“I am eager to believe I am completely wrong about everything” -Anthony Bourdain

 Courageousness comes from disassociation with the ego. Fear of the unknown often clouds our decisiveness and ability to do new things. We all seek comfort and safety, but can I feel fulfilled if I do not overcome my biggest fears?

As I’ve become an adult, I have learned to like foods that I hated as a kid. Without accepting and facing the inherent risk of eating something gross (to me), I would not have been able to confront this fear. While an act like trying new foods only takes a certain level of courage, a snowball effect can ensue. Accepting potential discomfort and an unknown outcome proves to be a valuable way to grow. In my opinion, this ability is learned from a young age through the activities parents provide for their children. Without ample opportunities to play different sports, try new instruments, go to a new school, or live in another state or country, children lack the internal skill of courage. I find that many of the authors I admire have risked their comfortable adult jobs for unknown outcomes, with the fear of feeling average at stake.

Bourdain’s quote reminds me to have a student’s mindset, constantly questioning in the pursuit of deepened understanding. To explore aspects of ideas without knowing what to look for. As a high school student, my literature teachers taught us to read and search for deeper meaning. Upon attending class, the teachers would introduce concepts into the text that some of us had considered, leaving additional room for interpretation available. Just as my Jewish ancestors did in the rabbinical text, the Talmud, dissecting literature proves to be a phenomenal way to risk being right for an unknown and deeper understanding.

Keeping a student’s mind is a great reminder for us all in our professions to leave space for uncertainty and accept fear as an emotion worth confronting. I admire tennis coaches who aren’t afraid to tell me what the hell I’m doing wrong in the moment, no filter, no questions asked. I am drawn to this honesty and seek their input as it is my job to interpret and apply it to my game. In the last year, I began working with two new coaches who don’t give a f*ck about being wrong; they tell me their opinion and how they see something without fear of rejection. I believe the pursuit of perfection is impossible; however, we should all seek to confront what we fear to give us a plethora of unknown opportunities in the future while remaining present in our daily actions.