“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – John Anster

We all go through periods in life in which we feel like we are in a rut. Our problems don’t seem to get better or worse – they just stay the same.  If we are working toward goals, we don’t see any visible progress.  As a result, we naturally feel discouraged.

I’ve found that ruts are God’s way of coaxing us out of our comfort zone. God wants us to be bold.  He wants us to continually challenge ourselves and do things that we’ve never done before.

However, it is scary to do something bold. When we take a risk and go in a new direction, whether it be with our career or in a relationship, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable.  We risk failure.  We risk rejection.  And we risk embarrassment.

But when I look back on my own life, I can only think of a handful of times when my risks have turned out badly. Typically, when we take risks, it works out well.  In fact, our risks often lead to unexpected blessings.

My biggest regrets in life are the risks that I didn’t take. For example, I regret not having gotten out of my comfort zone and having traveled more in my twenties.  Instead of pursuing jobs overseas at that age, I looked for employment close to home.

My twenties were a period without responsibilities to either a spouse or a child. I could have done anything I wanted at that age.  Sadly, I squandered those years because I was too afraid to venture out on my own.  I didn’t want to live too far away from my mother or my friends from law school.

Now I now longer have the freedom to do what I want. Since I turned 30, I’ve been tied down by either marriage or a child, or both.  I had the ability to be bold in my twenties, and I let that opportunity pass by.

Significantly, when I have taken risks in my life, they typically have paid off immensely. For instance, after I graduated from law school, I worked as a tax lawyer.  The job suited neither my skills nor my interests.  I ended up getting in a professional rut, and I couldn’t figure out how to get out of it.

It was only in my early thirties that I made the bold leap to change career paths. I left tax law and began working in child welfare law.  When I did, my professional life suddenly clicked.  It was a huge risk, and it paid off.

When we are in a rut, it is because God is calling us to do something bold. He is asking us to get past our fears and do something different.  Sadly, there are people who spend their whole lives in a rut.  They never get past their fears, no matter how much coaxing they get from God.

I recently saw an interview with Peggy Whitson, a U.S. astronaut who has spent the most days in space of any human being. When asked what her advice would be for young girls, she said, “Don’t underestimate yourself.  Push yourself.  Challenge yourself to do more than you think you can.”  Ms. Whitson’s advice doesn’t just apply to young girls.  It applies to all of us.

If you feel like you are in a rut, try making a bold move. Take the first step to pursue a lifelong dream.  Introduce yourself to someone you’ve been hoping to meet.  Do something courageous.  Be bold.  Break out of your rut and into an amazing life.

(Photo Courtesy of Pexels)