This week I finished the book written by William McRaven, “Make Your Bed”.  Of course, it is my favorite book this week and I highly recommend it.  One of the chapters is about risk, in fact daring greatly is required if you want to change the world.  William explains, “…those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment; will never achieve their potential.  Without pushing your limits, without daring greatly, you will never know what is possible in life.”  Take a minute and truly reflect on that, because I am sure I am not the only person who has some fears.

For a while I thought I was afraid of heights, so I did the very opposite of what a normal person might do – I jumped out of an airplane.  Now mind you I was attached to someone who had years of experience – at least I had faith in that – but that doesn’t make the voice in your head become quiet.  Everything was fine while we were on the ground, getting prepared and then waiting. 

But then I left my family (who had come to watch) and started to walk towards the plane with my jump partner.  For those of you who has never skydived, the plane has 2 long benches that you sit in rows of newbies attached to their jump partner.  I was fine until they opened the BIG door that we would be jumping out of, while the plane was ascending.  That is when I started to have second thoughts, the voice in my head was having a field day: “What were you thinking???  Why did these seem like a good idea??  What if the parachute doesn’t open?”, and on and on. 

Then it was time to start jumping.  As people in front of you went, we moved closer to the front and now was the point in time that you realize the only way down was out that door.  In fact I signed a lot of paperwork and one was essentially that I was going out that door and not on a plane ride up and back.   I have to admit at that moment as I am standing up and inching towards the door that there was a bit of panic and fear going on.  In fact I shut my eyes when we were inching near that edge, but once the action of the jump was over, it is an amazing feeling and sight to behold.  I would even go again.

Since that time, I have a new appreciation for fear, and pushing past it.  In fact, it helped me make the tough decision to leave a field I had spent a long time in and pursue a new passion.  You have the potential to fail, but what are you missing out of because you let that voice in your mind have control? 

William McRaven includes the motto of the British Special Air Service, which I think life would be wonderful if we all embraced:  WHO DARES – WINS.  What are you waiting for?

If you want to see my experience, click here and watch: https://vimeo.com/342033126