Jump Out of Your Comfort Zone

I bet you that you’ve been told more times than you can count to try something new and step out of your comfort zone.  Am I right?  Especially when we were kids and teenagers.  However when we are adults we don’t hear it that much...unless we’re saying to a kid!  But guess what, the saying never dies.  We should always be searching for ways to step outside of our comfort zone.

Humans are a creature of habit.  It is one thing that make us great, but it also limits us in many ways.  Think about it.  Do you have a specific parking spot?  Do you use certain phrases without even thinking about them when talking with people?  What about only ordering certain foods at a restaurant because that’s what you’ve always done?  I’m challenging you to take a leap of faith this week and consciously break some of these habits.  Whether it is something small like parking in a different parking spot, picking different food, or saying something different to a person.  While these are small things, there are much bigger ones.  What about your health? How love life?  Are you just going through the motions.  I challenge you really think about parts of your life you think could be better.  Then instead of running on autopilot, make a conscious decision to try something new.  Say something different, try something new.  Maybe a friend invited you to go to a workout.  Join them!

Obviously you’ll want to keep it polite and legal.  I’m not giving you permission to break the law, but step outside of your comfort zone and give something new a whirl.  You never know, it can become one of your new favorite things!

Find your Dedication

Do you have what it takes to be a dedicated person?  If you are, then you will have every chance at succeeding.  Why?  Because being dedicated means that you will stay focused, you will get up when knocked down, and you will learn from the tough times and improve for the future.  

If you don’t think you are a dedicated person, let me ask you why not?  What do you need to change to become one?  

One of the big things you can to help you be dedicated is have a very specific reason to stick to whatever you want to be dedicated at. This is your why.  For example, let’s say you want to improve health habits. You want to eat and feel better but as soon as you start it’s only a matter of days or even hours before you fall off the wagon.  This happens because your why isn’t big enough or isn’t sunk in enough yet.  To help you with this, pick a bigger and more meaningful reason why.  An example of a fitness why could be: I want to get fit to feel better.  However that brownie, those chips, oh look fast food may get you to deviate from your plan and your why to “feel better”  It may be strong for some but not all.  A stronger example could be: I want to be able to keep up with my kids and show them what it takes to be healthy.  Now you’re including your family and wanting to be there for them and show them what dedication, and healthy looks like.  Finding your why is a great way stay dedicated and focused on your goals.  Here’s an article to help you find your why. http://jonesintomotivate.blogspot.com/2016/09/what-is-your-why.html

Be an Eagle and see the Forest and not just Trees.

Life has a way of getting you so wrapped up and crazy busy that you can lose sight of the big picture.  It becomes extremely easy to get lost in the details.  When this happens, you need to take a step back, breath, and look at the big picture.  You need to regain your eagle vision. Don't get lost by looking at a tree but instead see he forest! How do get it back?  Try these 3 easy steps:

1. Breath.  That’s right, just breath.  Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth.  Focus on slowing down your breathing and inhale and exhale slow and steady.  
2. Take off your shoes.  You can leave your socks on or not, it’s up to you but stand up.  As you inhale curl your toes in. (even better if you are on carpet) When you exhale, stretch your toes out.  
3. Lastly, close your eyes.  When you are breathing and curling your toes let your mind go.  Let any tense or stressful thoughts go.  Clear your mind and focus on you.  When you feel centered, slowly start to expand your thinking to your goals and more importantly to your why.  Ignore the individual tasks just focus on your why.

Regain your eagle vision and continue on towards your goals and dreams!

Want to reach your dreams? Persevere!!!

Life will knock you down. The world may seem to conspire against all your efforts and goals.  Don’t let that make you give up and stop.  This is where you WHY becomes extremely important because it will help you stay determined and ready to push yourself.  Pick yourself back up, shake of the dust, and keep pushing, getting closer to your goals.  And you may stumble again, and maybe even face plant, but again, pick yourself up, and go after it.  If you why is strong, go after your goals.  Each time you get up you are a stronger person and will be even closer to your goal.

Don't know how to create your why? Click here for some help. Find your WHY!

What is your WHY?

 Why do you want to be successful?  Why do you want to get ahead in life?  Why are you reading this? (To help you find the answer hopefully!) Why is a small word but can have a profound impact on your life.  If you can reveal and understand your why for doing something, you be much more successful attaining it.  Whether your hope is to get fit, join a team, have a better relationship with your loved one, earn more, etc.  Whatever you want to become better in, discover the reason why you want to be better at it.  What’s the driving force?  When you know what it is, write it down and put it someplace you see often to be a visual reminder.  Remember that your why isn’t a goal, it’s the reason why you set that goal.  So sit down, think, and discover your WHY.  Write it down, put it in a place you will see it daily, and get closer to your dreams!