I love to bike ride. Over the years I have accumulated three bikes that serve different purposes. One of the bikes is a recumbent bike with under seat steering. I chose to ride that bike this weekend for the first time this year. Whenever I ride my recumbent – or “bent” for short – I feel dorky and uncomfortable. It stretches me outside my comfort zone as I think about what others are saying and thinking about me. “Who is this guy?” “Look at that goofy bike?” I usually ride alone as no one in my family wants to go with me when I ride that bike.
For some reason, I felt more dorky and awkward than ever this weekend. Getting outside my comfort zone has been a test for me lately in a challenging business environment. That said, facing and overcoming my fears of discomfort builds my confidence and strengthens me. I feel good about prevailing over what others think and what I look like. Having the courage to do something unusual feels empowering, even if it is simply riding a different bike.
Different times call for different approaches and often “riding bent.” In what area of your life are you being called to “ride bent” – to do something uncomfortable, maybe a bit dorky, without regard to what others say or think?
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