You’re stuck in a glass box
And it’s time to break out of it
Good Evening!
Greetings from the sky! I’m writing this Friday’s Substack on my flight to Iceland ✈️🇮🇸 This is my first adventure outside of the North America since 2015 and I’m both excited and nervous. Excited to see a bigger world beyond my day-to-day horizon and nervous to leave familiarity and routine behind.
PS I’m continuously experimenting with the newsletter’s format to make it easier and faster to read and digest. Feedback is welcome 👷🏻♂️
One thing for you to think about
As I embark on this journey to Iceland and then Poland, it occurs to me that most of us experience life in glass boxes.
We can see out in every direction, yet the scope of what we can see is limited by where our boxes sit. This is also true for what we can do within our boxes. Day after day, we walk the same edges, corners, and sides.
There is comfort in our glass boxes, but also loss. We lose the feeling of being uncomfortable, which can be a catalyst for self-discovery and growth.
Existing inside of a glass box is easy, leaving one is not. Sometimes we break out of our boxes intentionally, as with my Iceland trip, and other times in jarring ways like losing a job, ending a relationship, or moving to a new city.
In these unintentional break-outs, we are suddenly thrust out of a glass box and literally do not know what to do with ourselves because the outside world is big, gritty, and real.
But the world is also infinite in its possibilities and puts ZERO limits on when, how, and what we build next. Maybe you build an amorphous bubble that floats around the world. Or a simple line that gives you direction, but also the freedom to step off at any time.
Powerful mindset shifts happen when you step outside of your glass box. Seize the opportunity, embrace the discomfort, face it with courage, and change your life.
Discovery: Every day is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and others. Reflect on these ideas and consider sharing.
Three things for you to ask yourself
In what ways does your glass box limit you?
If you were to break out of your glass box, would you return to it?
What if you couldn’t return to it—would you build something different?
Ideation: Use these questions as prompts and write down your responses and ideas.
One thing for you to try
I’m going to take the next couple travel weeks to think about my glass box and what stepping outside of it looks and feels like. I encourage you to do the same with your own box. And if you’ve already stepped out, either intentionally or unintentionally, really consider what you create next for yourself.
Experiment: Growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone and make brave choices. Reply to this email or leave a comment and let me know how it went.
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