I was driving home from work earlier this week, winding down and tuning into my favorite station, when Switchfoot’s “I Dare You to Move” began playing on the radio.  I have always been a fan of this band and their profound lyrics, but it wasn’t until this moment that I actually listened to the song.  Lead singer Jon Foreman challenges his audience to step out in faith and create positive change; to influence this world by reconciling the tension “between who you are and who you could be.”
Are you moving? 
Let’s face it – we have an obsession with being “comfortable.”  Domestically, the American Dream may look differently with each generation, but the fundamental desire will never change.  We want life to be easy, happy, stress-free…a craving so often driven by our ultimate vice: fear.
But leaders take a different approach.  Leaders know that to truly grow and make a difference in this world, we must challenge ourselves, step outside of our comfort zones and be willing to be stretched.  In a sense, leaders are healthy risk-takers.  They are adventurous.  They are willing to explore an unknown – even when others may not agree or understand – to realize a new potential.
At the same time, leaders understand that to lead is to serve.  Leadership is about building others up and encouraging them to do the same.  So often misconstrued as a decision to invest in one’s own personal development alone, leadership is ultimately about positively impacting our world.  Our “healthy risk-taking” should never hurt anyone along the way, but instead encourage others to do just the same!
So, are you “who you could be?”
Are you willing to be stretched, by your own doing, to contribute to the community around you and society as a whole? 
It is so easy to become overwhelmed – to feel like “my contribution will never be big enough” or “my endeavor may end up in failure.”  It is easy to let fear win.  Yet, whether we’re prepared or not, we all have dreams.  We all have a calling…a purpose.  The world awaits us and we must do something about it.  Where do you feel called to lead?
Take a look at the following quote – attributed to both President Nelson Mandela and author Marianne Williamson – which boldly captures this notion:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Realize your potential.
I dare you to move.