Can you?? Yes! You can!
It’s important to get out of our comfort zone every now and then and do things that are scary. Doing this helps us grow and become stronger and more confident.
From there, we can do bigger and better things.
But seriously, who really wants to?
My husband and I watched a movie on Netflix recently called ‘Gran Turismo.’ It is based on the racing simulation video game series and a competition for the best players to get the chance to join GT Academy and race actual professional racing cars.
The move is based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough (pronounced YAHN), a teenage Gran Turismo player who dreamed of racing, but never though it possible, until the opportunity came. It was scary and terrifying. It was hard. But he did it and became a professional racing car driver. Great movie!
My takeaways from this movie were two-fold.
One was that you need to commit and then follow through all the way. No second-guessing, no putting on the brakes at the last minute.
There can be profound consequences to this kind of driving if you aren’t committed and second-guess yourself.
The second one was to stay focused!
Focus on winning the race while avoiding being hit by other cars as you make the commitment to get ahead of them, driving nearly 300 miles per hour and not being affected by the heat and sweat while in a full helmet and driving suit, just to name a few of the challenges.
Oh, and breathe calmly while doing all that.
Breathe, focus, commit.
I was asked to play Christmas music at our local RC Willey Furniture on the $50,000 Grand Piano that they bring in for the Christmas season.
I was thrilled. Nervous! Out of practice…
For weeks I practiced the piano a little every day.
All I had to do was decide when I was going and just show up.
Suddenly, it was a few days before Christmas, and I had to make a commitment to myself when I was going to play.
So, Wednesday was the day.
I also wanted to video the experience as well. That made me feel nervous, too!
I tested my equipment and made a short video test of myself playing.
After watching myself, I couldn’t stop being critical about how I looked on camera, how I played, etc.
Sigh. It would be so easy to just not go.
I have so much work I can do at home instead. I can relax. Eat something comforting. It won’t hurt if I don’t do this. Right?
However, what if I don’t get the chance to do this again?
Will I be disappointed in myself for giving up?
What if not going makes me miss out on some other opportunity?
No! I won’t quit. I can do this. I can do hard things.
I’ve done this before. I’ve even done harder things in my lifetime.
Just focus and play. Don’t worry about anything around me. Pretend like it’s just me at the piano and no one else is there.
I kept thinking about the movie ‘Gran Turismo.’
Breathe, focus, commit.
Take a deep breath and be calm.
Focus on the music. Keep my eyes one measure ahead on the sheet music so I know where to place my fingers on the keys ahead of time.
Every time my thoughts would wander, I had to pull them back into my focus.
Once I start playing a song, I’m committed. I can’t just stop.
If I make mistakes, I can make slight adjustments, so no one notices. Relax. Breathe.
I thought about how proud of myself I would be for following through.
I can do this. I can do hard things.
The time came. I drove to RC Willey, set up my camera equipment and sat down to play the piano.
Breathe…check.
Focus…check.
Commit…here we go!
I had so much fun playing that beautiful piano!
The piano keys played fluidly under my fingers. I really got into the mood for each piece of music.
Overall, it went very well. People came by and told me how much they loved my playing.
After my performance, I went around the store and videotaped extra footage of all the beautiful Christmas decorations to add to my video.
During that time, I got many requests for an encore.
So, yes, I played again.
Walking out of the store, feeling the chill of the air on my face, I felt exhilarated about my experience.
Yes, I was proud of myself for accomplishing this challenging thing that I almost talked myself out of.
It was awesome to have the opportunity to create a beautiful Holiday ambiance for the customers and salespeople in the store.
I sent a short little video clip of my piano playing to my 9-year-old granddaughter and 12-year-old grandson. They were extremely impressed and proud of what I did.
My 9-year-old granddaughter plays the piano and loved seeing my video. I wanted to let them know how great it is to do hard things.
I hope my actions inspire them in their lives.
If Jann Mardenborough can overcome the stress, anxiety, and hard work to win and become a successful professional race car driver, we certainly can try to do something outside of our comfort zone.
We don’t have to go to the extreme that Jann did, but we can do things that are hard for us and uncomfortable or scary.
What are you avoiding doing that seems hard?
Brainstorm a list of what you have done in the past that was hard or scary. If you can’t think of anything, ask someone who knows you well.
What have you accomplished in the past and how good did you feel afterward?
The road to success is paved with moments of self-reflection, where we confront our fears and make the conscious choice to persevere.
It’s about taking a deep breath, maintaining unwavering focus, and making a commitment to see things through.
When we tackle what scares us and break through the limits we put on ourselves, it’s not just about us getting stronger; it’s about showing others they can do it too.
So, the next time you find yourself hesitating at the threshold of a challenge, remember the exhilaration that comes from embracing the unknown.
Whether it’s playing a grand piano, pursuing a passion, or venturing into uncharted territories, the experience of doing hard things is a celebration of personal growth and a gift to those who witness your journey.
These actions build our own confidence and let us shine our light to the world and bring joy to others.
Leave your comments below and let me know what hard things you have done and how you felt after accomplishing them. Or what you are planning to do.
I can’t wait to give you a virtual high-five. I’m so proud of you!