Push Your Limits, Face Your Fears

Photo by pinksherbet

Ask some of your peers what they have done new and exciting lately, and most of them will say no, ask them when they faced a fear last, and they probably won’t know.  In fact, when was the last time you purposely broke up your routine, did something new, or pushed your own limits?

It seems we all get stuck into a routine and that’s the life we live until something shakes us up and we start to explore, but aren’t the people we admire most in this world the people who seek out adventure?  Aren’t they the Entrepreneurs who took a chance and stretched the limits?  If we admire people like this so much, why aren’t we stepping out and stretching our own limits?

Comfort

Let’s face it.  We’re all creatures of habit and doing anything outside of our normal routine is uncomfortable.  Especially if the activity is initially uncomfortable as well (Example: public speaking.)   Who in this world would naturally want to be uncomfortable?  Isn’t comfort part of happiness? Isn’t comfort what we all seek?

I would venture to say that the only way to find comfort in life is to actually seek out ways to be uncomfortable.  I’m not saying you should become a contortionist tomorrow, but push the limits of your comfort zone, physically, mentally and socially.  The most successful and happy people in this world step into discomfort regularly, it’s often how they became happy and successful.

Fear

Every one of us is scared of taking risks.  No matter what the risk, it is scary and we can only reduce that fear by facing it, defining it and pushing through it.  Let me give you a very personal example.

I have an illogical fear of lake water/ocean water that I can’t see the bottom of.  I don’t know why, maybe too many lake or ocean attack movies through my life, I don’t know, but when I get into a lake or on a boat or in the ocean, I panic.  Even the thought of jumping into water I can’t see the bottom of will send me hyperventilating.  That being said, several of my goals in life have to do with being in water.  I want to swim with sharks, get certified in scuba diving and become a master kayaker.  How can I do all that with a fear of water?  I can’t.   So this last week I decided to test myself.  I went to a little stream that has very deep pools underneath the waterfalls.  It’s a beautiful place, but the thought of getting into 20 foot deep water is terrifying.  So I stood on the edge and defined the fear.  I asked myself these questions:

What am I afraid of?

The unknown, giant shark men, swamp thing, who knows.

What are the chances that anything will happen?

Almost None.

So why am I letting this fear stop me?

Don’t know.

Could I move through this and just try it once?

Yes.

I’m not going to say I jumped right in.  I had to think and slow my breathing and heart rate because I was panicking at the edge of the water and I didn’t want to panic once I got in.  But after about 5 minutes of staring at the water, I eased myself off the rocks and took a short swim. After that I jumped in. after that I dove in and didn’t come back out.  It was a blast, and I am a lot less afraid of water now.  I will be going again tonight to face a much bigger lake.

I defined the fear and tried to logically break it down so that I could reduce my resistance to water.  I have now been kayaking and can say I’m actually excited to go again.  The fear is still there, but it’s getting less and less.  I pushed past my limits and am establishing new comfort zones.

This works the same for anything in life, whether it be fear of water, heights or something to do with your business or relationship.  Define the fear and push past it so you can establish a new comfort zone.  It may be scary, but it’s not as scary as not doing it, no matter what it is.

Push it

Choose something to do that is outside your comfort zone and do it.  Maybe you can sing at karaoke, talk to a stranger, ask that girl or guy on a date or face a fear.  Maybe you can just try a new hobby or meet a new friend.  It’s up to you to do it.  You have to make life an adventure, going to work and watching TV each night won’t do it for you.

Push past your comfort zones this week and you will start to enjoy life a lot more and realize that you have very few real limits in life.

I hope this finds you well.

Ryan

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