A Note from Michelle: The Magic of Unicorn Horns
When was the last time you wore a unicorn horn? (And don’t count Halloween!)
Believe it or not, for me it wasn’t so long ago. I’d love to be able to say I was just in the mood to be a mythical creature, but the truth is it wasn’t my idea. My daughter was inspired by a recent local Renaissance Festival and she insisted we attend in costume. Left to my own devices, I’d have shown up in a t-shirt and jeans, but in a family—and on a team—fortunately we’re not always left to our own devices.
Sometimes other people nudge us toward the magic we might not find on our own.
We’re not always on the lookout for magic ourselves because we love our comfort zones. It’s unnerving—even scary—to step out of them.
What are we afraid of?
We’re afraid we might look silly in our unicorn horns (metaphorical or literal). We’re afraid we might perform badly. We're afraid we might disappoint ourselves or someone else. We’re afraid we might get hurt, emotionally or physically. The list goes on.
In short, we’re afraid of what might happen.
It turns out we’re actually more afraid of the unknown than we are of a certain bad outcome. But it’s in our best interests to fight against fear. And as leaders, we should help our teammates fight against it also because that’s in everyone’s best interests.
Why? Research shows that people who try new things and expand the variety of their experiences maintain a higher level of psychological well-being. They’re more positive, which means they’re more engaged in life and in work.
Looking for more reasons to don your own unicorn horn? Trying something new can:
Lead you to new opportunities and paths
Promote your personal growth
Keep you from becoming stagnant or bored
Increase your confidence and self-esteem
Decrease your fear
Provide you with a sense of fulfillment and renewed purpose
Make you a more interesting and well-rounded person
Not to mention, it’s a rush. I challenge you to try something completely new over the next week. To really put yourself out there. To overcome your fear and step out of your comfort zone. Because that’s where the magic happens.