I’ve never been a resolutions person. Not because I don’t have ambition or discipline, but because resolutions always feel heavy. Obligatory. Like a to-do list you secretly resent. And let’s be honest, resentment is not a great long-term motivator.
So this year, I tried something different. Instead of setting goals that demanded willpower or sacrifice, I set a challenge that demanded courage. I decided I would do 50 scary things over the course of the year.
Not dramatic reinventions. Not 50 things to finish by January. Just moments where I hesitate and instead of talking myself out of it, I choose courage and move forward anyway.
What Counts as Scary Is Surprisingly Personal
Some items were obvious. Jumping out of a plane? Yes. HYROX class, which sounded suspiciously like a trap disguised as fitness? Yes.
Other things were quieter, and maybe more meaningful. Speaking French out loud in France. Publishing a book I feel underqualified to write. Going on a date with a stranger. Letting myself be seen even when I am not polished or prepared.
I’m only nine items in, and I’m not planning the full list in advance. The point isn’t to optimize the experience. The point is to stay awake to it.
Fear Changes Once You Face It
By the fourth item, something unexpected happened. The things I had built up in my head didn’t feel scary anymore. Not easy. Not trivial. Just normal.
Fear is not a fixed trait. It shifts. What feels uncomfortable in January becomes routine by spring. What once needed pep talks eventually just needs shoes.
I said to myself, “Fear is not something you conquer once. It is something you practice until it loses its power.”
By the end of the year, the version of me who hesitated at the beginning will feel almost endearing. Like a past self who didn’t yet know what she could handle.
Courage Is a Muscle You Can Build
Courage is not something you are born with. It is a muscle, and like any muscle, it responds best to practice, not intensity.
Doing scary things regularly shifts what your body considers normal. It grows your comfort zone without blowing up your life. It teaches you to tell the difference between real danger and emotional discomfort dressed up as logic.
Most of the time, what stops us is not fear of failure. It is fear of unfamiliarity. The awkwardness. The temporary wobble of being new at something. But the more you practice, the less novel and less intimidating it becomes.
By December, January’s Fear Feels Small
That is the quiet promise of this approach. Not instant transformation. Just steady proof that you are capable of more than you think.
Here is my challenge to you. What if you skipped resolutions and instead committed to doing a handful of things that scare you at your own pace in your own way?
You do not need 50 to start. One is enough to change the trajectory. Choose your hard.
At StringCan, we help teams tackle challenges that feel uncomfortable, whether it is aligning sales and marketing, scaling operations, or navigating growth decisions. If you are ready to stretch your organization’s comfort zone and achieve results that feel a little scary in the best way, let’s talk.
