Be Bold

If you’re shy, apprehensive, or cautious, you run the risk of leading a life marked by unfulfilled goals and stale routine. Think about history; most progress has been forged by people who were bold — public servants, entrepreneurs, scientists and others who didn’t wait for opportunities, but rather created them. And most great personal triumphs have stemmed from taking calculated risks.

It begs the question: What would you do if you were 10 times bolder? Would you ask for a promotion or raise (or maybe just tell your boss off and worry about the consequences later)? Would you finally start that new business you’ve been thinking about for years? Would you tell someone in your life how you really feel about him or her? Or would you do something totally unpredictable like go skydiving?

Ask yourself what you’re afraid of. For most of us, it’s the fear of rejection that’s holding us back. By the same token, some of us may be uncomfortable in change and revel in complacency.

Whatever you are, ultimately, boldness comes from within. It’s about discovering what makes you different and then calling attention to it. It’s about challenging conventional thinking, and it requires conviction and imagination. It’s not about what you do, but rather about who you are.

Pretend for a day that you are 10 times bolder.

What would you do?

How would you feel?