Change Your Comfort Zone
21
APRIL, 2017
There are times in our lives when we are catapulted out of our comfort zones. When the seas of change toss us around like a branch flowing down a river. We are moving yes, but we have no idea where we are going. And that’s okay. We can all agree change is a constant, so knowing how to navigate the waters and having a strong understanding of how you can navigate the seas of change will go a long way in your ability to Embrace Change.
AUDIT YOURSELF
This concept has most certainly popularized by Gary Vaynerchuk. He implores people to audit themselves and believes that people are not moving forward because of a lack of understanding of themselves. When you begin to understand who you are and what makes you tick you can make decisions that are in alignment with your core beliefs. This needs to be one of the most honest heart to heart conversations you have with yourself. Be real and be honest.
The main takeaway for me was the need to be less concerned about our shortcomings and focus our energies on further developing and capitalizing on our intrinsic abilities. Self-improvement is a worthwhile pursuit to be sure. But, if we are going to spend time improving ourselves, why not increase and improve on what we are already pretty good at?
I think we all want to find that “thing” that brings us pleasure, our passion. The work that doesn’t feel like work. Waking up every day thinking, “I get paid to do this?” Stop trying to improve your weak areas. Pay attention to what IS WORKING for you. Stop fixating on multiple self-improvement aspirations. Focus on the pros and less on the cons. Develop what is good. Make it great and find a situation that capitalizes on those qualities.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
– Neale Donald Walsch –
TAKE OWNERSHIP
If you want to make lasting change you must take complete ownership of your life. Your decisions and your ability to change? In Mel Robbins TedTalk How to stop screwing yourself over, she explains that change is simple, but it’s not easy. She posits that we have 5 seconds from the time we think of something to acting on it. For example, you consistently press the snooze button every morning. What if, you counted down from 5 to 1 and when you got to 1 you got out of bed and stood up? This is exactly how Mel Robbins overcame her habit of hitting her snooze button and staying in bed.
Maybe you need to exercise more, read more, meditate, spend less time binge watching the latest series on Netflix, and enjoy more time with your family, or any number of other worthwhile activities. No matter what you are trying to change in your life you MUST HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE. BE DISCIPLINED AND TAKE OWNERSHIP. At the end of the day, it’s your life. Always remember, no one else will do it for you because the change you want to make is for you and you alone. Everyone else is dealing with their own lives and the decisions they need to make. I heard an interesting joke about this subject that I think sums it up perfectly. “Do you want to know who cares less about your problems than you do? EVERYBODY.”
Although that might sound cold or callous, it pretty much sums it up for me. No one else will do the work for you. If you want to make a change in your life, it’s on you. Own it. Love the fact that you have that choice and the ability to make those decisions. When you make decisions, you empower yourself to make further decisions. Are you ready to take ownership and make that change?
PRIORITIZE
If you want to make lasting change you need to make yourself a priority and get rid of excuses. Forget the “I’m too busy.” We all lead hectic lives and have stresses that can run away with our lives. The truth is that when you make an excuse you are essentially saying NO to yourself. By default, saying yes to one thing, means you are saying no to another. That is just life. That is just the way it is. If we only did things when we felt like doing them we wouldn’t accomplish much. The next time you start making an excuse or justifying why you can’t make time or how you are too busy, stop and think about the results and not the process. Honestly, do you think the people that are making time for exercise, eating right, spending time with their families have discovered more hours in the day? No, they haven’t, they have chosen to PRIORITIZE the activities in their life that yield positive benefits.
You must become protective of you time and what you accomplish within that time. Turn off notification. Heck turn off your phone completely. Get rid of the multiple tabs on your browser. Remove distractions and get it done. Try to put yourself in a place where you can nurture your soul and mind. Spend time trying to elevate yourself. Stop saying no to yourself if you know the outcome is a positive one.
We all know what we should do, but we just don’t. That is our choice. If you want to make a lasting change in your life, you need to change the lens. It’s not what YOU SHOULD DO, it is what will BENEFIT YOU. Make yourself a priority. No more excuses.
“A ship in port is safe, but that is not
what ships are built for.”
– Gracy Murray Hopper –
MANAGE YOUR TIME
Time management is defined as exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities – especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency or productivity.
I could try and provide my insights for managing your time, but honestly, am still a work in progress and would much rather point you in the direction of Laura Vanderkam: How to gain control of your free time Ted Talk.
PRACTICE PATIENCE
If you have read any of my previous posts, you will know that I tend to bring up my impatience. If I try something, I want to be good at it immediately. However, that need for excellence and being good at something right away directly contradicts with the time necessary to understand the sacrifice, dedication, and perseverance needed to succeed. Instead of pointing out what we can’t do. What we are unable to accomplish. Try to recognize how far you have traveled. What you can do. What you have accomplished. This will give you self-inspiration. Start writing down three things you accomplished every day. Soon you will realize how much you can do. Be your own cheerleader.
One of my favorite sayings is “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” So, when I am plodding away on the stair climber or lifting weights all alone in the gym I remember that I am putting in the work. Every time I get up when it would be easier to stay in bed and make an excuse I am moving towards my goals. It will not be easy, but if I keep going I will get there.
As I close out my blog post I would like to continue with my tradition of signing off with a song.
KEWEL ©2017
Back to you
Are you in your late 30's or 40's and thinking back on how exactly you wound up in the career you are in today? Chances are if you are like me, you took the safe path. You were told to get a job with benefits, a retirement plan and not rock the boat. Work your way up. Move up the corporate ladder. Just work hard and when you are done, retire.
Yup, you played it safe and now, you are questioning what you are doing and where you are going?
Let me ask you, do you remember when you were excited about life's possibilities? When you believed you could do anything. Do you ever wonder what happened? When did you lose touch with your passion? Have you given up on your hopes and dreams? Or, have they simply gone astray.
Sign up to for the Stop the Pity Party. Restart Your Passion 7 Day Change Challenge and begin to rekindle your passion. Reclaim your beliefs to create the life you have the responsibility to live. A life of fulfillment, possibility, wonder, and passion.