Leap Anyway: What’s Waiting on the Other Side of Fear

Why do we fear taking a leap of faith?

Often, it’s because we believe the distance is too great. We think that if we come up short, the fall will be even harder. Doubt creeps in, feeding us scenarios of adversity that paralyze our ability to take action. And when fear takes over, it blocks the creativity and clarity needed to move forward.

But when we have that ‘gut feeling’, that deep sense of “this matters”, it’s not something to fight. It’s something to fuel. That’s your intuition speaking. That’s your mind, body and soul signaling: this is a step worth taking.

Nervousness isn’t weakness, it’s proof that you care. I’ll never forget a coach who once said, “Feeling nervous means you care.” Hearing that lifted a weight off my shoulders, it allowed me to play freely, knowing those feelings were validated.

Whether you're an athlete walking into a new locker room, a parent making a tough decision, or a leader navigating risk, if it matters, you’re going to feel it. That’s not a reason to hesitate. That’s your reason to start.

You won’t always feel 100% ready. Growth doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. When the window of opportunity has opened, we must recognize it and embrace it.

Taking advantage of your opportunities is critical and believing in yourself before anyone else does allows you to seize the moment with confidence, not hesitation.

I think back to my time at Duke and in the NFL. I didn’t know exactly where those leaps would take me, but I bet on myself. I stayed focused, worked relentlessly and allowed space to fail and learn. The freedom to make mistakes was essential.

But even when you believe in yourself and embrace adversity, it doesn’t guarantee victory.

We can do our job, have great execution and win the stats sheet, but still come up short. What I’ve learned is that the result doesn’t get the final say, you do. Will you let it break you? Or will it fuel you to refine your game plan, elevate your mindset and keep going?

When facing your next big decision, pause and reflect. You’ve done hard things before. You’ve taken leaps when the path wasn’t clear. That’s proof you can do it again.

Ask yourself:

What am I avoiding because it feels uncertain?

What small step can I take this week to move toward it?

What’s waiting on the other side might not be safe, but it will be real. And it just might change your life.

—Matt