(psst: join me Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 12:30 pm Eastern for my next Ask Me Anything on LinkedIn Live. I'm calling it the Halloween Edition 🎃 , where we'll talk about the spooky things happening in the world of work--and what to do if you're getting scared. Click here to add it to your calendar.)

***

A few weeks ago Reader, I started taking tap lessons at our local arts center. 🕺🏽

I thought it'd be easy and fun. After all, how hard could it be?

A few classes in, and my toes and thighs know exactly how hard it is.

"Shuffle, hop, cross!" my 20-something instructor shouts, bouncing through the air as I stay stubbornly grounded.

I'm trying.

But I . . . stink.

***

I heard this line the other day: "Dissatisfaction isn't an outcome; it is learned."

I get that.

I didn't think I'd be bad at tap. I've got rhythm, I've got music. 🎶

What I don't have are well-toned thigh and core muscles, which it turns out, are what you really need to tap.

It'd be easy to quit now.

In fact, that's exactly what our primitive brains encourage us to do. Science tells us there's part of our brain programmed for safety and comfort (more on this in Red Cape Rescue). It's the part that says, "stay safe, don't venture out, don't get hurt."

Safety is great, but as the old phrase goes, "a ship in harbor is safe--but that's not what ships are for."

Yup, it's easy to want to avoid discomfort. We accidentally learn to stay away from things that are hard.

But when we do, we'll never dance.

So how about you, Reader? Where are you avoiding discomfort instead of becoming comfortable with discomfort? Hit REPLY and tell me your story--I always love hearing from you.

As for me, my toes may never twinkle. All I can do is keep moving, flapping and scuffing along the ground as best I can. Your uncomfortable dance may look different, but don't give up--it's where the growth is, and it's your chance to soar.

Always, Darcy

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P.S. Showing up on camera LIVE isn't comfortable. But I'll get uncomfortable when it helps YOU. So don't forget to join me for my next Ask Me Anything on LinkedIn Live. It's Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 12:30 Eastern, and I'll be tackling YOUR hot topics--managing through layoffs, deciding what's next, growing when you don't feel you have time to learn--and more. Got a question to ask in advance? Hit REPLY and tell me. Add it to your calendar here, now. --D