How big is your brave?

01 Jun How big is your brave?

Last week the department I work in had a social team building event at a nearby indoor go-karting track. I’m not really the go-karting type. I’ve tried it before and I felt so terribly out of control that I hated every minute of it. It made me feel quite sick actually.   So, I sat this one out.  There were a few of us who did, but it’s been bothering me that I didn’t give it a try again.  It looked fun and those who took part came off the track each time with a flush of adrenaline in their cheeks.
This is just one instance that I’ve opted out and regretted it and it’s got me thinking about what I could be missing out on by not being brave enough to give it a try. Anchovies on toast, a walk through the bush, swimming in the sea deeper than to my waist. There are many! I work in finance and was forced to spend three years in audit, so naturally I’m more risk averse. I used to be afraid of cows! (Thankfully I’m over that one after running into a whole herd of cows on a dirt farm road, with no option but to run right through them.) By playing it safe, staying within my comfort zone, I may be limiting my enjoyment of life. What am I missing out on?
Sometimes it’s not about missing out on something, but about being courageous enough to say what’s on our mind, speaking out about how we are really feeling.   I often find I hold back because of what the other person may think or how they’d feel.   The result is that I slowly chew on the emotion until it becomes a far bigger issue than what it really is.   Finding the courage to have the difficult conversations and making ourselves vulnerable is one of the hardest things about being an adult!  Sometimes there could be tears, sometimes relationships may be bruised, but if we assess our thoughts carefully beforehand and approach the discussion in the right place, at the right time and with the right attitude, the outcome could literally be life changing.
The ‘comfort zone cruisers’ among us often have big dreams, great ideas for something new or long for a fundamental change in our lives, but we’re held back by the fear of failure.  The dark abyss of the unknown stops us from making the decision to just go with it, to just give it a try.  We are commanded to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid or discouraged.   We’re promised that God will be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9).  So what’s our excuse then?  What’s holding us back?  Think about it and break it.  Challenge yourself – what’s the bravest thing you can do today?