I went to a Latin festival by myself.

Now, going somewhere alone isn't completely outside of my comfort zone. I've gone dancing alone. I've gone to events alone. I can walk into a place by myself.

But here's what I started noticing about how I was doing it.

I would go in.

Do what I came to do.

Avoid making too much eye contact.

And leave.

Technically, I was doing things alone.

But was I actually allowing myself to be fully present in the experience? I mean, not really.

And that's part of what this Exposure Therapy Challenge has been about for me.

There's a Difference Between Doing Something and Feeling Safe Doing It

This challenge started because I wanted to deliberately put myself in situations that stretched me.

Not recklessly.

Not by forcing myself into situations I genuinely don't want.

But by paying attention to those moments when my nervous system says:

Get out. Go home. Don't talk to anyone. Stay where it's comfortable.

And then experimenting with staying a littl...