Do you do the same thing every day? Do you live comfortably in the familiar or are you willing to take a chance and step outside the box? Do you live cautiously or are you willing to take risks?

I don't mind some changes, like moving, but typically, I live best and most comfortably doing what I know I can do and feeling assured that I can do it well. If I can't feel the assurance, I tend to shy away. It is scary to think of attempting something that I may not succeed at or excel in. The mere thought of trying something, not doing an exceptional job, and then having others find out about it frightens me. I don't want to feel like a public failure!

I recently thought about some of these questions and how I would answer them for myself. I had to honestly admit that I was living comfortably and not taking risks. To live that way may work for some time, but eventually, I would end up stunted and stagnant. And that's not the kind of person I want to be. I don't think that's what God would want for me either.

After realizing this about myself I decided to take some action. I thought a lot about a passion I had for writing. For the past several years, I had kept that passion tucked safely in a box in my closet of life. I dared to take a risk and pursue those interests further. I made a quick decision and signed up for a writer's conference. I could barely mumble the title without all the clarifiers, "Well, really, I just like to write..." or "Well, I wish I were a writer..." or even "Well, someday I'd like to be a writer..." 

With much apprehension, I signed up for the conference. I hoped that over the course of four days I could collect as much information as possible and if I was lucky try for an appointment with an editor on the last night. I felt confident that in a four-day span I could collect all the necessary information to pull off one meeting with an editor, but I would need every minute of those four days.

You could imagine my surprise to get to the conference and find out I was the first appointment scheduled for the conference. The only workshop I had time to attend was on perfecting your pitch. Perfect my pitch, I thought...I had to find a pitch! How would I ever pull this off?

My personality is not by nature confident or bold. This was going to be a stretch. I felt like I was terribly out of my element. I began questioning myself. Why did you think you could do this? Wouldn't you be better off just going home? Why couldn't God pick something easier for me to do, this is just too far out for me!

After a great deal of self-doubt, I decided that I better quit wasting mental energy and much needed time and just start preparing for my meeting with the editor. Thankfully, the meeting went well. The editor liked the article and was hopeful that they could use it in their magazine. I was so excited. I was off to a great start.

It was amazing how inspired I felt through the course of the next four days. I attended several workshops and had a few meetings with published authors.  The experience was incredible. I even had the opportunity to meet with five different editors. Imagine my surprise when all of the editors I met with seemed interested in my articles and thought they were a possiblity for their publications. I was thrilled!

The conference was a great learning environment. There was a wealth of useful information and the chances to make connections were very beneficial. But even more than the networking opportunities, I was encouraged by the people who shared how their passions for writing had come to life. I could feel my own desire to write welling up within me. I had thought about several different story ideas over the last few years. Now, all of a sudden, I felt like I was bursting at the seams and had a burning desire to get those ideas into written form.

My desire was renewed, and my hope was awakened. I found myself, finally, outside the box. I gained confidence as well as knowledge, and I was challenged and not just assured. I have decided to take that bold step and take the risk. My writing may excel, or it may be just another creative expression. But my growth won't be stunted and my passion won't die sitting safely tucked away in the closet of life.

How about you? Are you living comfortably iin the familiar or are you stepping outside the box? What area of your life could be challenged to encourage growth?

 

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