A personal reflection on how a quote by Anaïs Nin helped me find courage during a tough career phase — and how action creates new possibilities.
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” – Anais Nin
I came across the above powerful quote from Anaïs Nin when I was not exactly in a great frame of mind. I was in a tumultuous situation in my career, and my head was swimming in a cesspool of emotions. The quote actually made me pause and think deeply about my options and ponder on what I could do to put myself in a better position from where I was. I carefully evaluated my options and what actions could put me in a better position relative to where I was. I realized that if I do nothing or stay despondent, then my options narrow. However, if I demonstrated a bias for action and undertook steps, it could open up more optionality for myself. What I needed to do was let go of my beliefs, step out of my comfort zone, and step into the unknown. This eventually would give me a chance to open more opportunities and hopefully expand my life experiences!
Have you had moments where courage opened up new opportunities?
