I had a revelation one day!
I'd been trapped in my comfort zone for well over a decade. I hadn't grown. We all know that anything that's not growing is unproductive or dead! Death produces nothing, takes in nothing, and for a lack of a better words my life had turned to nothing. That’s a huge statement so let me clarify: Yes, I was living, but I was only functioning. Doing the same cycle of events day by day, month by month, and year by year.
I'd gotten comfortable with where I was in life. Not growing. Not moving forward. I'd gotten so comfortable I was living on a fixed income. Living pay check to pay check. Stagnant!
When others would ask me, "Why haven't you written a book?" I said, “I am.” Truth is the book was sitting unwritten within my laptop on my bedside table. When people would say, "Since you're in education why don't you go for it and maybe teach upper levels, college or even go in to administration?" I'd dismiss the notion saying, “I didn't want to be in education.” Truth was I didn't! But because I was actually very good at my job. I was great at growing students, building relationships with students, forging a bridge in the culture and climate of our campus with staff however, I'd gotten comfortable with the yearly schedule and comfortable with my job and the expectations of my job; I didn't have the courage to leave.
When people would say, "Don't you have a degree in communications? Radio and tv? Why don't you do that?" I'd say, “I don't want to start over in a field that forces you to work your way through the ranks.” Truth is; I was tired of being underqualified with experience to do the job I wanted to do. When people would say, "You dance! Start a dance company." I would say, “I have one. I teach dance, but the overhead is too high to rent a space with the amount of students I have.” Truth is; I didn’t want to take a leap of faith. Even when my boyfriend (now husband) offered to fund the building and help me start my business I brushed the idea off because of fear with the unknown. “Will I have students?” “Will that cause me to be in more debt?” “What if I fail?” “I have too much other stuff going on!”
Truth is...all of those are excuses and they are unacceptable! I should have known better. But because I dangled a bit of bait around by doing the bare minimum or skating around the edges of my comfort zone; I saw no growth!
There are a few things you MUST be if you ever want to be Amazing or Great and COMFORTABLE is not one of them!
I encourage you today. Yes, YOU! Get it and get moving into putting those best laid plans into action. It doesn’t take much. Whether you have support or not. Whether you actually understand the magnitude of your belief or not! Just move! I read a few days ago an action plan and I absolutely love it: Simple Task + Easy Act = Big Impact
Choose to make a big impact with your life. And then choose to do it over and over again! Get out of your comfort zone! Years ago I wrote about kicking the box over and removing it from your life when you feel boxed in. Every now and then a reminder is needed! Today is that day! Beware of your comfort zone! There is DANGER in your comfort zone! Avoid it!
Best wishes!!
