Growth and evolution simply doesn’t happen inside of our comfort zone.  I’ve been saying this over and over again in the last few months.  I’ve become a fan of living with one foot outside of my comfort zone, constantly looking for opportunities to step just a little beyond the safe and familiar.  It’s led to amazing results in my life – personally, financially and professionally.  But this last weekend, I didn’t just step outside of my comfort zone.  I took a giant, flying leap of faith into the unknown.

I went camping.

I’ll admit it – I’m a city girl.  I like hotels.  I’ve never gone camping in my life!  But that wasn’t even the half of it.  I went camping in a foreign country (Mexico) where I don’t speak the language, with no idea where I was going, with people I barely know.  I bounced along miles of dirt roads where four-wheel drive is essential.  I slept in a tent for the first time in my life.  I experienced a completely deserted, untouched beach far away from any tourist spot, cell phone reception or electricity.  I watched dolphins in the mornings.  I saw the most star-filled sky imaginable.

It was awesome.

I’ll be honest with you.  I didn’t think I would like camping.  I thought I’d really miss hot showers and electricity.  I thought that sleeping outside would be a bit scary.  I thought I’d hate having sand in my bed.  I thought I’d be more bothered by the thought of bugs and scorpions and coyotes.  I thought all kinds of things about how this experience would be.  None of them were true.

Here’s the thing.  We have all kinds of opinions about ourselves – our likes and our dislikes, our capabilities and our limitations.  We look at possible experiences – trips, business ventures, events, jobs, projects – and think we know what we’ll enjoy or not, what will feel good or not, how we’ll react to people and places.

We are making it all up.  We don’t know what an experience will be like until we are in it.  And even if we’ve had an experience before … well, five years later we are a different person and we will have a completely different experience based on who we are right now.

The ego is deeply invested in its self-perception.  It wants us to believe that we know who we are, what we are capable of, what we are good at and where we lack talent.  If we believe what the ego tells us, we will stay within its self-perception and become more and more entrenched in who we think we are.  Our comfort zone will not only stay the same, it may shrink as we become more and more convinced of ourselves.

If we are constantly evolving, growing Beings, we can never truly “know” anything about ourselves.  And that’s a good thing!  We can approach life with curiosity.  We can let go of judgment.  We can simply be with what is, and constantly delight in discovering who we are right now, knowing that next week, we may well be completely different.  We stay out of attachment and embrace constant self-discovery.  We understand that everything is subject to change, and change is no longer a scary thing.

What steps have you taken outside of your comfort zone lately?  When was the last time you surprised yourself?  Leave a comment and share!

Blessings,
Andrea

My friend and incredible astrologer Lisa Zimmerman has recently launched a brand-new service called “Perfect Timing” that is absolutely amazing!  I’m a subscriber … I recommend you check it out.  Give her sample report a listen – the information is invaluable.

Tagged with: • •

Filed under: Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose • Releasing Limiting Beliefs • Spiritual Development

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!