For a long time, I thought my comfort zone was where I was supposed to stay. It was familiar. It was predictable. It was safe. But lately, I've been realizing something: staying comfortable isn't always the same thing as being happy. Sometimes, growth requires us to do things that scare us.

It means saying yes when every part of you wants to say no. Yesterday, my sister asked me to take her to a Michael Jackson themed dance party. If you know me, my bedtime is eight thirty... the doors opened up at nine p m. I was totally unsure about this. But I gathered a group of friends and we had a really good time.

I've learned that you don't have to feel confident before you take the first step. Sometimes, confidence comes because you took the step.

Maybe it's making new friends. I happened to make friends with a girl in line because she had the cutest shoes and when security wouldn't let her bring her purse in I let her put it in my car.  Security had rules about not leaving the venue once inside but when my new friend was ready to leave, my friends weren't.  Security was pretty amazing and walked me to my car, so I could grab her bag for her, and they let me back in.

Fear of the unknown can really inhibit life experience. I know, because it usually makes me say no. Maybe it's applying for the job you don't think you're qualified for.

Whatever it is, don't let the fear win.

And here's the thing about comfort zones:

You don't have to leave yours all at once.

Take one tiny step.

Then another.

You might stumble. You might doubt yourself. You might even want to turn around and go back.

But keep going.

Because sometimes the most beautiful chapters of our lives begin when we finally decide to stop playing it safe.

So here's to trying new things.

Here's to taking chances.

Here's to being a little uncomfortable.

Here's to discovering that maybe we're capable of so much more than we ever gave ourselves credit for. ❤️

Your comfort zone may be comfortable, but your dreams are waiting just outside of it.