Courage over comfort

Posted on August 05, 2020 by Julia Bailey, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.

Overcoming fear is the quickest and most sure method to increase your confidence. Here’s the best part. You don’t have to start with the big ones: public speaking, snakes, heights, etc. Think of some things that make you slightly uncomfortable. Start doing those things on purpose. Now! Go. You have so many opportunities at your fingertips and they are just waiting for you to reach out.

Here’s a little secret, what you choose to try can be something you’ve never done before and it can even sound a little fun or a lotta fun. That is my favorite way to build confidence. When we need confidence the most, it can be a big ask to do something that feels scary. Many of us need to start small and build up some momentum. Also, who doesn’t need a little extra fun in their lives?

Today, pick just one thing. Chase it down and enjoy it and the benefits after. There is always a small discomfort in doing something you have absolutely never done before. It can be minimal. You might not even believe that doing something fun, silly, or new that is simple will have any effect at all. Please, find something, anything, and do it anyway. Maybe you try a new variation on something you’ve done many times. There is energy in exploring something new and anticipation in the unknown. Living big is about seeking growth anyway you can manage and it doesn’t matter how small of a step you take. You will feel it.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas. Taste something new. Try a new craft. Take a class. Play a new game. Visit a business that you’ve never been to. Go to a new place you’ve never gone. Do something kids do but you never did. Run. Dance. Explore a park. See a movie in the theater by yourself. Go to dinner by yourself. Talk to someone you’ve never met. Start a journal. Listen to new music. I bet that you’ll have fun, feel more energetic and less stressed after, and definitely a bit more confident than before.

For myself I just ordered a daily card deck called the “Courage Over Comfort Deck” by the BestSelf Company. Brene Brown has a lot to say about choosing courage over comfort. That courage is not possible without vulnerability. That’s a topic for a different day. I’m so excited about starting a new daily practice. The idea behind the deck is to pull a random card that presents a daily challenge for you. I can’t wait to have fun with the challenges and laugh lovingly at myself as I realize the discomfort of things I didn’t even know would make me a little or a bit more uneasy.

What is something you’ve never done before that you’re willing to try?