Doing things that scare you.
A comfort zone is a nice place to be, for the very reason that it’s comfortable.
It doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t push you, it doesn’t change you.
It’s like staying in your childhood room, hidden under the covers, while the world rages outside.
Now and again, stepping out and doing something that scares you is so worthwhile; for gaining a fresh perspective, for learning, for diversifying you as a person. Travel is like this, which is why I love it so much. But it’s not the prospect of our huge round the world trip that’s scaring me at the moment (it would, if I thought about it too much. But one day at a time).
The thing that’s scaring me at the moment? Learning to drive. (I wrote
about why it’s a big deal).
It’s a silly, little thing for some – most – people. It’s something that’s become so ingrained that they can’t imagine it being hard or scary any more.
But for me, it’s terrifying. Granted, I’ve only had 12 hours of lessons. But when I’m travelling at 40mph desperately trying to concentrate not only on what my instructor is trying to say to me but also the other cars hurtling towards me, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m going to kill someone. That one moment out of control has devastating consequences. How can this be something that people just do, every day?
I’m sure it will become second nature to me, too. That there will be a day where everything clicks beautifully into place like a completed rubik’s cube, and I drive the car like it’s nothing more than walking down the street.
But not yet.
For now, it still scares me.
And I think that’s ok. Because even though I spend the hour before each lesson feeling I’m going to be sick, I return home exhausted from concentration and adrenaline, one step closer to passing my test. I’m doing something that’s scaring me, yes – but also something which is testing me and getting me somewhere and making me feel alive. And what’s the point of anything if we don’t feel that?
Have you done anything recently that’s scared you?
