Compulsive avoidance of embarrassment is a form of suicide. –Colin Marshall
If we never attempt anything where there’s a chance we may look foolish—if we always stick to the familiar because we want to eliminate any chance of feeling self-conscious or awkward—we’re on a perilous path. Because if we never stretch ourselves, we’re going to stop growing. And if we’ve stopped growing, are we truly living?
Now, I’m not saying we should seek to embarrass ourselves. Rather, the point is that we can become so consumed with avoiding awkward situations, staying in areas that are already comfortable, that our avoidance can actually cripple our long-term growth. Because often it’s the very things that stretch us and push us beyond the familiar that end up benefiting us most down the road.