When’s the last time you tried something new?

Something you might even suck at?!

If you’re anything like me I bet it’s been a while.

What is it with this idea that we gravitate to doing things that we are good at and avoid those we aren’t.

Even if there might be something we want to do, something that might be fun, or bring us joy?!

Sadly most of the time, myself included(!), we choose things that highlight our strengths and avoid things that might show our weaknesses.

Last week I was listening to the Choose Strong podcast by ultrarunner Sally McRae (link here) and she spoke of this idea. She had never run the Leadville 100 because she knew she would struggle due to it being at altitude and she has issues breathing due to an incident shortly after her birth.

However, she did choose to do that race as part of her Choose Strong project. She knew it would be difficult. She knew she would struggle. In the past she chose races to do well as being a professional ultrarunner that is her job and of course she wants to place well in the events she does. So in the past she had never done the Leadville 100 as she knew she’d have a hard time doing well.

As part of her project she did the event and finished. But she did struggle. However, it was interesting that she shared that it’s when we do things that are difficult, that when we struggle, those are the things that help us to learn about ourselves and grow.

I think that’s so true!

Similarly, a book I’m reading touting the benefits of meditation (link here) says that many people don’t do it because they think they suck at it – especially us high achievers- so they don’t meditate!

Again, so true!

It is hard to choose to do things that we aren’t good at or we know we won’t succeed at right away. But that is what leads to a life of growth.

When I first got into triathlons, I loved the last leg – running – as it was my strength. However, the first leg – swimming – was a big challenge for me. I knew how to “swim” but not in any way that was remotely fast or efficient. It took working at it a lot to improve to where I at least was comfortable and could swim the distance of races to end up completing an Ironman (a 2.4 mile swim), nearly 5 years after I first begun the sport.

I know I’ve been that way in choosing – whatever it is – work or races – things I’ll do well at vs things that maybe I just want to do it.

But I’m letting go of that need to be good at something right away and realizing that in the learning, the doing, is the growing. I think that’s why the idea of creating a business including speaking is appealing to me. I’m definitely feeling scared but I feel drawn to it. I know that by pushing myself I will only grow and help others.

Similarly with racing, I do have dreams of longer races – maybe even a 100 miler myself! It’s scary to think about. The longest I’ve done thus far is a 50k (31 miles). It will be some time before I’m close to consider signing up. The idea of failing, of DNFing (not finishing) an event is scary but as Ruth Soukup said “If your goal doesn’t scare you it’s not big enough.”

I also think it’s with those kinds of goals that we grow the most. And it’s also not just in the goal but in the process, the journey, to achieving that goal that we learn about ourselves.

Rather than worrying about showing our weaknesses or perhaps even failing, let’s remember this when thinking about and choosing our goals, “A goal should scare you a little & excite you a lot.” – Joe Vitale