Your Comfort Zone...Ditch It!

It occured to me, when I went to pick up my mail on Monday, that it was Columbus Day. It got me thinking (uh oh!) that adventure and exploration can lead to wonderful, if even accidental, discoveries about our world...and ourselves.

When was the last time you tried something new?

For me, it was trying yoga for the first time just a few weeks ago. I tend to discover that I like things after telling myself (sometimes for years) that I won't like it. Sometimes I just need to take a chance...step outside of my comfort zone.

We all have one...that space where we know what to expect, and what's expected. It's safe and familiar...comfortable. And let's face it...it can get boring! I am pretty good with pushing myself outside of my cozy realm of comfort, but I still sometimes find myself in a rut.

I credit much of my own adventurous spirit to my parents...and the way they raised us when it came to food, of all things. I was the picky eater in the family, and yet I eat many things that most people would never try. If we were having something that we knew we didn't like, we didn't have to force down a serving. We just had to eat one bite, every time. As a result, my siblings and I all like foods today that we hated at first. My parents (mostly Dad) also bribed us to try unusual foods, like caviar or raw oysters. I remember getting a whole dollar to try Oysters Rockafeller...I was maybe five, so that was huge. As an adult, I have even tried sea urchin! They weren't all winners, for sure, but I believe this has made each of us more willing to try new things in all areas of life. Go Mom and Dad!!

It comes naturally to some, but what if you have a harder time stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown? All I can say is...what do you have to lose? And what could you gain?!

This brings me back to the yoga. This was something so far outside my comfort zone that I put off even trying it for years. I made excuse after excuse...static poses aren't for me, I need to move. I can meditate without the poses, so what's the point? I told myself I wouldn't be any good at it. And as it turns out...I absolutely love yoga! Now I wish I had tried it years ago!

Is there something you've been curious about, but haven't taken time to explore? It could be a workout, a food, a hobby...anything.Whatever it is...now is the time to explore, to experiment, and to discover. Don't wait...do it now! If you've never tried it, try it. If you've never done it, do it. If you've never gone, go. Amazing adventure and self-discovery awaits!!

Yours, In Health and Happiness,

Rachel