Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Why is it that stress kicks in automatically if our planned day doesn’t go the way its supposed to go whilst at the same time, we’re craving something new to show up in our lives? We can’t have both?! We don’t get to step into change, success and excitement without bravely leaving the comfort zone. As Tony Robbins says, “If you want the island then you have to burn all the boats.” So the only way we can step up our life is to step out of the familiar. The problem is most of us want to keep hold of the routine, the comfort zone, whilst still expecting the adventure. It’s never going to happen. It’s like wanting to go sky diving as long as you don’t have to let go of the side of the plane.

Which leads me to these questions I get asked a lot…

1. Why is it so important to have ‘present moment awareness?’ What’s wrong with recalling past events? Don’t we learn from recalling what we did wrong in the past?

2. Why shouldn’t we anticipate the future? Running scenarios in our mind of what we’ll be doing throughout the day gives us a plan of what to expect so we can mentally and emotionally prepare.

Ok, there’s nothing wrong with recalling the past. The problem is how long and how often we spend on doing that. If we’re reminding ourselves of past failures, bad decisions, wrong actions, we’re essentially giving away all of our available energy to our past; especially when those memories are linked to a strong emotion.

And of course, it’s a great idea to plan your day ahead but plan without anticipating every moment. The future is the unknown, that’s the great thing about it. If we try to control the outcome of everything we do, where is the opportunity for something new to happen, for excitement, for the unknown to show up. Make a plan and then let it go and see what happens. Who knows, you might find that other opportunities show up which steer you in a completely different direction. And just maybe that different direction has greater possibilities for outcomes you hadn’t even contemplated. But if you rigidly stick to a plan, all of your energy is trapped in the past. It’s being used up trying to control a plan you made in your mind that was rigid, controlled and limited.

Firstly, let’s say we were to take time out from the routine to place our attention in the present moment and visualise a desire outside of our routine and we were to have an elevated emotion in line with that vision. All of that energy in motion is the foundation for the law of attraction.

Secondly, it’s about getting over our need to control the outcome of each day. Yes, we all have routines and responsibilities, but the key is to allow space in your day for new things to show up. Make your plan, know where you have to be at certain times, write down your shopping list and your reminders to return emails and phone calls and then make slots in your day to take time to place your energy into the present moment. Look around you, notice the small things, go for a walk, chat with a stranger, do something you would normally never choose to do. Stay in the unfamiliar for a while. Get uncomfortable and know it’s ok to be out of the comfort zone. No judgments, no opinions, just pure observation and see what shows up. In these times, choose to surrender to the present moment and when you do, you’ll be placing your attention into the now. And now your energy is following your attention and you’re drawing from a field of possibilities.

Ask yourself, when your day doesn’t go exactly to plan do you surrender or do you get frustrated? Do you start rushing around complaining and then end up calling it a ‘bad day?’ When your day doesn’t go to plan, maybe you were being given opportunities for new things to show up in your life. Maybe the huge traffic jam was so that you’d take a different route to work for a reason. Maybe you were made redundant from your job because there’s greater opportunities out there for you. Maybe your relationship ended because you’re meant to change directions in your life. But to see the possibilities, we have to be present during these times rather than frustrated with ourselves and others.

So next time something doesn’t go to plan look for the possibility, the new path. Don’t think how it should have turned out. Accept and surrender to what is and feel the excitement of surrendering into new possibilities.