Dare to Trust

Leap and the net will appear.
~ John Burroughs, American author

Where is my net?

When does making a leap into the unknown make more sense than a decision based solely on carefully acquired data? And when should one throw caution (and all those carefully considered reasons) to the wind?

While some feel that it is a virtue to act founded on belief or intuition, others feel it is the height of foolishness to be so impulsive. But most of us have learned that no matter how carefully we try to manage the details of life, there are always moments when we have to let go and trust.

Trust in the process

You may have the passion, enthusiasm and intelligence to achieve your dreams, yet often there is something intangible that holds you back: a lack of clarity, a negative attitude, perfectionism, or fear of failure. Perhaps you simply suffer from procrastination and have lots of plans but seem unable to act on them. Whatever the reason, a simple shift to trusting the process will allow you to move past your “stuck” places—those troublesome mental potholes that can take you, sometimes permanently, off track.

Trusting is not merely saying; "Ok, universe gimme what ya got". It's a deep belief in yourself. You must be willing to leap into the unknown with the faith that, even without all your ducks in a row, you will not only survive, you will figure it out as you go along. Once you have made the leap—and every leap and subsequent landing comes with its own lesson—you must trust in the process of letting go.

But my comfort zone is so... comfy

Most of the time, we do whatever we can to avoid trouble. We fear being exposed or stretched beyond our comfort zone. Trust breaks that pattern of fear and hesitancy and allows you to enter situations that test your metal. These are the situations we actually learn from, which ironically, fly in the face of everything we’ve been taught: seek security, get good and comfortable, and stay put.

However, there are times when it is essential that we let go and accept risk as a key component in our growth. If the need to control has become a form of paralysis, an excuse to not even try, then as Harv says, “Ready, fire, aim!” Once you land you can see how close you are to the bulls-eye and correct from there.

Worry is prayer in reverse

Taking a leap of faith and trusting your own ability is only one option. The other option is worrying. Unfortunately, Worry does nothing but cause anxiety, and there is nothing like anxiety to ruin performance or cloud decision making. Worry is like praying for things you don't want—so don’t!

There comes a time in every life when we must chose to either stay put or take action. Inertia, safe as it may seem, can become a life-long habit, and the perfect excuse to never fail…or succeed. So, ready, fire, aim. (repeat)

When you find yourself at the next crossroads or cliff-edge, consider the cost of not taking a step forward: you may be haunted with “what if’s” long after you no longer have the option to act.

The cost of "woulda, coulda..."

The first step, it’s been said, is a doozy. Yet it is the very act of moving forward that brings you closer to realizing your dreams. So, take charge of your future and make that leap into the unknown…and the net will appear!