There’s a familiar saying that goes, “Good things come to those who wait.” But in today’s world, waiting is not a strategy—it’s a stall. If you’re constantly waiting for the “perfect” moment, the “right” opportunity, or for success to be handed to you on a silver platter, you’ll be waiting a very long time—possibly forever.
The truth is, life doesn’t serve opportunities like a curated tasting menu. They don’t arrive at your doorstep wrapped in a bow with a clear label saying “Here’s your big break.” Opportunities hide in the mundane, the uncomfortable, the unexpected. They appear when we stretch ourselves, when we say yes, when we act—especially when it’s inconvenient.
Comfort is the Enemy of Growth
Comfort zones are, by design, comfortable. They’re safe, predictable, and familiar. But they are also limiting. Staying in your comfort zone may protect you from risk, but it also protects you from reward. It shelters you from failure, but also from growth. You can’t live a full, purpose-driven life while clinging to the sidelines.
Think about every major milestone or breakthrough in your life—did it happen while you were coasting, or did it require courage, effort, and action? The discomfort of trying something new is the entry fee for change. Whether it’s applying for a job you’re not 100% qualified for, signing up for a race when you’ve never run more than a block, or speaking at an event when public speaking terrifies you—it all starts with a decision to try.
Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready
People often wait for confidence to kick in before taking action. But confidence isn’t the prerequisite—it’s the result. You build confidence through experience, not the other way around. The longer you wait to feel “ready,” the longer you delay your potential.
Saying yes before you’re ready is how you stretch into new roles, new networks, new ways of thinking. Every time you raise your hand or step forward—despite self-doubt—you’re training yourself to trust your abilities and instincts. And yes, sometimes that means saying yes with your heart pounding and your hands shaking.
But here’s the thing: opportunities don’t hang around forever. They’re fleeting. Life rewards the bold, the brave, and the willing. Saying yes might not always lead to a win, but saying no guarantees nothing changes.
Opportunities Are Earned, Not Handed Out
It’s easy to look at successful people and assume they were just “lucky.” But more often than not, they simply showed up, put themselves out there, and kept saying yes when others hesitated. They weren’t sitting back waiting for the perfect conditions—they were out planting seeds, building relationships, showing up to events, putting in the hours behind the scenes.
You can’t expect the universe to meet you halfway if you’re not even walking toward it. Taking action doesn’t mean you’ll always succeed—but it does mean you’ll always learn, grow, and be one step closer to where you want to be.
Every email you send, every course you take, every uncomfortable conversation you lean into—those are the bricks you lay on the path to opportunity. Each moment you choose courage over comfort, you make yourself visible to the very success you seek.
Life Is Short. Take the Shot.
Here’s the brutal truth: life is short. Far too many people are sitting on dreams, waiting for “someday.” But someday is not a date on the calendar. And waiting for the stars to align only ensures that you’re watching life go by instead of living it.
You may never feel completely prepared. The timing may never be ideal. But you only get one life, and the clock doesn’t stop ticking. Regret doesn’t come from failing—it comes from never trying.
Say yes to the project. Sign up for the course. Message the person. Pitch the idea. Book the trip. Whatever it is that’s sitting in the back of your mind as a “maybe”—it’s time to stop thinking and start doing.
Start Where You Are, Use What You Have
You don’t need to have all the answers or resources to take the first step. Some of the most powerful moves in life are made with shaky hands and a heart full of uncertainty. What you need most is the willingness to start and the discipline to keep showing up.
The internet has opened up endless doors to learn, connect, and grow. Don’t wait to be chosen—choose yourself. Build your platform. Share your voice. Learn the skill. Take the leap.
You’re never too underqualified to begin. You’re only underqualified if you stay where you are.
Momentum Builds Success
Once you start saying yes and stepping outside your comfort zone, something amazing happens—momentum. Every step leads to the next. You begin to attract people, ideas, and opportunities that were once out of reach. Not because you suddenly became “lucky,” but because you became visible. Active. Intentional.
Momentum is like a snowball—it starts small, but with every action, every risk, every yes, it grows. And before you know it, you’re standing in rooms you never thought you’d enter, having conversations you once dreamed of, and realizing that the “you” who once hesitated has evolved into someone unstoppable.
Be the One Who Shows Up
There’s no secret sauce to success. The game-changer is consistency. Show up even when it’s hard. Say yes even when you’re scared. Keep pushing when no one’s watching.
The world belongs to those who are willing to show up and do the work, even when the rewards aren’t immediate.
So don’t wait to be discovered—be discoverable. Don’t wait for a sign—be the signal. Don’t wait for someone to invite you to the table—pull up your own chair or build a new table altogether.
Final Thoughts
Opportunities don’t knock—they whisper. And unless you’re out there listening, moving, and taking action, you’ll never hear them. Life isn’t about sitting back and waiting—it’s about leaning in and reaching forward.
Say yes more often. Step out more boldly. Take the shot more confidently. Because the greatest risk isn’t in failing—it’s in never trying at all.
You were made for more than comfort. You were made for movement.
The Veteran Counsellor Blog 