The Courage of Sliding Doors
Embracing Life's Uncertain Paths
This Week’s Courage Newsletter
"Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting." - Karl Wallenda
Why the paths we don't take still matter
Scare Your Soul Challenge: The Sliding Doors Challenge
Bottom line: Courage isn't about knowing the outcome—it's about trusting the leap
Dear Courageous Souls (and Cinematic Time-Travelers),
Let me ask you something I've been pondering lately:
What if every decision you've ever made created a parallel universe?
Crazy, right?
In the 1998 film "Sliding Doors,” we watch as a single moment—catching or missing a London tube train—splits a woman's life into two entirely different realities.
In one timeline, she makes it through those sliding doors just in time, returns home early, and discovers her boyfriend cheating.
Heartbreak ensues, but it leads to a complete reinvention of her life.
In the parallel timeline, those same doors close before she reaches them. She remains blissfully (or perhaps painfully) unaware of her boyfriend's infidelity, continuing in a relationship that's quietly draining her spirit.
Two paths. One split-second decision.
Completely different lives.
I can't help but think about all my own "sliding doors" moments:
The day I almost didn't apply for that job that changed everything.
The networking event I nearly skipped where I met a mentor who transformed my career. That gratitude workshop I almost canceled due to low enrollment—the one where I met people who would become lifelong friends.
Here's the thing about those moments: when we're standing at the threshold, we have absolutely no idea which universe awaits us on either side.
We just have to choose.
Psychologist Ellen Langer put it brilliantly on the Rich Roll podcast: "Rather than waste your time being stressed about the right decision, make the decision right.”
I love this perspective because it acknowledges something profound about courage: it's not about making perfect choices.
It's about making choices, period—and then having the courage to own them, learn from them, and continue growing through them.
When we approach decision points with courage, intuition, and a genuine love for life's uncertainty, we aren't guaranteed the "perfect" outcome. But we are guaranteed growth. We are guaranteed learning. We are guaranteed life in its fullest expression.
Think about it: how many times have you agonized over a decision, only to realize later that what seemed like the "wrong" choice led to unexpected gifts? How many times has a seeming misstep opened doors you couldn't have imagined?
Last year, I accidentally booked myself on the wrong flight for a speaking engagement.
Classic Scott move, right?
As I frantically tried to fix my mistake at the airport, I ended up seated next to a woman who turned out to be the director of a major foundation. We got to talking, and guess what? She's now bringing Scare Your Soul programming to her entire organization.
Wrong flight, right universe.
So, what does this mean for your courage practice?
It means that the next time you're standing at your own sliding doors moment—whether it's changing careers, having a difficult conversation, or simply trying something new—remember that there's no "perfect" door.
There's just the door you choose, and what you make of what's behind it.
This week's Scare Your Soul Challenge: The Story Awareness Challenge
Identify Your Sliding Doors Moment: What decision are you currently agonizing over? (Big or small—it all counts!)
Parallel Universe Journaling: Write two short "flash-forward" stories:
In Universe A, you make Choice A. Imagine what unfolds 6 months later.
In Universe B, you make Choice B. Imagine that reality 6 months later.
The Leap of Faith: After acknowledging both possible futures, make your decision based on:
What aligns with your values
What excites you (even if it scares you)
What feels like growth rather than comfort
The Universe Builder: Once you've decided, take ONE concrete action step within 24 hours that makes that choice "even more right" (as Ellen Langer would say).
Remember: The sliding doors will always be closing and opening.
The courage is in the choosing, not in the perfect choice.
With courage, curiosity, and maybe a slight 90s film obsession,
P.S. What's your biggest "sliding doors" moment that turned out differently than expected? E-mail me at scott@scareyoursoul.com!
P.P.S. Speaking of life-changing decisions... Want to step through a door that leads to transformation? This June, I'm co-leading an extraordinary journey to Peru's Sacred Valley with just 10 courage seekers. Imagine standing at Machu Picchu, participating in ancient ceremonies, and finding your courage surrounded by the majesty of the Andes. This is your sliding doors moment! Email scott@scareyoursoul.com to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure (June 15-21, 2024).
