What are some of the ways that you’ve pushed yourself to grow that took you outside of your comfort zone recently? How did you work through it?
Answering these questions adequately requires a round table, not less than a few hours, and however many cups of coffee (I don’t drink coffee). Nevertheless, in the effort to be more open, I’ll share.
I’ve taken on an academic thesis project. It’s a project I’m proud of and excited about, but it’s one of the most significant steps I’ve taken in my life and is a catapult to achieving other goals of mine. I’ll be writing and researching more than I ever have in my academic career. The project is flanked by fear of failure. Fear of succeeding. Fear of proving myself right (I’m not strong/smart/talented enough). Fear of proving my support system right (I am strong/smart/talented enough). This week, I accumulated a long round of anxiety, procrastination, and escapism. This morning, upon waking, I was forced to push through the threat of a follow-up day to 2 days of bingeing Drop Dead Diva… by my bladder. When I walked back to my room I started moving without thinking. Open blinds. Put dishes in sink. Hang clothes. Put on workout clothes. Pull up workout video. I took several deep breaths and dove in. The episodes are shortening and I continue to push through. Eventually, I hope that my turnaround will be a few hours… I’ll get there. Thank you for this article. It’s always helpful to know you are not alone.