When I was a teenager, my friends loved to tease me for being too "scared" to ride a roller coaster. The truth is, it wasn’t the heights or speed that scared me—it was the unsettling loss of control that I couldn’t stand.
But their words stuck with me. They planted a seed of doubt, and I couldn’t shake the label they’d given me.
We all experience moments of uncertainty, and to the outside world, they might seem small—insignificant even. But sometimes, those moments plant a seed that grows into something far greater.
For me, it wasn’t just about responding to my friends’ teasing—it was about proving something to myself. “They’ll see,” I thought. “I’ll show them—and myself—what I’m truly capable of.” That’s when I made a promise: when I turned 18, I would do something bold enough to silence that voice of doubt once and for all.
I decided I would go skydiving.
Fast forward a few years, and there I was, strapped into a parachute, staring down at the earth from 13,000 feet. The roar of the engine filled my ears, and the wind whipped through the open door as the instructor gave me the final signal. My heart was pounding, and my palms were slick with sweat as I gripped the edge. Every instinct screamed at me to stay safely inside the plane, to retreat to the comfort of solid ground.
But then I remembered why I was there. There was no turning back. I glanced one more time at the instructor, took a deep breath, leaned forward, and jumped.
People often ask me, “What was it like? What were you thinking?” Interestingly enough, in that moment, I wasn’t thinking at all—I was simply present, completely absorbed by the rush of the wind and the weightlessness of the fall.
It wasn’t until the parachute finally opened and I began to gently float back to the ground that clarity came. That experience taught me something profound:
"Life isn’t about what happens to you; it’s about how you embrace and respond to the experiences you have."
A few weeks later, I found myself back at the same theme park where my friends had teased me all those years ago. This time, they were buzzing with excitement as they invited me to ride the Kumba—a legendary coaster famous for its 135-foot stomach-lurching drop and 114-foot-tall, heart-pounding vertical loop.
“Come on, you’ve got to ride this one,” one of them said, nudging my shoulder. "This should be nothing for you.”
Another chimed in, grinning. “You can't handle the Kumba?”
As they moved closer to the entrance, one of them glanced back and smirked. “Seriously, why don’t you want to go? Don’t tell me you’re afraid!”
I burst out laughing and cupped my hands around my mouth. With a wide grin, I called back, “Terrified!”
The truth is, I felt nothing—not scared, not torn, not even fazed by their words.
That moment taught me something important: the limits people put on you, and the ones you put on yourself, are just that—limits. They don’t have to define you. You have it in you to rise above, overcome, and prove people wrong. But more importantly, you have the power to prove yourself right—to show yourself what you’re truly capable of.
As I reflect on that experience, I’m reminded of a quote I shared in my Monday Motivation video below: “Birds don’t fear the water because they know how to fly.”
Fear isn’t the enemy. It’s just an invitation to trust your wings, to believe that you’re capable of more than you think.
So, what’s your roller coaster moment?
What’s the fear or challenge that’s holding you back?
Today, I want to challenge you: take that first step toward proving it wrong. You might surprise yourself with how high you can soar.
You got this.
Disclaimer
Statements on this blog reflect the author's personal opinions and do not represent any other person, company, or organization. The purpose of this blog is to provide general knowledge and to raise awareness of tools, techniques, people, and organizations that bring about positive change. The reader is strongly encouraged to perform independent research about the topics discussed.
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