How To Step Beyond the Safe Zone
every setback is a set-up for something greater.
There’s a tension between the comfort of control and the exhilarating, yet sometimes terrifying, leap into the unknown. For many of us, including myself, habitually guarding our hearts and ambitions is born from a deep fear of rejection and disappointment. We learn to keep our expectations low, ensuring that we never invest fully in something—because, if we don’t get our hopes up too high, we can never really be let down. This survival mechanism, however, can also be a barrier to truly living, growing, and experiencing life in its fullest sense.
As a writer, I love me some Natasha Rothwell—a woman whose creative brilliance and willingness to embrace vulnerability have inspired me profoundly. Natasha, known for her work on critically acclaimed projects like Insecure and The White Lotus. She explores this quite literally as the creator and driving force behind How To Die Alone, as her character Mel steps out of the safe zone after a near-death experience. Mel is so many of us, rejecting ourselves so that no one else can and essentially self-loathing at the less than desirable result. This raw honesty mirrors the internal battle we face by holding back from committing entirely to our dreams or relationships, for fear of inevitable disappointment.
Natasha’s career is a testament to the power of releasing the need for absolute control. Her path has never been about playing it safe; rather, it is defined by bold choices and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of vulnerability. Whether through her witty, incisive writing and her role at Kelli on Insecure—which has resonated with audiences for its authenticity and insight into the Black experience—or her standout performances that bring complex characters to life, Natasha has repeatedly demonstrated that the real magic happens when we trust in a higher plan, be it God’s purpose, the Universe’s design, or simply the unpredictable flow of life.
And can I just shoot my shot for a second? Can we please get Issa Rae and Natasha in the writer’s room? If Insecure ever needed a spin-off, it should be what happened between Kelli and Issa’s brother, Ahmal. Because why they beefing like that? I know there’s a story there, but I digress…
Reflecting on my own experiences, I see the parallel between the fictional Mel’s journey and mine. I, too, have grappled with the need to control every outcome, fearing that fully investing in an opportunity might lead to heartbreak or failure. As I approach four months in New York, let me just say ya girl has been heavily humbled. New York is like the Comedy Cellar at which God laughs at your ambitious plans. My self-doubt has had me stressing that I was destined for a perpetual state of mediocrity or that I’ve taken up residency in my flop era. But like Natasha Rothwell, I’ve learned that there is immense strength in releasing that grip. When we allow ourselves to trust in something greater than our own limited plans, we open the door for surprise and transformative experiences. The freedom that comes from surrendering to God’s plan or the Universe’s timing is profound. Faith lifts the weight of fear and replaces it with a sense of wonder and possibility.
In a striking plot twist, recent reports confirm that Hulu has decided not to renew How To Die Alone for a second season, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger. But perhaps this is actually a redirection rather than an abrupt ending. Natasha Rothwell herself responded with a blend of candid reflection and hopeful optimism, remarking that while it's bittersweet to leave such a compelling narrative on pause, sometimes these creative pauses are what spark the most innovative chapters yet. Her sentiment—one that embraces the possibility of reinvention in the face of setback is exactly why she is such a class act. We may not know how How To Die Alone or other Black shows like South Side and Rap Sh*t ended (yet), but every unexpected turn is a chance to redefine the journey ahead.
The lesson here is clear: while the safe zone may offer a semblance of security, it is in the act of stepping out, of embracing uncertainty and the potential for both joy and pain, that we are truly LIVING. Natasha Rothwell’s career and the way she fearlessly navigates her creative pursuits, serves as a powerful reminder that our worth and our stories are enriched when we dare to dream big, even if the outcomes are uncertain.
So, I encourage you, dear reader, to take that leap. Trust that every setback is a setup for something greater, and that the beauty of life lies in its unpredictability. Embrace the discomfort of not having all the answers, knowing that, like Natasha, you are capable of creating something extraordinary when you let go of the need to control every detail. Live boldly, love fiercely, and trust that the journey, with all its twists and turns, is exactly where you’re meant to be.