Out of your comfort zone?

As  home based massage therapist, sometimes I deliberately push myself to do something way out of my comfort zone. 

Why?

Because I have a feeling in my gut that this push will help me grow. And I feel in my bones that growth is good... at least heading towards growth vs towards stagnation.


Fits in with my #healthyish thinking.


And by growth, I mean ‘personal growth’  or flexing a few mental health muscles. 


Resilience. 


Persistence. 


This fits into my #healthyish thinking because what I think and how I react ( =  my mental health) can fall somewhere between ‘not helpful to myself or the world in general’  to ‘best choice ever with amazing positive impact on myself and people around me’ … yup, a continuum. 

Not that tired old binary of good vs bad or healthy vs unhealthy  but rather a spectrum of choices.

So what do I mean when I say I push myself out of my comfort zone? 


Maybe the easiest way to kick off this conversation is to share what I did today.


It's just a little thing, but still a new thing for me.


I bought a book in the 'ebook' version rather than from a real life book store.


Why?


Because I want to go to a book club tonight AND I just haven't been able to get myself to a book store that stocks the book they group is reading AND I haven't been to this book club before so I'm a bit nervy about turning up without having read they book in case it's not just one of those book clubs where the book is a bit of an excuse to socialise, but is in fact the main purpose. 


Can you tell I'm a bit nervy? 


I sure can. The run on sentences are a dead give away.


I'm leaving it it just like that, a bit jumbled and stream of consciousness,  so you can get a feel for my authentic voice rather than 'polished' me.

So the real comfort zone push is to go to a book club where I've met one or 2 of the participants, but I don't know them and have no idea what the experience will be like.


And why am I doing this?


Because encouraging myself out of my comfort zone makes me feel like a brave woman, a more resilient person, one who can cope, no erase that last word and put in 'thrive' in our fast paced ever changing world.


And it's not totally random. 


I have some safety/support here.


I do love to read.


There will be coffee.


There is a beginning and and an end to the event so even if I never want to go back, I can definitely pluck up the courage to be present for an hour.


AND I might really enjoy myself.  I might meet some really interesting people who expand my ideas about the world.  I might really love the book.


So let me draw you back to the new skill I've already attempted - buying an ebook. I thought it would be reasonably easy to do and it was. Pop the title into good old google and then follow the links when it says you can buy it as an ebook.


But then I couldn't find it.


Too funny.


I had to google.... where would my ebook be after I bought it ? ... 

And I must say I was super proud of myself for even thinking of googling that phrase - THAT is a success story for me - and my journey towards new ways of thinking.

I might not remember to 'google' the next thing I want to know, but I am revelling in the fact I did this time. 


This is exactly what I do with any #healthyish choice I make.


Revel and notice and proclaim - I've made a choice for myself that is along the healthy spectrum!


So that's it. 
You've heard my story. 
And possibly giggled - maybe with me, maybe at me... I'm feeling resilient so I don't mind which!


Warmly,
Barbara

PS. If you're wondering what this blog has to do with either my Massage/Bowen clinical practice or my Online Business Coaching for Women with Solo Wellness businesses... nothing directly, but really EVERYTHING.  


Both my clinical practice and my coaching are all about providing support to you, as you build the life you want.

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