Do It Scared. Do It Insecure. Just Do It!

Hey guys. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and something that has been on my mind is that the BROOKSY Community on Instagram has forced me out of my comfort zone.

I had no intention of selling T-Shirts and Drumsticks and other products but so many people who I met in person and also in the community or just social media asked me to because they wanted to own them.

This is where the fear and insecurity come in.

I don’t consider myself to be someone who should be doing "all of this" - so stepping out really had me worried. I could hear the voices of the people saying,

"who does he think he is?"

"He’s not even that good!"

“Nobody’s gonna buy them!”

"He should focus more on his drumming than messing around with merch!"

As much as I’m someone who likes to be true to myself and do what I think is right, rather than going with what other people think, these thoughts nearly stopped me from launching anything.

With enough encouragement from the BROOKSY Community and my family I stepped out and launched the drumsticks, then the T-Shirts and now Room Sprays. The scary thing is that I have plans for more too. This whole experience has been incredibly rewarding and affirming for me. I had to get out of my own way and do it scared and insecure before I could experience the love and support people have shown me. It also helped me realise that my drumming—and I guess my personality—is something people resonate with and take inspiration from.

Why am I sharing this with you? I know that there are people reading this who want to go after something that scares them, whether that’s a change of career, setting up a business, moving to a new place or even learning a new instrument (like me recently picking up the bass guitar) and I just want to encourage you to just do it. Don’t let fear of what other people may think or have to say about what you’re doing stop you from doing something that could add so much joy and purpose to your life.

Don’t allow imposter syndrome and negative thoughts about yourself to win. It’s easier said than done (trust me, I know - I fight those thoughts every day) but there is a whole life of fulfilment and joy waiting on the other side of fear.

You may look at me and think I have all of this figured out or that somehow doing all of this non-drumming stuff is easy for me. It really isn’t but I’m grateful because whenever I doubt myself or question whether or not I should continue with all things BROOKSY, I’m reminded of how much stepping out and doing it has increased my confidence and taken away a lot of the fears that held me back.

Recently Pauly and Liv bought me a Bass Guitar for my birthday. I’ve always wanted to play the bass but have never really given it the time to learn it properly and play to even a basic standard. I received a message from a member of the BROOKSY Community who is in her early 50’s and always wanted to play the drums but is only now having lessons - if you’re reading this, you know who you are. Since beginning lessons, she came across my work with RAYE and has taken inspiration from my drumming. While she may think I have inspired her; hearing her story inspired me to take learning the bass guitar seriously and hoping that at some point in the future I will be playing to at least a basic standard.

So, if you’ve got something that you want to do, please do it. Don't wait for the perfect time. Don't wait until you think you're good enough, or until you think other people think you're good enough.

I don’t know if this blog was for me or for you guys to be honest but I definitely feel better for sharing my thoughts.

What are you hoping to do and what’s stopping you? Take a leaf out of my book and do it scared, do it insecure… Just Do It!

Nice one guys!

- Matt