The other day I missed an opportunity to spend the day outside enjoying the gorgeous North Carolina sunshine and mild temperatures.

Why?

Because I made a false assumption about what it was like outside the confines of my safe, cozy space on the couch.

I shivered as a cold breeze blew through the open windows. I thought that if it was that cold inside, it must surely be much more inhospitable beyond my front door.

But I was wrong.

When I ventured outside later in the day I realized that the warmth of the sunshine combined with mild temperatures made it an ideal day for outdoor activity. I’d missed a golden opportunity.

As creatives, we sometimes make a similar mistake. We peer out into the world, afraid to step out beyond the cozy little boundaries we’ve set for ourselves.

Depending on where we are on our journey, our safe space may include critique partners, friends, and family. Or perhaps we are so terrified of what might be out there that our comfort zone goes no further than us.

Yes, it can be scary out there. We are faced with the possibility of rejection, criticism, perhaps even ridicule. But if we don’t venture outside our sphere we miss out on opportunities for growth and all of the magical things that can happen when we move past fear.

My participation in Jeff Goins’ 15 Habits and Deb Smouse’s 30 Days to Clarity has forced me to examine some of the challenges I’ve quietly been avoiding by clinging to the safety of the familiar. So, I’ve decided to take a deep breath, step out into the sunlight, and learn to embrace risks. Sure, maybe it’ll be cold out there, but that’s what jackets are for. The payoff is certainly worth the risk.

Has fear of what might be out there ever held you back? What did you do to overcome it?

Photo courtesy of Magosoft.

Roxanne Ravenel (263 Posts)

Roxanne is a freelance journalist and novelist living in North Carolina. Her alter ego, Reese Ryan, writes smart, spicy fiction populated by deliciously flawed, multicultural characters living in the Midwest and Southeast. Her debut novel, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, will be published by Carina Press July 22, 2013. She is Managing Editor of the long-running e-zine, All Things Girl.

Roxanne Ravenel (263 Posts)

Roxanne is a freelance journalist and novelist living in North Carolina. Her alter ego, Reese Ryan, writes smart, spicy fiction populated by deliciously flawed, multicultural characters living in the Midwest and Southeast. Her debut novel, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, will be published by Carina Press July 22, 2013. She is Managing Editor of the long-running e-zine, All Things Girl.

About Roxanne Ravenel

Roxanne is a freelance journalist and novelist living in North Carolina. Her alter ego, Reese Ryan, writes smart, spicy fiction populated by deliciously flawed, multicultural characters living in the Midwest and Southeast. Her debut novel, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, will be published by Carina Press July 22, 2013. She is Managing Editor of the long-running e-zine, All Things Girl.

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