A
re you dancing at
Playing Big and acknowledge
the edge of your
it, but even once recognized,
comfort zone? Are
it is not easy to just do it.
you letting your fears keep you
playing small?
When we play small, we
are inhibiting our true selves
I know, because I’ve
been playing small for far
too long.
I had a decent job with
from shining through: not
great benefits, and I liked
going after that dream job
the people I worked with.
because we feel we don’t have
I stayed there, playing it safe
the qualifications, not striking
for many years, because that
on and on, and for quite some
up a conversation for fear
was the responsible thing to
time I have let those fears
of what someone might say.
do and it was easy to stay in
paralyze me, spinning my
Playing small is allowing fear
the comfort zone. But then the
wheels, making good time, but
to overtake us and squash
tug became too strong, and I
going absolutely nowhere!
our dreams.
knew it was time to take the
Playing it safe—and small— leap and honor the passion
Did I get rid of my fears?
No, they are still there, but
is staying in a meaningless
I had within me to help
job for years on end because
women live their healthiest
it pays the bills and has
and best lives. Taking the
but it is not irrelevant. There
great benefits. Playing it safe
leap and leaving the safety
is risk associated with playing
means we convince ourselves
net of security was nothing
big. Sometimes a big risk,
we are okay where we are,
compared to what happened
and that’s why there is fear.
because we are not at risk
next, when I actually had to
However, without risk, there
being vulnerable.
try to do something I had
is no reward. By playing
never done before—start my
small, I cannot serve my
own business.
clients to help them transform
Playing it safe is a tricky
place, though. There is a tug,
I’m beginning to quiet them.
The fear may be irrational,
an internal pull, that is telling
Fear took over and got
their lives, and step into their
us there is more—more to our
in the driver’s seat. Fear of
purpose to live their dreams.
careers, our families, our lives,
failing, fear of what people
Playing small serves nobody,
and to our purpose. Enter:
may say or think, fear of not
least of all, ourselves.
Playing Big.
knowing enough, fear of being
Playing big means we
vulnerable by putting myself
step into our purpose: to
out there, fear of not being
be the best mother to our
ready. The list of fears goes
Our dreams are meant to be
lived. We are here to play big.
What is it costing you to
play small? Is it worth it?
children, to be the best boss or
employee, to be fully present
in our relationships with our
partners, to live the life we
know we are meant to live.
It is one thing to talk about
Melissa Rosenstock is a Certified International Health
Coach (CIHC) specializing in women’s empowerment
and transformation. Mel lives in Santa Monica,
California with her 2 kids. She is a lover of nutrition,
fitness, wellness and mindfulness.
www.melissarosenstock.com