I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

One of my favorite quotes found it’s way to me again today and inspired me to write. I so appreciate the power of metaphors and visual images to convey messages. This one definitely packs a punch for me.

I am more aware today of the power of fear and how it can debilitate taking action. The mind loves to use fear to keep us comfortable, safe or maybe just stuck. How often do we listen to our own fear and choose to stay the same rather than face the fear and move toward it to test whether it is real or just our mind playing tricks on us again?

The self-created storms of fear and self-doubt that keep us from never setting sail toward the unknown are numerous. The question is can you try to forecast them for yourself like a meteorologist does for the real weather. Can you step outside of yourself and observe yourself or ask others for their observations of you to see all the indicators on the radar of your own life?

One way to get more accurate in your forecasting is to do what I believe this quote challenges us to consider. Look at life as a great learning platform for you and your metaphorical ship to navigate. The only way to truly know, understand and appreciate all aspects of yourself is to continually point yourself toward the storm clouds on the horizon. Most of them are scarier from far away than in them.  They usually pack less of a punch then your mind wants you to think they do. You will never know the reality of them if you don’t ever venture toward them.

In the process of going toward the real or imagined metaphorical storms in your life you learn about yourself in ways you never can if you never do.  If you consciously choose and pursue change and move toward and through all the fear change creates, you will inevitably be learning to sail your boat.

To me leaders, regardless of their role or title, are the ones that choose change over and over and over again. They look for it, learn from it and lead through it so that they can love it and inspire others to do the same. In doing so leaders that continually choose to explore change are becoming master mariners that can predict their own storm systems with pinpoint accuracy. However, they also know they cannot ever fully master their craft because there is always more to learn. The result is they courageously and continually keep choosing to explore change in order to better know themselves in the face of change.

In the end, I say choose change or let it choose you. Either way you will learn and grow from navigating the fear change brings with it. So why not go toward change rather than away from it in fear? Don’t let self-doubt and fear be the anchors that keep you from learning to sail your ship. Life is definitely an adventure and I hope this helps inspire you to make the most of it today even if it is scary.