Last week I was practicing some of my paddle strokes while kayaking. My kayak master was trying to help me practice something called a "brace" stroke in an effort to help learn how to avoid tipping over. It was interesting because he was trying to help me understand that in order to practice saving yourself from tipping over you've actually got to allow yourself to essentially tip yourself over thus initiating the "brace" stroke.
I was struggling with the stroke because I had a difficult time pushing myself to attempt to tip myself over. My own fear and uncertainty was holding me back from learning the very tool that would help save me. The metaphor stuck with me throughout the day. Why is it that sometimes we let our fear hold ourselves back from embracing the tools that could offer more safety and security?
