Do You Believe or KNOW You Can Do It?

Go to WordPress to read my full blog for this week-Here it is: All of the stories you are about to read are real. None of them have been altered or enhanced because reality, in this case, is much greater and far funnier than fiction. I have changed some of the names to protect the identities of the foolish, the lame, the weak, the brave, the strong and the downright sorry. The only name that I haven’t changed is mine.

I hope you enjoy.

The above text is another snippet from my unpublished book. When I reflect on my previous posts here on WordPress and how I woke up one day; a day that I thought would be like any other day a did something different, I am filled with joy and validation. One simple act, that has redirected my course.  Something inside of me prompted me  to write the blog “Escape From Your Comfort Zone”.  I thought about the amount of vulnerability one must possess to expose themselves to the world, so to speak.  Various thoughts germinated in my mind, like “No one knows me, why will they care about my story?” and “You’re not saying anything that everyone hasn’t already heard before.”  One might also ask why I would feel validated when it was just 1 blog. I mean, there are tons of people out there blogging about everything from their children to cats to reality stars. (And many have rather large followings) By the way, I am on my way to having a large following. I say that with boldness because I know that I am capable. I have underutilized and undervalued most of my talent and strengths, until now. It isn’t necessary for a large following in order to establish credibility-although this society does base legitimacy on such notions. Simply put- I have created personal and professional goals for myself and a sizable audience happens to be one of them. Either one of two things happens when a bold decision is made, you allow chatter in your mind to talk you out of your decision and you retreat or you build confidence. I want my story (the flattering, the painful, the cowardly and courageous, the outrageously funny, the inspirational, the larger than life) to be heard by many, so that in some way it will help others to take their rightful place in the sunshine. It feels good out here. It’s my turn and I’m taking it.

Have You Escaped From Your Comfort Zone Yet?

Get me outta here! As I was feverishly, yet securely being snapped into a worn, leathery/canvass-like harness in the lush hillside of the Dominican Republic by some local natives, I was thinking, “Yikes, I am frickin terrified”, while simultaneously saying, “This is so incredibly amazing!” I was firmly thrust from the narrow raised wooden perch clipped to a thick wire, I then quickly acknowledged to myself that the extreme oppositional emotions I was experiencing were actually coming from the same place. I nearly crashed into the platform upon my first landing. Hey, I just needed a practice run to get the hang of it!  I proceeded to zipline through a total of 11 lines, having one of the most memorable and thrilling days of my entire life. The motivation that led to the outcome was the payoff! There was something inside of me that assured me that ziplining would be a phenomenal experience, one I would regret missing. And although fear was present, I wasn’t overtaken by it, thus I overcame it!

Thrilling doesn’t begin to describe my experience, but back to the fear. Let’s explore that for a moment. Sometimes we find it comforting to remain in a lull, a place of predictability and sameness. Kinda like a perpetual womb. THE most secure place we’ll ever know in our entire lives. But, even from the womb, we are thrust out when the time comes. That natural cue from the universe is that we should spend our lives progressing, improving and evolving by continuously thrusting ourselves forward.

What are you doing to exit the womb? How are you challenging yourself to prosper and progress? What are you comfortable with, but can do without to be more successful, more at peace? Look up comfortable and complacent in the dictionary and be sure you know and understand the difference. Don’t be so comfortable and stagnant, that you are numb to the idea of change.

Get out on that platform, by yourself and go.

Until next time.

Tish