I have to admit, I don’t love this one. I sometimes see this notion phrased as “do something that scares you,” or even “if it doesn’t scare you, it’s not a big enough goal,” but not all of us are cut out to be scared. Fear hinders more changes than it fosters. We have to stretch to make changes, but it’s OK if the stretches are small ones.

One of the nice things about making changes in our habits, like healthier eating or daily exercise, is the regular reminder that we did point ourselves in the right direction, even if it with was a baby step. “I did this — I can do it again” or better yet “I can do more next time” are some of the most powerful beliefs we can have. Small, daily successes can help us bring some magic right into our comfort zone, and help us expand it.