Why should you be pushing your own boundaries?
Recently, I started reflecting on some of the things I've done in my life and I realized that the things that brought me more JOY where the ones that pushed me OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.
When I did something overcoming my initial fear and anxiety, when I stretched out of my boundaries, that’s when I experienced more joy, that’s when I grew and that’s when I felt more ALIVE.
When I decided to leave Spain and come to the US, when I decided to marry my now husband, when I said yes to a dancing performance even when I’ve never done it, when I accepted the job without previous experience, when I joined Toastmasters even when I was afraid of public speaking, when I did the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela even when I thought I would not be strong enough, when I shaved my hair and decided not to cover it …
All those events were pushing me out of my boundaries, I was feeling anxious and nervous and unsure of the results if I committed and yet, once I committed, the feeling of accomplishment and GROWTH were amazing and totally worth the plunge.
I took on as my motto the title of the book by Ryan Holiday “The obstacle is the way” and now, whenever I have that feeling of fear when something new comes up, I know I must lean towards it and push through it because at the other side I stand HAPPIER and BETTER.
It’s like strength training, you must increase the weights and push against the resistance in order to be stronger.
Your brain and your character act in the same way. To develop your character, you must push against those things that are hard, those things that are difficult and you feel uneasy about.
This is the only way to become better, to grow into a better version of yourself.
I love sleeping in in the mornings, who doesn’t want to lay in bed specially when it’s cold outside? Waking up when is still dark? No, thanks! But, for me, I discovered that I feel better with myself whenever I wake up earlier, and that feeling of accomplishment carries over in my day.
It’s not pleasurable to finish my showers with cold water, and yet, I feel so much more energized when I do it!
Going to the gym before work? Years ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I would be that type of person, but now, I am, and it feels great when I know I’ve done it and I get to the office with a feeling of accomplishment that lasts throughout the day.
Not eating gluten, or dairy or even potatoes? But wait! I’m from Spain, I cannot live without bread, milk, cheese and potatoes, can I??? Well, I discovered that I can, and that I feel so much better without those things in my diet, and I stick to it even though sometimes I do miss them.
You don’t know how much more you can achieve until you PUSH YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES.
If you are always stuck in your comfort zone, how do you know you have reached your highest potential?
For you to grow, you need to STRETCH out and REACH FURTHER away every time, and as you do it, you continue to discover new boundaries to be broken.
That’s the secret to fulfilment, to know where you stand, to know that you can be so much more and to go and do it.
Every time you do something uncomfortable, you’ll feel like you have accomplished something because you are pushing yourself out of your limits.
That’ll give you the fuel to continue growing. That’ll keep you motivated. That’ll turn you into your better self. That will help you in reaching your HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
For you, what are some of the things that you know would push you out of your boundaries, but you are afraid of doing them?
What are some obstacles that you faced in your life that made you a happier/better/smarter person?
Maybe it’s time to reflect on these things and see if you can pick just one thing that scares you and do it. What small step can you take to overcome that fear?
xoxo,
Sofia