Eleanor Roosevelt — Do one thing every day that scares you.
Do one thing every day that scares you.Eleanor Roosevelt
Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt
A small, daily dare. Not one heroic leap, but one modest fright a day — enough to keep the edge of your comfort always gently moving outward.
For English, this is a perfect rule. Ask the question aloud. Send the message. Say the word you are unsure of. One small scary thing daily, and in a year your comfort zone is unrecognizable.
Words that widen the world
To frighten or make nervous.
Synonyms: frighten, alarm, unnerve
Do one thing that scares you today.
A situation where one feels safe and at ease.
Synonyms: safe space, familiar ground
Speaking stretched her comfort zone daily.
Common questions
It encourages facing a small fear each day, so that steady, gentle challenges expand your confidence over time.
It is widely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, though the exact wording is debated, so we mark it as attributed.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
Read more from Eleanor Roosevelt
A hand-picked book or collection to sit with this idea longer. Affiliate links — replace # with your tagged URL.
Explore the readingLove this one? Order it as a print or poster → (shop coming soon)