Do it for the thrill

When’s the last time you did something that scared you?

I don’t mean… there’s something you wanted to do and it was scary, but you did it anyway.

I mean… you did it BECAUSE it was scary.

Improv is like that for me.

I used to be painfully shy.  I didn’t like being the center of attention.  I felt self-conscious and anxious around other people.

Gradually, one TINY step at a time, I stretched my comfort zone.

It helped me see that so many of the things I was scared of weren’t actually going to hurt me.

I learned to trust myself.

And when things didn’t go so well, I practiced having my back.

Inch by inch, I grew my self-confidence.

What I discovered is…

If something is scary but it could also be fun, then I want to do it.

I do it for the fun AND because it will help me get over my fears.

You know what’s scary and fun?  Amusement park rides!

Yes, stretching my comfort zone can be scary.  But when I add a dash of fun it becomes thrilling!

When my heart starts pounding and my palms get sweaty, I decide that this means I’m excited.

When I first started improv classes, I figured I’d try it for a month and then quit.  Then I could check it off my bucket list and be proud that I did it.

But every week, the fear got a tiny bit lighter, and the fun of it grew.

Our class formed a team that feels like family.  Because we’re all afraid and we’re in this together.

I saw the progress I was making in overcoming my self-consciousness and perfectionism.

I learned that I love having permission to run around and do silly things in front of people.

But there’s still a little fear, which means there’s still growth for me here.  So, I’m going to keep going.

Our team’s first public show is tomorrow. (I’m writing this on Friday.)  And I’ve got all the feels.

I’m nervous and excited.

I feel alive.

It’s thrilling.

Now it’s your turn!

What fear do you want to overcome?

What is a TINY step you could take to lean into that fear and show it who’s boss?

How can you make it thrilling and fun?

Leave a comment and let me know what you’re going to do so I can cheer you on!