Beyond Your Comfort Zone: 5 Books to Help You Leap Into the Unknown This Summer

Are there things you wish you were brave enough to do? The stuff that you’ve dreamt about or sits on your bucket list collecting dust?

Hi, I’m Caroline. I am a 52-year-old veterinarian who has explored entrepreneurship, stand-up comedy, and professional speaking. It’s not “what vets do.”

Many people have asked me: “What is a veterinarian doing talking about creativity?” Isn’t my job supposed to be all about research and nothing to do with dancing?*

It took me a long time to get over my fear of sharing my interests with others. I didn’t want them to think I was weird. Can you relate?

But when I started telling people at work about my weird side quests and interests, a funny thing happened. Some people thought it was weird. Others didn’t say much.

But, lo and behold, a week or a month later, they would tell me how I inspired them to pick up that thing they used to do – quilt, paint tiny figurines, garden – and it made them happier.

Creativity is contagious.

My two cents? If you have an interest that seems incongruent with your professional identity, take a baby step toward your interests and keep following the breadcrumbs…

You will inspire others along the way. We are all more like Baklava than creme caramel. Some people just share their layers with more confidence.

And if you don’t think you are creative?

I thought I wasn’t creative either.

I can’t draw. I can’t paint. I can’t dance. I can’t sing. 

Maybe you’re convinced, but don’t know where to start?

Consider 5 easy habits to expand your creativity

*D.A.N.C.E. is my signature framework of 5 effortless habits you can incorporate in only a few minutes a day to expand your comfort zone.

Did you know that the #1 regret of the dying is “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me” – and you don’t want to join that statistic, do you!?  (From Bronnie Ware – Top Regrets of the Dying)

If you’re looking for some inspiration to find the courage to try something new, check out my 5 recommendations on the best books about how to try new things, even if you’re scared. The list also includes my book, The Reluctant Creative, which outlines the above five habits and framework for inviting creativity into your life.

Science is more important!

Sound familiar?

Can you relate to a deep love of science, data, or logical things falling into place like a beautiful round of Tetris?

Or a path in business or HR where you have to “look the part” to be taken seriously?

I longed to be a vet from my early days as a toddler, chasing poor doggies for slobbery kisses (dogs didn’t like my slobber, apparently). Then, in high school, I developed a love for performance, improv, and photography.

Wait, what?!

I didn’t think I had the talent to make a living as an actor, and I had no idea how to become a cinematographer. On the other hand, I still loved animals and biology. As a Gen-X I was encouraged to pursue a “real” career,  so I turned my back on the “yes, and” of improv towards evidence and data in veterinary medicine.

I dove into the gruelling years of veterinary school and continued to ‘practice’ medicine after graduation- because you never really get it right. I was living my dream.

Yet, despite my success over the years, I started to feel that something was missing. I watched others who shared their creativity and admired them. 

How do they do it? How do they gulp down their fears and project their passions without projectile vomiting into the crowd? Are they superhuman!?

I started doing what they did—just like with veterinary medicine. I practiced showing up and putting myself out there. After a few performances of stand-up comedy, I realized people PROBABLY won’t throw tomatoes at me, and I’m not going to die if people don’t like my jokes. I made some comedian friends along the way.

I even learned lessons about storytelling from dark bars that I carry in my back pocket to keynote speeches at fancy venues.

Mainly, I keep up with slang and pop culture references to keep my status as “cool mom” with my teens. I think it’s working.

But what if I suck!?

Newsflash. You will probably suck. That’s what creativity and trying new things is all about. That’s part of why it is so powerful. Getting comfortable with the ambiguity of how your efforts will turn out.

Uncertainty is extremely stressful. Finding a way to increase your comfort in ambiguity (a.k.a. navigate those feelings of uncertainty and move forward regardless) opens up space for your creativity to shine. You’ll also find work less stressful as you connect more dots and solve more problems.

After I stopped pushing my creativity away, I realized that it was the missing puzzle piece. I found creativity every day –  in hiking trips, tending to my garden, crafting engaging presentations that also educate, and sneaking vegetables in smoothies (shhh don’t tell, I want to keep my cool mom vibe)

If you’re anything like me – the science behind creativity might just convince you it’s your missing piece too. You don’t have to get on a stage, or even share your creative outlet with other people.

Don’t worry, you can have a terrible creative result (like the time my husband replaced orange juice in a curry soup with 5-Alive – true story!) and still reap the benefits of creativity for our wellbeing and mental health.

Books About How to Try New Things (Even If You Are Scared)

Need more motivation? Be sure to read my blog on Shepherd Books for 5 books about how to try new things, even if you’re scared.

Go on and fill your brain with NOVELTY and chase your CURIOSITY, two important habits for creativity.