It?s officially October! And while the leaves may not be turning any shades of gorgeous here in Arizona, a girl can still get excited about all things fall. Pumpkins, scary movies, Halloween costumes, oh my!
I love this time of year because as the seasons change, there is a hint of excitement in the air. The weather is getting cooler, and we start to look forward to the holidays. Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here, and I may or may not know some people who have already begun their Christmas shopping. I can assure you, I am NOT one of them. I can?t bring myself to think that far in advance right now!
As the weather starts to get cooler, we want to get cozy and comfortable, snuggled up in blankets and sweaters. Ruby especially loves to be wrapped up and cuddled this time of year.
While I am all for enjoying comfort, I am also a huge proponent of getting used to being uncomfortable too!? There is a time for comfort, and there is a time for growth and stretching a little further than you want to go, and fall is a perfect time for both! So, read on, and let’s explore this relatively uncharted territory of “uncomfortable” together! Scary? A little. Worth it? Absolutely!
Our 12 Month Transformation, Month 10: Try Something New!
Can you remember the last time you did something for the first time? (I?m pretty sure that?s a song lyric, but it?s TRUE!). I want you to think. Honestly…when was it? WHAT was it??As adults, these moments get fewer and farther between, and we become so used to our routines and patterns that we end up living a comfortable, but average, life.? Now there’s nothing wrong with an average life, but if there is even a small part of you that believes you are capable of more than average (spoiler alert: you are!), then you’re ready to do what it takes to grow and discover new things about yourself. All that discovery will not happen in your comfort zone. It will only happen as you step out into what I lovingly call “the growth zone.”? It just sounds so much better than “the uncomfortable zone,” right??
We all have our daily routines. Wake up, shower, brush teeth, eat breakfast, take care of kids, go to work, run errands…the list goes on and on. These things are comfortable, and we’ve done them thousands of times before, but they aren’t where growth happens. And while I appreciate the comfort of the patterns in my life, I’m well aware that comfort is in fact the ENEMY of progress.
You can step out of your comfort zone in lots of different ways. Even if you’re just dipping your toe into the growth zone, it takes courage and bravery to step into the unknown. I know you can do it, and I believe in you. I know you are capable of outstanding things, and as you step out and try new things, you’ll come to believe it too! Who knows? You might even find something you’re so excited about that you jump out of your comfort zone with both feet!
Trying something new invokes a certain sense of excitement, it’s stimulating, and to put it simply, it makes you feel something.
As I was writing this, I thought of times that I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone over the years, both in small ways and in huge, scary (at least to me) ways. One small way was last year when Chris and I tried lots of different exercise classes together. We specifically did that to step into the unknown. We did things like pole fitness (yes, it’s what you think it is!) and silks, and I was terrible at all of them. I have zero regrets though because it helped me see what I needed to work on to be better.
One HUGE leap out of my comfort zone has been getting on stage to compete. Let me tell you: Being on a stage in nothing but a bikini and high heels is basically a stress dream I’ve had my whole life. But what started as a pet project for my Season 5 EWL peeps has become a project for personal progress for me. It continues to push me out of my comfort zone and causes me to achieve more things than I ever thought I was capable of.
So stand by me this month in being brave. What is something you?ve wanted to do, or been curious about, that you?ve shied away from? Is there a hobby you’ve always wanted to try but pushed away because you felt like you didn’t have time or that you wouldn’t be good at it? Make time and act now!
Maybe it?s trying a new workout routine? Yoga, running, CrossFit, or weight training.You know you want to try that pole fitness class! 😉 Research fitness classes in your area and sign up for one. Then actually go!
Have you wanted to take a dance class? Or an acting class, or enroll yourself in ANY kind of class that?s going to get you moving toward your goals of becoming a #bossbabe? DO IT! In fact, don?t wait until tomorrow. Fill out those apps tonight!
Maybe your ?something new? is smaller, and that?s okay too! Try out a new recipe for family dinner. Call your stylist and schedule that hair cut you?ve been wanting to go for. Reach out to another mama at your kids? school or daycare and make a new friend.
Pick AND commit to any of those things you?ve been avoiding because life gets in the way and you?re ?too busy.? And do it today! I know, it’s super cliche, but life really is so, so short, and unfortunately, none of our time here on earth is guaranteed, so we absolutely have to take advantage of the very limited time we have and do the things we’ve always wanted to do.
And here’s my final piece of advice as you step out of your comfort zone: It’s ABSOLUTELY okay to not be good at something at first. In fact, it’s okay to not be good at something for a while, as long as you keep trying and keep progressing, even if it’s tiny little baby steps. Expect to not be good, and then you won’t be disappointed! The magic is in the action itself, not in how good you are at taking the action.
So put that chunky sweater on and get comfy with being uncomfy. We are going to grow together this month and do something good for ourselves in the process. I take back what I said earlier about not starting my Christmas shopping. Consider this an early gift from me to you! 🙂
Don?t forget to drop a comment and let me know about that ONE NEW THING you?re going to try this month! I want to see what everyone is doing!
xo,
Heidi
Related reading:
Our 12 Month Transformation, Month Four: Prep & Plan!
Sharpen the Saw || Unplug and plug IN to LIFE!
Our 12 Month Transformation, Month One: Self-Love!
The Procrastinator?s Guide to Transforming Your Time Management Skills
How I Manage My (Im)Perfectly Balanced Life
6 Responses
Congrats. I have done the reading and listening. I know some of what to do but to do for myself is like pulling teeth with a bobcat. And in the end who really cares. I don’t understand this. I know I am worth it and that should be enough in it self. I don’t understand why I will jump threw hoops for someone else but me .
Hi Eric: It can be difficult to put ourselves first and keep our promises to others but not to ourselves. Here’s a post you might be interested in reading: https://heidipowell.net/8679. I hope it helps – you can do this! One promise at a time.
I love this post… I have been thinking similar thoughts for a while now and have put some of those in action already and its amazing. This year i started Cross-Fit and took up Surfing – I have always wanted to surf, but never took that step. So now that i have done it, its really great. Next on the list is Scuba Diving and I am also looking to complete my First Half Marathon and then from there a Trail Run Stage event… So much to do 🙂 Thanks for the encouraging post.
Hi Heidi,,
I?m always scared to put myself out there but there is one thing I would like, it?s to have a chance to talk to you, one on one! This is me out of my comfort zone, reaching out to someone! Publicly !…, this is much harder than you can imagine !)I know it sounds creepy but I swear, I?m not! In fact, it?s taking me all my courage to post this for everyone to see! I?m at a point in my life that I do want more (always have) but I don?t know how to go about it! I had a very difficult life and I feel that you would get me! I know you guys had it rough at one point and would love to see how you were able to make the change in your life! Please, if you want, feel free to contact me!
Hi! I was wondering if you could post something about stair climbing. But not at the gym, like as an additional workout. I take indoor cycling and for the last two week I starded using the stairs instead of the elevator, does this count as a workout? how many stairs are neccesarry? (Im sory for my english it is not my first language)
Hi Tania: Yes! Stair climbing is a great workout! It’s not really about the number of stairs you do, it’s about the time and intensity during your stair climbing. You can treat stair climbing just as you would any other cardio workout! Hope that helps! 🙂