You may have heard the saying “do one thing every day that scares you”? It’s attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was once the First Lady and recognised as a Social Activist. It also featured in the Baz Luhrmann song, Sunscreen!
There’s a really important message here. So many of us go through life permanently living in our comfort zone – doing the things we know we like, engaging with the people we know we like and seeking to reduce the risk of being ‘scared’. It’s human nature. Our minds naturally prioritise the avoidance of fear, uncertainty and the unknown.
But – what if that thing that you think scares you, doesn’t actually scare you? What if it leads to a new interest, a new friendship, a new hobby or a new career. You can guarantee if it does, it will be just the start of many new experiences and a development of a new level of self-confidence to try new things.
We just never know what could be around the corner; and we will never know if we don’t explore – and experiencing a rich life is all about exploring.
So, today, explore – even just dip your toe in to start with low risk – try something new, perhaps something that scares you. If it works out, it will be just the start.