Relishing the Risks

Comfort zones evoke lots of curiosity in me. They are a fascinating phenomenon to explore and an important one to understand if we are genuinely invested in growth. It is quite natural to want to feel comfortable, cozy, protected and safe. Security and familiarity can be quite seductive for some of us. And our comfort zones certainly have their place in our journeys. That being said, they can also dramatically hold us back from creating our most fulfilling lives. If we are unwilling to step outside our self-constructed boundaries, we place serious limitations on ourselves and the possibilities for our lives. Stepping outside our comfort zones is a crucial part of stepping into the fullest expression of who we are meant to be.

Growth involves risk. In recognition of this reality, I want to ask you to be fiercely honest with yourself regarding your habits in this arena. How much time do you spend in your comfort zones? What is your perspective on taking risks, in service of honoring what is truly meaningful to you? And most importantly, how are your current choices serving you? If you are noticing a lot of struggle attached to letting go of your comfort zones, I encourage you to consciously shift your focus to the blessings available to you on the other side of letting go. Give your attention to the rewards of risk.

Leaving our comfort zone leads to the land of new experiences and opportunities, which facilitates self-discovery and growth of the most delightful variety. When we step into the unknown, we are given the opportunity to access parts of ourselves that previously we may not have even known existed. Can you think of a time when you totally stunned yourself, in terms of how you showed up in a new situation? Those moments are so much fun! Treat yourself regularly to the exhilaration of seeing who you really are at your core. Live into your potential. "The most important thing is at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." - Unknown

Being willing to take risks is choosing to have an empowering relationship with change.

It is about no longer feeling victimized or immobilized by change. Since it has often been said that the only constant in life is change, it serves us well to move away from resistance and lean into embracing the process of change. Instead of spending our precious time and energy struggling, we are celebrating the power we hold in our lives to initiate change and co-create with the universe. We are in the flow. Being in the flow is an entirely different and refreshing energy, clearing the way for more effectiveness, balance, creativity, resourcefulness and peace.

The more practice we accumulate in stepping outside our comfort zones, the more we begin to understand where the true source of security lies. It is with us. Have you ever found yourself clinging to a situation for the feeling of security it seemed to provide, only to discover that it wasn't really security after all? External circumstances will shift. Yet the strength and potential within you are a constant. Your capacity to be flexible, adaptable, resilient, and grounded, regardless of life circumstances, is always present; therefore, you bring the security. Trust yourself.

Finally, playing beyond our comfort zones enables us to experience the bliss of honoring our dreams and successfully realizing our big visions. We cannot stay where we are and move forward at the same time. As I mentioned earlier, growth involves risk. Consequently, learning to navigate unchartered territory is a huge part of this grand adventure we call life. I urge you to not miss out. As Erica Jong stated so eloquently, "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more."