Two Options: Backward or Forward
Have you ever been ziplining?
As you stand on the platform, high up in the trees, strapped into the harness, looking out over the vast expanse, eyes following the thick steel line disappearing into the distance...
There is a moment when you must decide to either turn back or step forward.
You have two choices:
- unhook your harness and crawl back down the way you came
- step off the platform and experience the exhilaration of flight
In that moment of choice, there are two competing voices.
One voice speaks of comfort and safety. It reminds you of all the risks you face, the dangers, the “what ifs”, the negative reasons steeped in fear.
Another voice speaks of possibility and opportunity. It reminds you of what could be, the excitement, the new experience, the positive reasons steeped in growth.
In that moment, standing on the zipline platform, you have a choice.
Backward or Forward? Fear or Growth?
We are faced with these types of choices daily – some mundane, some highly consequential.
Sometimes the voices are loud - warning you to take care. Sometimes the voices whisper - daring you to take a chance. Often the negative voice will drown out the positive voice to keep you in your comfort zone.
What are the voices in your life telling you?
Which voice do you follow?
I am getting ready to release my newest free master class to the world (details coming in the next few weeks) and the competing voices have been at war in my head.
One voice tells me, “You’re not ready. It’s not perfect. Who will want to see this? Who do you think you are?”
The other voice tells me, “This class is really good. You will empower so many women. You are stronger than you think.”
I have a choice to listen to the positive voice or the negative voice.
When the negative voices get too loud, I seek help from trusted coaches, mentors and friends who ground me in positivity and reassurance. We all need that kind of support from time to time.
Abraham Maslow said, “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.”
So, let's return to the zipline...do you turn backward toward comfort or do you step forward and take flight?
I hope you take flight!
