Last year I suddenly became daring. I went from happily living my life to pursuing extreme experiences and embracing life to the full. Somehow, the lights had turned on and I realised time is not waiting for me, it’s ticking by fast and I had better pick up the pace to achieve all the things I want from life and jump on board with really living.
So I started allowing myself to be dared. Dared to try new and scary things, dared to overcome my fears and embrace every challenge that has been presented to me; some of which even the bravest and fearless of men would find a challenge. I sit here shaking my head in disbelief that I can say that I’ve dived with a frenzy of sharks many measuring over 6ft, at just an arms length away, during feeding time. Being this daring really didn’t sound like me.
Some might call this courage, others stupidity, but I call this faith. When we throw off all fear and step into the unknown we actively engage faith to believe in a positive outcome. Stepping outside of what’s in our control is putting our faith in the hands of someone greater than ourselves.
Activating the faith to try new things can get more and more difficult as we age, particularly when we reach that tipping point of middle age and we realise we’ve already lived over half our life. It’s like a self preservation button gets pressed and we stop pursuing more and settle for life as we know it.
I hadn’t noticed my self preservation button had been triggered until I was dared to do something new that was dangerous and daunting. I was faced with a decision that unbeknownst to me was actually a crossroads. Do I do what I’ve always done and refuse to challenge myself and happily stay on the sidelines or do I shrug off all fear and reserve and throw myself all in? It was at this very moment that I realised that although I was happy and content with my life that I’d somehow stopped trying, learning, growing, asking questions and challenging myself.
I chose well at that crossroads when I felt that stirring within me say “just go for it” and I uncharacteristically agreed. The result being a new braver and daring me with a greater perspective of what my life could look like now that I have the courage to face the future stronger, more courageous and determined; believing that I CAN create the future I want but always felt was out of reach.
So I want to ask you when was the last time you tried something new? When did you last do something brave? If that wasn’t recently then I challenge you to give living a go. Do that skydive you always hoped you’d have the courage for, ride a camel, give surfing a try, climb that mountain, learn to dive, stop procrastinating and get daring, find your brave and just go for it. It’s so worth it.
Go on I dare you!
Psalm 56: 3-4 ‘But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart. What harm could a man bring to me? With God on my side, I will not be afraid of what comes.’