Are You Getting Too Comfortable?
You get a limited number of days, hours, and minutes to do whatever it is you are called to do – to design your destiny and be a leader worth following. Are you getting too comfortable and not taking the one action will you take that can make a big difference?
Comfort is well, comfortable. Are You Getting Too Comfortable - Upside Thinking
To be at ease sounds fun and inviting.
And, there may have been times where you’ve decided to stay someplace even if it wasn’t where you wanted to be just because it was comfortable.
I get that because I’ve been there, too.
Yet, hanging out in the comfort zone can wreak havoc on you designing a destiny that you love.
You wake up every morning and go to work – only to realize that there has been this nagging feeling that there must be something more you’re called to do.
You are getting paid well – and you like what you do…..and still you want more.
You recognize you were made for more.
You were built for greatness.
And, you have a piece inside of you that is crystal clear that you were designed to make a bigger impact in the world.
Yet, that would have you step out and do something crazy, like quit your job or go off in a completely different direction.
How in the world would that story line play out?
Would it have a happy ending?
It just doesn’t seem like you have what it takes – at least not right now – to take that leap of faith.
And, so you wait.
And, wait.
And, wait.
Oh, I get it.
I had a comfortable job working in the Federal government where I got a paycheck every two week, regardless of how hard I worked or didn’t.
While I was committed to my career and took a few risks, I had gotten comfortable doing what I was doing.
I would only put myself out there if I thought it would go well for me.
When my husband proposed, it seemed ludicrous to leave the safety net of my Federal law enforcement job complete with pension and a program that matched the dollars I invested to open a business 3000 miles away from my closest friend or family member when I had never taken a business course nor did I know anyone who owned a business.
Talk about trusting that if I took a leap of faith a net would appear.
Looking back, I understand why so many people in my life thought this would not go well for me.
One of my favorite movie lines is from Glinda the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz and it goes like this.
“You had the power all along, my dear.”
See, you can view change — or the chance to step into something new – as something scary or a new adventure. You get to choose. For me, I’m choosing adventure – and I’ve been on the roller-coaster ride of a lifetime.
Lots of ups and downs, a few screams, tears and sick-to-my stomach moments – and I wouldn’t trade any of it in for the comfortable, safe ride on the merry-go-round.
You get a limited number of days, hours, and minutes to do whatever it is you are called to do – to design your destiny and be a leader worth following.
Time waits for no one.
Your time is now.
The world needs you and your brilliance.
Right now, I’m stepping out of my comfort zone once again.
While the process might not look pretty to someone looking in from the outside, I am committed to making a change in my business.
And, even though some people may be thinking, “Finally!”, imperfect action is better than no action at all.
One of my clients pulled me aside at Design Your Destiny Live and said, “Your program keeps getting better and better – and so do you.”
It was one of the most meaningful comments anyone could have given me because she noticed my change – and how I had been stepping out of my comfort zone.
So, where do you start when you want to step out of your comfort zone?
I start with forgiveness.
I forgive myself for staying stuck in my comfort zone longer than I wanted to.
I forgive myself for waiting to change.
I forgive myself for anything and everything that got in the way of me taking a risk that got in the way of me making a bigger difference in the world.
And, from there, I give myself lots of care, and reach out for support from others along the way, creating strong accountability structures and evaluation processes in and out of my business.
Oh, there is much more to say about this – and I’ll save that for another Upside Thought.
For now, remember, you had the power all along, my dear.
All you’ve got to do is take the first step – and trust in the magic that lives outside your comfort zone.
Action:
The Upside Challenge of the week is to identify where you need a little more forgiveness to step outside of your comfort zone. What one action will you take that can make a big difference?
Comfort doesn’t change the world.
Vulnerability changes everything.
The world needs you and your brillia
