How Will You Scare Yourself Today?

Do one thing every day that scares you. – Eleanor Roosevelt

This quote is one of our favorites, and one that we refer to often as we push ourselves to expand the work that we do in schools, communities, non-profit organizations and beyond.

The quote is challenging in part because of how much care most of us take to eliminate stress and fear from our lives. Think how much time we think trying to create lives that are stable – and predictable.

And yet, often, when our lives become too predictable and we find ourselves doing the same type of work over and over, we are no longer growing. We cease to be who we are meant to be, and instead we begin to operate on auto-pilot.

This robotic type of life may be easy, but it is not invigorating. We quickly become numb and unchallenged. Our passions fade and soon we realize that we are not reaching our full potential.

Our professional and even personal lives should not be so safe and predictable that we cease to be challenged and to grow.

What will you do today that scares you?

Will you reach out and serve a person who is very different from you? Will you take the first steps to launch a new business? Apply for a new job? Take the first step in returning to college to earn a degree or to develop a new set of skills? Start that book club? Attend that zumba class that you have been watching from afar?

Whatever you choose to do, make it meaningful.