Healthy Hoopie Habits - Day 21: Do Something Scary
Build trust with yourself by showing up when it feels uncomfortable.
Rather than a habit, this one is a mindset — a way of building courage, one hard or scary thing at a time.
Because the truth is: you don’t wake up with confidence.
You earn it.
You earn it by doing hard things. Scary things. Things you’re tempted to back out of, but don’t.
The First Time I Felt It: A Rollercoaster
I’ll never forget the first time I faced a real fear. I was a little girl on a school field trip to an amusement park. Everyone was lining up for the rollercoaster, and I wanted no part of it. I was scared — standing off to the side while everyone else ran toward the ride.
But a friend convinced me.
And even though I almost backed out at the front, I went.
To this day, I wouldn’t say I love rollercoasters. But I’ve been on plenty since — some that flip, some that are super high — not because I love the ride, but because I trust myself now.
That’s what doing something hard gives you:
Not just the experience itself, but the trust in yourself that comes from showing up anyway.
Most Recently: Paddleboarding with Gators (Well… Not Really, lol)
This past weekend, I had one of those moments again. Cody and I went paddleboarding at a local lake in Alabama — a lake where people swim, boat, kayak — it's popular and full of activity.
But right before we went out, the woman running the rental casually said,
“Oh, just be careful — there are gators in here.”
She said it like it was no big deal.
But my brain locked on.
I already knew they could be here — even if there’s no real evidence of sightings in this lake. Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
My heart started pounding. I wanted to tell Cody, “Actually, I don’t want to do this.”
But I didn’t. I pushed it down and told myself, We’re going out anyway.
And I did. And for most of the hour we were out, I was paranoid. Not terrified, just… constantly scanning, hyper-aware, not enjoying the experience like I normally would.
But I stayed out there. I moved slow. I was cautious and wise.
And by the last 10 minutes, I finally felt calm. I wasn’t afraid anymore and I can’t wait to go again next weekend!
This Is What Doing Something Hard Does
It teaches your nervous system that it’s okay to feel fear — and still move forward.
It proves to your mind that just because something is uncomfortable… doesn’t mean it’s unsafe.
And most importantly: it builds trust with yourself.
Trust that you won’t quit.
Trust that you can feel fear and not be ruled by it.
Trust that you can be the kind of person who tries — even if you're scared.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Big
You don’t have to plan a wild adventure. Doing something hard can look like:
Making that phone call you’ve been avoiding
Speaking up when you’d rather stay quiet
Showing up to a new gym class alone
Saying yes to something that makes you nervous
Doing anything that makes your heart race a little
Sometimes the hard thing isn’t big — but it’s personal.
It’s the thing you’d rather avoid. The thing you keep putting off. But those are the moments that shape you.
The Takeaway: You Can Do Hard Things
That’s the heart of this habit.
It’s not about adrenaline or thrill-seeking. It’s about confidence.
And confidence comes from doing the hard thing anyway.
Whether it’s stepping onto a rollercoaster or into a lake with gators (even if they only exist in your head) — you get stronger every time you step forward instead of stepping back.
So if you’re afraid, good.
If it’s hard, even better.
That means there’s something there worth stepping into.
You don’t have to love it.
You just have to try.
Again and again — until one day, the hard thing isn’t so hard anymore.
And when that day comes, you’ll look back with pride and think:
“I can’t believe I almost didn’t do that.”
