A colleague from my past life in corporate used to love dropping this little nugget of wisdom: “There are two things in life you might never enjoy but you’ll never regret – going to the gym and getting an MBA.”

I know. 

I rolled my eyes too. But hear me out. 

For whatever my co-worker may have been lacking in delivery, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Sure, both decisions fall into that annoying category of “probably good for us,” but not only for their surface-level promise of a smaller waistline or a bigger 401K. Their value actually lies in something far more powerful: a conscious choice to invest in our future selves.

Not so sure it’s worth it? 

When was the last time you heard someone say, “You know what I regret most? Playing too big. Inspiring others. Making too much of an impact. And then there was getting all that recognition.”
Oh right; that would be never.

That’s because when it comes to our own personal growth, playing small is rarely the answer. Yet so many of us do exactly that – we dim our light, we hesitate, we mull it over while we wait for permission that isn’t coming.

So how do we break free from this self-inflicted paralysis? It starts with asking ourselves some deliciously uncomfortable questions:

First up: What do I actually want? (And I mean really want, not just think you should want.) This isn’t about your LinkedIn bio – it’s about truly connecting with what lights you up and when and where you feel most alive. Even if it’s not what you ever envisioned for yourself. Even if your parents, your ego, or your social-media profile would be horrified to hear it. Sometimes we’re so busy climbing the ladder in front of us, we forget to check whether it’s even leaning against the right house.

Next, let’s talk about that bag of assumptions you’re carrying around. You know, the ones that whisper “I’m not ready” or “that’s not for people like me.” Where did those come from? They have played an important role in the past, but are they serving you today? Or are they just a comfortable old pair of something kind of dated that you’ve honestly outgrown? Time for some spring cleaning, no matter the season.

Another favorite: Who are you surrounding yourself with? There’s that famous saying about being the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Are your people raising your stats, or are they mostly busy ordering takeout while you curl up nice and cozy on the sofa of your comfort zone?

These aren’t easy questions, and that’s exactly why they’re so worth asking. Sometimes we need someone in our corner – a coach, a mentor, or a really good thought partner – to help us dig deeper and uncover the real wisdom in our answers. However we come to doing the work, it’s work worth doing.

And while it may sound obvious, one thing I am sure of is that Future You is going to thank Present You for asking these questions. Just like if she’s honest, despite the grumbling, Future You probably won’t regret those early morning gym sessions or those late-night study groups.

Well, maybe just a bit on those 5AM winter morning wake ups. But that’s a post for another day.

*Looking to explore these questions further? Let’s chat. While I can’t promise to make the gym more enjoyable, I can definitely help you unpack what’s holding you back from playing bigger in your life and career.*