There is a nearly limitless range of things that are possible. They require only that we believe and act on our beliefs.

To decide if a stretch of terrain warrants further exploration, here is a seven-point template you can consider.

Wistfully thinking often signals we don’t think a goal is possible and, therefore, it won’t be. If, instead, we are optimistic, saying, “I am so happy I’ve achieved this” as if we already have, there is a kernel of belief that it is within reach. 

Knowing our assumptions guide our movements, how do we change our assumptions so “that would be nice” becomes “this is nice”?  

Is there an easy way to test whether I want to be on a particular S Curve of Learning? If I decide to stay on this S Curve, will my initial pace be sustainable?

So start small. Set your initial expectations and incremental increases so laughably small, that you deactivate your inner procrastinator.

Each tiny benchmark is its own easy test. Is this S Curve feasible? Can I sustain this long term? Take baby, baby, baby steps.

There is a general human tendency to want some new knowledge to build on the firm foundation of what we already know.

Familiarity helps you relax and feel safer; too much familiarity may mean stasis. The unfamiliar in small doses surprises and delights and can lead us in new directions. In large doses, novelty and uncertainty create anxiety and fear. 

An S Curve worth pursuing will dovetail with who we aspire to be.

Exploring areas of ourselves and possibilities that have no apparent connection to who we are right now is exciting. They may even be admirable, but they may also mean we get voted off our current island. People around us, including those we care about deeply, may be heavily invested in who we are now: our family. 

 If the new S Curve we’re exploring is too aligned with who we already are, the potential for growth may be too low. But if it’s too far out of alignment, then the price of reaching for a new identity may be too high. 

Sometimes S Curves aren’t totally voluntary. Circumstances, or people who see potential in us, give us an unexpected push. 

Preplanned or unforeseen, thrilled or terrified, you’ll need to determine whether the reward of being on a specific curve is worth the cost. Even if the reward doesn’t initially seem greater than the cost, can you find a way to make the numbers add up?

Assessing if an opportunity is aligned with our values is usually easier said than done. We are complex creatures, and our hierarchy of values isn’t always straightforward.

We have our stated, public-facing values. But we also have hidden or “shadow” values that don’t meet the public eye, and exploration involves excavating our shadow values.

Know what your shadow values are. Understand what aspects of your personality feed them, or perhaps what may have happened early in your life that made these shadow values powerful to you. Then bring them out of the shadows.

When contemplating a new opportunity for growth, consider what motivates you — the “why” behind what you are doing. 

If you don’t yet know your “why,” Simon Sinek provides a brilliant yet simple exercise:

Ask the people who know you well why they enjoy being around you and what their relationship with you does for them. If you can get candid, straightforward answers from them, they will reveal to you your “why.”