DeborahBurkeHenderson.com

MARCH 2026 – KEEP TRYING, KEEP STRETCHING

Take one step and then take one more, ever moving forward. You may have to navigate through fear, anxiety, depression, or other emotions but keep your head high with an eye on the goal ahead, large or small, and be open.

Eleanor Roosevelt is known to have said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

That might be big scary or maybe little scary but push yourself to move beyond your comfort zone for it will be in the stretching that you will acquire more skills, deeper clarity, and greater self-confidence. Believe in yourself; believe you can do the work.

Choose one small way today to step outside what feels familiar. Take a new path, speak up, reach out to someone, try something new. Trust that inner guidance as it nudges you on and follow where it leads.

In a recent guided meditation on Calm, Tamara Leavitt spoke of anxiety and notably of “optimal” anxiety. This is the notion that a certain level of anxiety can be beneficial rather than detrimental. As she explained it, optimal anxiety refers to a moderate level of anxiety that can enhance performance, helping individuals to focus and perform better in challenging situations. The term resonated with me.

Too little anxiety can lead to underperformance due to low motivation while too much anxiety can cause stress that hinders performance. The optimal threshold comes at the point of pushing us forward, giving us the energy and onward movement required to conquer fear and step out of our own way.

The more often we move beyond our comfort zone and step into that place of optimal anxiety, the easier the experience becomes. We get accustomed to the feeling, how to manage it, and understand that it can lead to a positive outcome. While there is still a feeling of anxiety, this starts to become more normal, and you’ll find that you are willing to push further.

Taking small steps is a good way to start.

Wherever you are on this journey, know you are not alone. Everyone tackles some level of anxiety. If stress is overwhelming, seek professional guidance. This is self-care. When I needed help this past year, I struggled to ask for it. Desperation pushed me through darkness to find some light. Respect what is happening within. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of courage. Please take care.

Blessings to you and yours,

Deborah

     ________________________

“The best things in life are often waiting for you

at the exit ramp of your comfort zone.”

—Karen Salmansohn, author

My morning mantra:

"I arise this morning with a smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. 

I vow to live fully in each moment and to greet every being I meet with compassion."

        ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist 

                                                                                    [1926 - 2022]