I like being safe and comfortable.
I like to stay home, put on sweatpants, and snuggle with my girls.
I like sleeping in my own bed, with my own pillows.
I like sitting in my favorite chair with my feet propped up.
I like:
predictable routines — pizza on Friday, pancakes on Saturday
doing the things I know how to do well,
cooking the recipes I know by heart,
thinking about things the ways I always have,
driving to places I can find without the GPS,
spending time with people who have heard my stories a hundred times.
I’ve been writing about taking risks, about stepping out and trying new things.
I’ve been writing about it because I’ve been doing it, and it’s difficult.
It’s hard for me to push past my love of safety and comfort to think in new ways, tackle new tasks, and relate to new people.
I know it’s hard for you, too.
Let’s do it together. We have to push past comfort if we want to make a difference.
Guess what? This is my 50th post in this new space!
I am honored by all of you who comment on my posts. Thank you for the time you take to think and reflect about the things I write here.
I invite you to share your thoughts about this post or respond to my special request in the next paragraph.
This is a special thank you to my leaderfriend Angie Chaplin, who shared her story of risk and her new, exciting career in the comments to my last post. If you haven’t read her comment, please take a moment to go back to it. Then come over here and share some encouragement with Angie OR send her a tweet @angiechaplin. Angie, I’ve walked with you on this journey. I am still with you. I believe in you. I can’t wait to celebrate all the good things that will happen in your life.
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.
Someone once said “We teach others the things we need to learn ourselves.” Risk-taking is scary and difficult. But as Ashleigh Brilliant said “If you’re careful enough, nothing bad.. (or good)… will ever happen to you.” Glad you’re not only writing about risk-taking, but are also doing it. And thanks for sharing the truth about risk-taking, Becky. Enjoyed your post.
Jesse
Hi, Becky,
I’m game. 🙂
Like you, I know that nothing of any real worth is accomplished without risk. Sometimes I really wish it wasn’t so, but in reality the reward that comes from intelligent risk taking is well worth the terror we experience when we first make the jump.
So I’m willing to “do it together.” To push the envelope and enter the discomfort of risk. Besides knowing we’re not alone in the pushing is a bit of a comfort. (pun kinda intended) 😉
Becky:
Your posts are always a great read…as you think about stretching out I would encourage you to think about other writing opportunities. I can see myself reading your book “Raising Three Girls to a Life With Purpose”.
Angie:
One of the biggest gifts we can give people is “permission to start”. Sometimes we have to give it to ourselves. Congratulations on finding the courage to give yourself permission to start… now success is possible!
Paul
Paul:
Thank you so much for your kind words. What’s especially divine about your comment is that one of my favorite books is called “Courage to Start” by John Bingham, a former couch-potato turned marathoner, and it’s what helped me prepare physically, emotionally, mentally for my first of four full and two half marathons (one of which I was blessed to share with Becky!!) Thanks again!
Becky, I can understand your like of the comfort zone. I am not one of those people that thinks I am different at home in behavior than I am at work. Where there is a noticeable difference though is at work I am much more embracing to change and not trying to control everything whereas at home, security and predictability and continuity is something I am stuck on. One of the great things I learned since starting our own business is to embrace the fact that there will always be uncertainty. It does not make me less prepared or less in control if I am uncertain as to what is around the corner (being in control is a myth by the way, we all know who is in charge). Take your step by step journey; take risks and step out to try new things. Trust me, it is liberating! You will be blown away as to how many people are beside you to support you, behind you to push you when you run out of strength and in front of you to guide you when you are not sure!