Comfort zones. . . why you need to ditch them
Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self, whether or not it conforms to the image of who we think we ought to be ~ Parker J. Palmer
~ Click here to listen to this blog post instead*.
A truth of mine....
I've remained in my comfort zone for a good portion of my life.
Recently in a course I took with Susannah Conway she shared with us a tarot card that stopped me in my tracks. It was a picture of a tortoise (front facing) with its head stuck way back in his shell, it could see out of course, but she wasn’t coming out. On the card, over his head was a light shining so, so bright. In that moment it dawned on me that this was me.
I chose, sometimes knowingly, to remain in my comfort zone inside my shell, therefore staying always in the shadows looking out at what others were doing. It's not that they were always successful but they stuck their head out and played in the light, a lot!
So did you notice I said was. I’ve been working this year to ditch that habit
Yes, I’m an introvert.
Yes I draw energy from my alone time and getting quiet.
Yes I am soooo happy being behind the scenes.
Like in a theatre production I constantly chose not to be on stage, you could say I preferred to be in the production end of things. But I've had enough of hiding my light already, dang it!
What about you?
What are you hiding from? What about you, warts and shiny bits and all, do you need to bring into the light.
Wanna to know something....our comfort zones are comfortable because they have us not taking risks. These spaces we've created are very familiar to us and, for the most part, we know what's going to happen because we've established routines and habits that are all too familiar and keeps the unknown out.
Remaining in our comfort zone produces less stress, yes. It reduces the chance that we have to endure unnecessary anxiety, yes. But it can also give us a false sense of security that going outside of safe space doesn't allow.
One of the things that has helped me is this year of coaching I did in my training to become a certified coach. Part of that training involved offering to coach but also to be coached as well.
And because we needed to bring real issues to each of our sessions I got some serious clarity on stuff about who I am, what stories I was still carrying around (for reals!) and why it was so hard for me to shine my light.
This work was key to opening me up to see that hiding from what I couldn't face never did me any good. Staring it in the eye and confronting it, with fellow trainees who were gentle but also pushed when I needed it, was the catalyst I needed to confront some long held beliefs about myself....the biggest being my own worthiness. (yup, me too)
So I invite you to think and to journal about where your comfort zones lie. What risks tap into those spaces that you tend shy away from? And, where can you choose to challenge yourself, to go beyond what you know and step out into possibility instead?
Some questions you can answer in your journal...
- What have you remained silent about because it feels better not confront it?
- What do you need some clarity around?
- What do you need to know about this safe space you've created so that you can move beyond it.
Remember..."our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self". Because it's in the knowing that change and growth and manifestation takes place.
Namaste my friend,
grace
* if you enjoyed listening to this blog post please let me know in comments below or by email. I'm trying a new thing for my Soul Speak with Grace series
Are you at a point in your life where you need some help moving thru this space of constantly sitting in your comfort zone, not getting anything done and needing to get some clarity around your why? Please know that I'm here to help and I'm only a phone call away to begin holding space for you.