It’s December—the end of the year and a time for skiing! If you’re a skier, you’ve probably heard of the legendary filmmaker Warren Miller. A friend recently reminded me of one of his iconic quotes, and it feels like the perfect reflection point as we close out the year:

“If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.” – Warren Miller

It’s a powerful reminder about pursuing what truly matters. We often set goals in January, but by December, many of us find ourselves wondering: What the heck happened? Baaaaah!!! Where did the time go? …… Growth can feel so darn hard to pursue.

Here’s why: our brains, these incredible machines of ours, are creatures of comfort. They crave familiarity. They want to protect us, pulling us back to what’s known and “safe.” On rare occasions, this instinct is useful. Most of the time though, our brains are wrong. That little voice in your head saying, “You can’t do this. What are you doing? Retreat!” is wrong.

The cool thing is, it’s actually a sign you’re on the right path. That voice is an indicator that you’re outside your comfort zone and stepping into a place of growth. A place where you’re learning, stretching and becoming!

How can you tell if you’ve been sticking to comfort instead of growth?
Reflect on these questions:

• Does the fear of failure stop you from trying or taking action?
• When’s the last time you set a goal that felt almost unattainable?
• Does fear of others’ judgment hold you back?
• Does not knowing how to do something stop you from starting?
• Do you often say, “I don’t have time” or “I can’t afford to”?
• Have you ever wanted to try something but convinced yourself, “I can’t do that”?

If you answered “yes” to these questions and can’t remember the last time you set a bold goal, you might be settling into your comfort zone. I get it—staying cozy in your sweatpants or indulging in ice cream on a hot day feels good! And it’s ok for us to do on occasion. It’s not however, growth.

Growth happens when you step beyond those boundaries of comfort, take risks, and lean into discomfort.

Fears of failure, judgement, uncertainty are common. Lack of self confidence, clarity or resources are other places are brain can hunker down in for safety. Please know, all humans battle some of these —it’s part of being human. Once we recognize what we’re dealing with and identify our north star, then we can move forward.

Questions to consider:

• What’s helping you move toward where you want to go?
  • What’s not helping you?
• What if, next year, you put things on your calendar that scared you a little?
• What might happen if you navigated into uncharted waters?

I encourage you to reflect on this past year: your most memorable moments—accomplishments, challenges, and lessons. Use the attached Yearly Review Sheet if you need a guide. What did you attempt? What did you learn?

Reflection is a powerful way to measure progress, comparing who you were a year ago to who you are today. And growth? It starts with small, intentional—and yes, sometimes uncomfortable—steps.