one who finds a way when I can’t see the way. I see change as inevitable, shaping our experiences and growth, while death is the final chapter that comes for us all. Guarantees, in the way we crave them, simply do not exist in life. Maybe that’s by design, nudging us to pursue our dreams not because we’re assured of success, but because the journey itself matters.

Reflecting on what we’d do if success was certain can inspire us to reconsider our fears and ambitions. While life refuses to provide guarantees, it does offer us opportunities, choices, and the chance to try. Perhaps the true measure of a fulfilling life isn’t found in assured success, but in daring to act—regardless of the outcome. Still, I wonder…. What would I do…