Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

I am in full swing of writing my book and boy is it a project...so much bigger than I anticipated. Being that this is the first time that I've attempted something like this I'm discovering that writing a book is not actually about writing a book at all. How hard could it be right? Ha! The writing is the easy part.

The work of writing book is first about getting clear on your idea, organizing your thoughts and creating a plan to get it written. Check. Next, it's creating the discipline to write every damn day, no matter what else is on your plate. Check. Now comes the hard part, which I, of course I completely underestimated, and that is managing the barrage of fears, doubts and limiting beliefs that inevitably flood your brain when you step out of your comfort zone and commit to doing something new. Almost daily, the thoughts of "Can I do this? "Who the hell do I think I am?", "Am I good enough, smart enough" etc. hijack my brain. Even though I am well aware that this is just a natural reaction of the most primal part of my brain who's job it is to keep me safely in my comfort zone, it is at times very difficult to manage. Some days the voices are easily quieted with "I've got this", and other days, they are so loud I can barely think, let alone write. Those are the days that I find myself resorting to insidious self-sabotaging tactics like cleaning out kitchen cupboards, organizing my email and trying out a new recipe. All noble tasks, EXCEPT when you are using them to avoid getting on with what it is you're supposed to be doing.

Although I have made several big changes in my life over the past few years, I always underestimate the discomfort of being at the beginning of something new. Whenever you step out of the comfort zone of everyday life, your brain/ego will try to bring you back. First, little voices, then louder screams and eventually ingenious self-sabotage tactics. It's the job of the ego mind to keep us from taking risks and usher us back to the safety of what we know. However, in its singular focus, what our primitive ego mind cannot comprehend are the gifts and lessons that exist in the doing and the rewards of accomplishment and satisfaction in the completion. That's our job. There are other voices deep within us that speak a much greater truth. The soul truth. Our job is to tune in to this voice that called us forward and got us started in the first place. The voice that knows that we are capable and strong. The voice that wants us to grow, learn and become the best version of ourselves.

The soul voice is so much harder to hear, though. It's a soft whisper compared to the shrieks of the ego mind. We must actively listen for it. It requires us to become still and tune in. For me staying connected to my soul voice in this process looks like daily meditation, mantras and visualization. And knowing how loud and persuasive the peanut gallery in my head can be, I've called in extra reinforcements in the form of a writing coach and support team of like-minded friends to remind me that I am powerful enough, smart enough and more than capable of accomplishing my dream. No great feat is accomplished alone. Social support and community is key as we step toward the magic that exists just outside our comfort zone. I also remind myself often that...

"The universe never gives you a dream or calls you forward to a challenge if you didn't already have what it takes to make it happen."

We are all more than capable of reaching our goals and dreams, all we need is a little support to remind us if our power, our capability and that we were called to the challenge for a reason.