Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New

When we are young we don't have the intellectual ability to make fear-based decisions. We know what we want and then we do it - it's that simple. I'm convinced the longer we live and the more we see, the harder it is for us to take any action without a validation check. You know the one; when a kid takes their first steps but looks at mom and dad first to make sure they are OK before they step.

I grew up playing soccer. It was my passion at the time and I was good. Actually… I was really freaking good. I used to run up and down that field kicking ass and taking names like it was my job. I came to the soccer field with no expectations or preconceived notions, and I left with no regrets - every single time. Not once can I look back and remember thinking "yikes, I may not make that goal I better not take that shot" or "dang, if I'm too assertive during this game will others think I'm cocky?". Yet, in my adult life I do this every day. Every single day, y'all. Every meeting I have, every phone call I take, every conversation I'm a part of. I look around to see if I'm making too many waves or too close to taking shots I may not be able to make. Why do we do this? As adults we are more capable than ever before, yet so incredibly paralyzed by the fear of rejection and failure. Here's why - as we age we are conditioned to "fit in" to fill a primal need for love and affection. That's it. We do something so destructive to our very being in an effort to obtain love and acceptance. Being "part of the pack" is in our DNA.

What we forget is that love and acceptance (real love) is never conditional. Real relationships, real friends, real family love you no matter what. If you can look around and honestly say that your "pack" will be gone the moment you make a wave too big, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PACK.

We have to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. We have to allow ourselves to learn new things and give ourselves the grace to stumble. Imagine if you never gave yourself grace while trying to learn to ride a bike, threw up your hands and said "I can't do it, I guess I'm not meant to ride a bike". Well, not with that attitude you won't. But we got back up, picked out those little devil pebbles embedded in our knee and started again. And again, and again, and again until one day we looked back and nobody was holding the bike up.

You cannot grow, create, or thrive inside the comfort zone. Change is bred in our most uncomfortable moments. Be Brave enough to suck at something new again. Whatever it is that you aren't doing because you feel like you don't know how, or you don't have enough experience. Just start. Again, and again, and again, and again. You are never going to know if you can if you don't try. Start today, even if you don't know how. Lean into what lights your heart on fire and lean hard.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." Dr. Seuss