From the archive

You didn't change your mind. You got scared

One thing I find useful is making the next decision small enough that it doesn't require a speech about my entire future. An interview isn't a resignation. Asking about a price isn't signing a contract. Showing someone a first attempt isn't a promise to become brilliant at it. You can gather information by participating instead of endlessly imagining how participation might go. Sometimes the answer will be no. Good. A specific no, based on something you actually encountered, is more useful than another beautifully argued refusal to find out.