“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!’” —Hunter S. Thompson

If you’ve been following my posts, you probably know I’ve been working on a book for the past year. It’s about overcoming epic failures and rising again. The book—and the talks I’ve given around it—have been a longtime goal.

Last week, I finished the first draft. Then, I did something even more frightening than the writing itself.

I emailed it to someone.

The Moment Before the Leap

Up until now, the book has been a nebulous thing. It lived on my computer, a daily companion just a few people knew about. As I got further along, I started letting a small circle in on the secret. (I’m writing a book!) Then a slightly wider audience. (I’m writing a book.) Each step was uncomfortable, but necessary.

Necessary to keep me going. Essential to keep me accountable.

Once the book was complete? Hitting send? That was a totally different animal.

Suddenly, this creation —this precious thing I had nurtured, agonized over, and poured myself into— would be in someone else’s hands. I sat at my desk, staring at the screen for what felt like hours before finally clicking the button.  And just like that, it was out in the world.

Why Do We Play It Safe?

The quote at the start of this article is one of my favorites because it reminds us of something we often forget: None of us are getting out of this alive. We know what’s coming. So why do we act like we need to play it safe?

Safety is comfortable. It’s predictable. It’s the well-worn path. And while that path might feel reassuring, the warm blanket of the tried and true, it offers no adventure, nor excitement. And no growth.

Fear Is a Compass

To fully live, to “suck out all the marrow of life,” as another famous author put it, we have to step beyond comfort. We must stand on the ledge, lean forward, and view the horizon from different angles. A few of us have no fear; the rest have to do things that scare the bejezus out of us.

Why?

Because that’s where the adventure is, where the growth happens. And at least you won’t be left wondering.

Fear marks the edge of our comfort zone, and just beyond that edge is where we stretch, evolve, and transform. Find those places in your life—the ones that make you hesitate, that make your stomach flip. Walk up to them. And if you dare, take a step forward.

It won’t kill you. And if it does—well, you knew that was coming eventually anyway.

You got this.