Brave Enough to Leap: Build Better Boldness in 5 Steps

Have you ever stood at the edge of something big—your heart racing, palms sweating, mind racing—wondering if you had the courage to leap?

I’ve been there. Literally.

When I was in high school, I joined the diving team. Now, some might say I was stalking another diver (ahem… my future husband), but that’s a story for another day.

What really matters is what I learned up on that diving board:

You can’t make the perfect dive if you never leave the board.

I had to climb the ladder.
I had to walk to the edge.
And I had to leap.

It didn’t matter how many times I visualized it.
It didn’t matter how much I practiced my form in my head.
It didn’t matter how much I wanted to do it.

Until I leapt, I wasn’t diving. I was just standing still.

Being Brave Enough to Leap

Stepping into your unique design—your purpose, your heartseed—can feel just like stepping off the edge of the diving board.

And the higher you go, the scarier it gets.

When I first moved to the high dive, everything changed. A wrong turn could mean a painful landing—and the fact that the pool was open to the public meant that a failed dive came with an extra dose of public humiliation.

But when the dive was right?

It was clean.
It was smooth.
It was effortless.
You could feel the water slice around you, and for a moment, it was as if the world stood still.

To get to that moment, I had to leap.

#QuoteoftheDay

The Leap into Purpose

Your path may not be off a literal diving board, but purpose-living is no less bold.

Your unique design is exactly that—unique. That means no one else has walked this path before. That means you are the first. That means you are the only one who can do this the way YOU are meant to.

And yes, that’s scary.

But that’s also where the power is.

You don’t leap because it’s easy.
You leap because it’s the only way forward.

5 Ways to Be Brave Enough to Leap

If you’re standing at the edge, unsure how to take that first (or next) leap, here are five focus shifts that will help you move forward—on purpose and with courage.

Look Right In Front of You

It’s tempting to try and see the whole path before you take the first step. But more often than not, clarity comes with movement.

Focus on what’s right in front of you instead of what’s way down the line.

You don’t have to figure out the next five years. You just need to know the next right thing.

Standing on the edge of that board, I wasn’t thinking about the medal I wanted to win or the applause from the crowd. I was thinking about the edge—just one step away.

The big picture matters, but sometimes it overwhelms. Start where you are, and focus on the next faithful step.

Imagine the Perfect Dive

You become what you meditate on.

Visualization is powerful. When I was training, I would spend time seeing the dive in my mind—not the bellyflop, but the clean, crisp dive that cut through the water like butter.

And over time, my body started to follow what my mind believed.

The same applies to purpose.

Imagine yourself living in your unique design.
See the day where you’re working in alignment with your heartseed.
Visualize what success looks and feels like for YOU—not the world’s version, but yours.

Faith it until you create it. That’s where true courage grows.

Start Low (But Aim High)

We often expect ourselves to leap from the high dive on the first try. But bold doesn’t have to mean reckless.

Take baby steps. Use the little bits.

Start low. Start small.

But always aim high.

When I joined the dive team, I didn’t start on the high dive. I started on the diving block. Then the low dive. It took me two years to get up the nerve to jump from the high dive.

But because I had mastered the low dive, I could carry that confidence with me as I climbed higher.

Your journey into purpose is the same. Don’t despise small beginnings. They are the foundation of your brave.

Be Ready to Adjust

What works on the low dive will not work on the high dive.

Each step forward in your journey will require an adjustment.

Every new level brings new challenges—and new techniques to master.

When I moved up, I had to change my approach, slow my spin, and prepare for a longer drop. I couldn’t use the same timing or positioning I used on the low dive.

The same applies to your purpose walk.

Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it will work again. Adjusting doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re learning.

And growth always requires change.

Gather a Cheer Squad

If you’ve ever been on a group dive, you know how much easier it is to leap when others are cheering you on.

One of the reasons I did a backflip off a bridge (yes, a bridge—my uncle was supervising, so it was “supervised,” I guess) was because people were watching and encouraging me. Their voices gave me just enough courage to go.

You are braver when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you.

Find your encouragers. Connect with people who speak life into your purpose. Keep your circle full of people who cheer you forward.

Your courage grows when others are brave enough to stand with you.

When It Hurts (Because Sometimes It Does)

Here’s the part I’ve been known to skip over: sometimes the leap hurts.

Sometimes it’s messy.
Sometimes you bellyflop.
Sometimes people are watching when you mess up.

But every single time you leap, you learn.

You gain experience.
You build muscle memory.
You grow confidence.
You find clarity.

You never get that by standing on the board.

And even better? The more you leap, the easier it becomes to leap again.

Why This Leap Matters

The leap into your unique design is unlike any other because it’s all yours.

No one else can do what you were designed to do.
No one else can live your heartseed.
No one else can leap your leap.

You don’t have to be completely ready to try.
You don’t have to be fearless to move.
You don’t have to be strong enough to finish the fight.
You just have to be brave enough for this one leap.

Let your courage be bigger than your fear—just for one moment.

Brave Enough to Try Again

Life isn’t always sunshine and clean dives. Sometimes it’s awkward flops and bruised pride. Sometimes people don’t understand what you’re doing, or why.

But when you’re walking in your unique design, it’s worth every step.

Even the messy ones.
Even the scary ones.
Even the painful ones.

You don’t move forward standing still.
You don’t live your purpose by waiting.
You don’t get clarity without action.

So, be brave enough.
Take the leap.
Go.

Let’s Leap Together

What’s the leap you’ve been afraid to take?
Where do you need a little more courage to move?

👇 Need a courage boost to take that next brave step?
Join me for the Hope & Courage Reset—my free gift to you:
https://mailchi.mp/kathrynlang/hope-reset

Listen to today’s Growing Hope with Kathryn Lang podcast by clicking the play button below (if you are on the website) 👇 or visiting GrowingHopeRadio.com

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