Bustin' Out of
Comfort Zones
Your Brave Spirit Beckons
Sandra C. Strauss
My banker schedules a parachute jump every birthday for breaking away from routine and the sheer thrill of feeling alive. He told me his life flashes before him on the way down and is thrilled when he hits the ground and still around! It’s a pure rush for him, knowing he’s facing danger suspended in mid-air and soaking up the glorious moments experienced in his freefall back to reality.
Would you like to get more adrenaline pumping and feel more alive? Thrill to more adventure? An adrenaline rush flows from energy in motion. It doesn’t mean you have to bungee jump or parachute solo out of an airplane to feel it. Mine is much more grounded--my life force gets juiced from watching participants in my programs wake up to the possibilities within themselves. No teetering on the brink . . . just unlocking the spirit of adventure in others—pure ecstacy!
If you’re going through the same motions and routines, your spirit may be slowly dying. Busting out of comfort zones jolts you out of the predictable. Taking steps beyond the familiar, your journey becomes an adventure in letting your brave spirit soar.
While it might be a bit scary suspended in unfamiliar territory, without taking risks or putting your passion into action, you may find yourself stuck in places you don’t want to be, or doing things you don’t want to do. Then, your life force is truly at risk of shriveling up from boredom of predictable routines. Ho-hum living is the outcome. Playing it too safe is probably the biggest risk of all because so much is lost in doing so.
Not taking action due to fear of the unknown can keep you grounded while others test their wings and soar beyond their wildest imaginings. Living boldly expands your mind and your opportunities, allowing you to embrace wider and wider horizons as you transform and soar into the life you want.
Living boldly is your ticket to living on the edge of anticipation and discovery. It activates your life force and keeps life the adventure it’s intended to be. It means taking steps without sure footing—with ups and downs, occasional missteps, mistakes, and failures--all part of the journey of an adventurous life. The trick is not to let these deter you from your path. When they happen, brush yourself off, decide on a new course of action, revise your strategy, and begin again.
Brave Souls Chase Away the “What If” Monster
True bravery means wrestling with The What If Monster which voraciously feeds on fears, creating a feeding frenzy of the fearful consequences: “What if this happens?” “What if that doesn’t happen? “What if it’s painful? What will people say? What if I fail?”
Every choice produces outcomes. You can never be absolutely certain of the consequences of any choice. Yet, if you allow fear to cloud them, you’ll give up your dreams and all the lessons and adventure-filled moments that come with them. Your life will shrink to fit a limited vision of yourself and your capabilities.
Fear prevents us from creating something better because worry zaps our energy. Even when you choose not to act, that choice creates corresponding results. If you’re churning in indecision and feeling overwhelmed or stuck, making the choice to move is the first move.
The key is to focus on your desired outcome—the “what” and the “why”—and not to get stuck in the “how.” As you move forward with confidence, the Universe will reveal the “how” as new doors open, and new people and opportunities present themselves.
The best way to overcome a fear is to call on your courage and meet it boldly. Slay The What If Monster by changing your "What ifs" to "So whats." During those times when you feel you haven’t enough strength or courage (you do!), call on some reinforcements—your trusted advisors, friends, family, or others for encouragement and support. Surround yourself with yeah-sayers, never nay-sayers!
Think bold thoughts, behave boldly with purposeful intention and move through the world as a brave person, because that’s the truth of who you are. If you have any doubts, ask yourself what would you do if you were brave or bold? Then act that way. The people who dare to live—live with passion—and make bold moves to achieve things beyond their wildest dreams.
Steps to ignite your bold, brave spirit:
• See yourself as brave: Your thoughts control your mental images, your feelings, your behavior, and your destiny. Focus on what you want to manifest and take action in the direction of your dreams. See yourself succeeding in every situation. Your sense of power will expand, as will your courage.
• Be daring! Cultivate a mindset without limitations and brainstorm what you’d like to manifest. Go straight to your heart. Ask yourself:
• How would I enjoy living each day?
• What do I need to do to create the relationships I want?
• What are the most important priorities in my life?
• What talents, skills, or abilities would I like to nurture?
• Where on Earth would I enjoy exploring?
• What is missing in my life?
• What am I waiting for?
• What would I regret if I never get a chance to do?
• Perform the Ideal Day exercise. What does your ideal day look like? Imagine what your life would become if you strung all those ideal days together! Envision what you would do if you had no limits or constraints. Describe in complete detail everything you want in your life—your relationships, your home and its furnishings, what activities you perform, how you invest your energy, who you associate with, what kinds of foods you eat, and how you feel at the end of the day.
• Conduct a Gap Analysis. Contrast how your Ideal Day compares with your current one. Make a plan with specific goals and steps of how you will attract the things included in your Ideal Day list that are missing in your current reality. List the steps you can follow today, this week, next month, and each year for moving boldly toward your ideal life experiences.
• Commit to one or more adventurous pursuits each year. Pursue with passion new realms of discovery—intellectual, cultural, financial, physical, or spiritual pursuits. Enroll in an adult education class. Take up a new sport or leisure activity. Explore a new country, new culture, new language, new hot spot, or new investment opportunity. Expand your circle of friends. Live boldly, going beyond the familiar and do it with gusto!
© 2007 Sandra Strauss, adapted from Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto—Fancy Footwork for the Woman’s Sole. The book weaves together a collection of stories from women—their awakenings, makeovers and moves for living life in tune with their hearts and sustaining themselves through tough times in search of passion, purpose and power. Guts, Grace & Gusto® programs provide hope, encouragement and inspiration—putting fancy footwork, spirit and balance into women’s multi-tasking worlds. For more information visit www.GutsGraceandGusto.com; Contact: Sandy@GutsGraceandGusto.com.
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