That Time I Ran Away in the Middle of the Night

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Thank you for sticking around! If you’re reading this, you’re someone who’s ready to go beyond surface-level boldness and dive into what it really means to show up in your life and leadership.

Today, I want to share a story that taught me what boldness looks like…and what it doesn’t. 

The Night I Literally Ran Away

It was one of those nights when every emotion was just…too big. I was 18, fresh off a breakup and spiraling, binge-watching Gossip Girl like it was going to fix everything. 

And then, in a moment of heartbreak-fueled inspiration, I thought I’d figured out the solution: I needed to “fix” it all right now.

So, I did what any impulsive teenager might—I grabbed my keys, jumped in the car, and drove two hours to my ex’s college.

No plan. No clue what I was even going to say. Just raw emotion and a tank full of gas.

Halfway there, reality hit me like a brick.

What am I even doing? 

But I kept driving, and when I finally got to his dorm, the conversation was…painful. I was stumbling, saying everything and nothing at once, and—well, let’s just say it was a sh*t show.

I left feeling more lost than when I arrived.

Driving home, I realized that running from my discomfort hadn’t solved anything.

And I know, you’re probably thinking “well, duh, Eva!” But this was a wake up call for me beyond shutting down teenage hormones.

The real lesson I took away was this: Don’t let emotions take the wheel (literally and figuratively) and instead, pause and make a conscious choice.

Even if I had done that, and still decided to go with it resulting in the mess that it did…at least it would’ve been my decision—not just a knee-jerk reaction to fix my feelings.

I’ll be real—this is one of my most embarrassing stories.

But I’m sharing it because it’s not just heartbroken teenagers who make “bold moves” that are really just reactions to big emotions. Adults do it every day. And not just any adults - major organizational leaders (and even leaders of countries 😑) do it all the time. 

Real boldness isn’t about reacting. It isn’t about jumping into what feels right. Even if it’s your gut intuition or you've been in that situation a million times.

It’s about recognizing that we always have a choice, even when emotions are high.

And sometimes, that choice is to sit with the discomfort and let it settle before we act.

Dr. Daniel’s Story: When The Pressure Is On

One night, my client ‘Dr. Daniel’—an ER physician who’s no stranger to high-stakes situations—found himself at the end of a grueling shift. The kind where your mind is foggy, and exhaustion feels like a weight pressing down on every nerve.

All he wanted was to head home, but one more emergency rolled in, and his team was visibly struggling.

The emotions were high. He felt frustration clawing its way up, his mind racing with thoughts like, “They need to pull it together.” And that classic “bold” move—the one we all feel in moments of frustration—tempted him: he could demand his team push harder, give them a serious pep talk about resilience.

It’d feel good, release some tension, and maybe even look “strong.”

But something I’d taught him during our work together tugged at his thoughts: Boldness isn’t reacting with high emotions; it’s choosing how to show up, especially when the pressure is on.

So instead of storming in with a to ugh-love speech, he took a deep breath and let that frustration settle. He looked at his team again and saw what they needed—empathy, not anger.

So, he walked over, acknowledged their exhaustion, offered encouragement, and then stayed an extra hour to help shoulder the load.

Later, Dr. Daniel told me it was one of his proudest nights.

Not because of the crisis they’d handled, but because he’d chosen to show up in a way that truly supported his team—not just his own need for release.

The Lesson: Real Boldness Means Choosing Intention Over Impulse

Both my late-night drive and Dr. Daniel’s decision after his shift show that boldness isn’t about the dramatic actions we often imagine—it’s about the choices we make when emotions are high. In my case, I was acting on a quick emotional release, hoping to “fix” things without really considering the outcome.

Dr. Daniel, on the other hand, chose to let his frustration settle, responding to his team’s needs rather than his own impulse.

True boldness comes from pausing to make a conscious choice—even when it’s tempting (or even demanded) to act fast.

It’s in these intentional moments that we transform emotional reactions into meaningful leadership.

Your Bold Challenge 

Think of something you’ve been avoiding—whether it’s a tough conversation, a decision you’ve been putting off, or a personal challenge.

This week, instead of reacting impulsively or dodging it, take a breath and approach it intentionally. What’s the bold choice you want to make here?

Let yourself pause, take in the discomfort, and choose how you want to show up—even if it means sitting with the messiness for a while.

I’ll be back next week with more stories and another challenge to help you step further into your boldness.

And if you’re feeling brave, hit REPLY or share your story with #BoldBeing on LinkedIn—I’d love to hear how it goes.

Talk soon!

Eva Minkoff

BoldBeing.co

P.S. If you’re more of a LinkedIn person, no worries. Follow me on LinkedIn here to keep up with these stories and challenges.