One must often work on changing their belief about themselves and what they deserve before they can grow, find themselves and discover their true path. There is the story about the baby elephant who had a heavy rope on one of his legs that was tied to a strong stake in the ground. His experience of the world was within that circle that he moved around in daily. When he was older the heavy rope was replaced by a thin rope and a small stake. He could easily free himself but stayed confined to the limiting circle that was familiar to him. There was also the gold fish that was place in the bath tub while his bowl was being cleaned, yet swam in a circle about the size of his fish bowl. Experiments with rats raised in boxes where they were regularly given electric shocks showed that when they were older and given the opportunity to leave their familiar boxes and move to other boxes where they would receive no shocks they chose to return to their original boxes. The rats chose the familiar life of shocks and helplessness. How often humans make the same choices, rather than leave their own comfort zones and a find different and fuller life.
You can never really change your life until you get the courage to step out of you comfort zone. Comfort can be your biggest hindrance and coming out of your comfort zone your biggest challenge, but it’s when you’re outside your comfort zone that you experience yourself the most. True self-discovery usually begins where your comfort zone ends.
When was the last time you did anything for the first time? If you want something you’ve never had, then you’ve got to do something you never did. Even the smallest change in your daily routine can create incredible ripple effects that expand your vision of what is possible.
In the end we regret the chances we didn’t take. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
The Journey Home 