One of the biggest obstacles to our self growth and personal development is.................ourselves!
No, make that THE biggest obstacle.
When we say that we want to make changes, but develop resistance and fear and in doing so an internal battle follows.
It's natural to feel scared and apprehensive when venturing into the unknown, but ultimately living within your comfort zone is all very safe, but not very life enhancing.
Taking risks can bring up a whole host of emotions. But what are e-motions? They are energy in motion. They are the stories we tell ourselves, that's all. What's the difference in feeling scared or excited? Only our interpretation.
Life makeover programmes are very popular in the UK at the moment. The whole theme behind the programmes is that people take risks: in getting back or starting the dating game, clearing their clutter (and all the emotional stuff that they've been hanging onto), change jobs and even being coached within six weeks to do something completely different.
A Barrister is coached to become a DJ, A Choirgirl becomes a rock musician. A Radiographer becomes a commercial photographer and fooling the experts who don't realise that they are "novices".
The most moving part of the program is the follow up - often a year later - where the program catches up with the risk takers and find that, as a result of this, their lives have changed immeasurably. Their self perception, self esteem, confidence and overall outlook on life and what they are capable of has changed forever.
Are you avoiding taking risks? Have you got into a rut? Try setting yourself a goal of taking one small (or large - if you're up for it - some people can only get excited and motivated if they've set themselves a BIG challenge) risk for yourself, every week, month, year and follow through.
See what happens. Engage or enlist encouragement and support if you want. But DON'T tie yourself or become overly concerned with the outcome, just taking the risk is enough. Reward yourself appropriately after you've done so.
Our risk taking abilities are like muscles, the more we use them, the stronger we become and fear loses its grip on our lives. The fear never goes away as you take more risks, but it does stop defining your life. Fear is only an indicator that you are growing - it's not meant to stop you in your tracks!
So get out of your own way and stop resisting the changes that you want to make and the risks you are going to take.
Because ultimately.............daring to dream and living a fulfilled life is the biggest risk of all!
Copyright 2004 Julie Plenty
About The Author
Julie Plenty is a Personal and Business Coach who specialises in coaching self employed creative professionals to live more creative, fulfilled lives. To sign up for the Life Design newsletter visit: http://www.self-help-personal-development.com
What are the odds of someone doing extraordinary things if... Read More
Get inspired and lift your spirits with these positive quotations... Read More
Many people think that their life is a disaster that... Read More
You know kids, one of the things I've learned by... Read More
I have counseled individuals, couples, families and business partners for... Read More
(excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed series)Two thousand years ago... Read More
The quest for the ultimate victory.In part one I shared... Read More
If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More
"But if in your thought you must measure time into... Read More
A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More
Nowadays the majority of people live in very large cities.... Read More
Why am I here?If you haven't already asked this question,... Read More
The man plopped down on his chair, defeated.His father's maxims... Read More
What areas of your life are working well? Career? Finances?Relationships?... Read More
I'm writing to you with a completely shattered heart. I've... Read More
Much of our lives we spend comparing what "me" has... Read More
More things I've noticed along the way:* Our son's birthday... Read More
We let ourselves love but are afraid to say I... Read More
Q: I was wondering if you could recommend any books... Read More
The first few hours in this world, when we as... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 8,... Read More
The true test in life does not occur when all... Read More
Have you ever said thank-you to the cow that provided... Read More
I believe that it is an amazing time in our... Read More
You're a remarkable person. But, you knew that already. Still,... Read More
In today's fast paced society, we've become accustomed to filling... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 16,... Read More
The physics professor with the unruly shock of white hair... Read More
"Some people call the still, small voice insight or intuition?Our... Read More
The bedrock of the Christian faith is the good news... Read More
This week is Part Four of our five part series... Read More
Give people more than they expect and do it... Read More
Fangs. Killer claws. Hisses, grrrs...and later, yelps. Who is not... Read More
All of us are resistant to change, whether it's in... Read More
Fear is deeply rooted in uncertainty. Think about it; the... Read More
Is a grudge-laden heart sabotaging your success in business and... Read More
I call myself semi-retired. I work at a job that... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 1,... Read More
Often when I receive emails from this list with folks,... Read More
When in 1996 a local Secondary School opened, the staff... Read More
A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More
There are reasons we cross paths with those that we... Read More
We all love picnics. They represent a fun time as... Read More
Not long ago, I attended a seminar that featured Naomi... Read More
Last week we started a five part series on The... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 2,... Read More
I write and talk a lot about dreams. Primarily because... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 16,... Read More
Are things busy at your house or workplace? Imagine how... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 2,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 14,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 19,... Read More
A WORD FITLY SPOKENA word fitly spoken is like apples... Read More
When you fall, do you get right back up? Do... Read More
There is an old principle: You reap what you sow.... Read More
When was the last time you smiled at a stranger?When... Read More
"We're on a one-game winning streak!" That's what freshman Dawan... Read More
The secret power of positive thinkers is their faith. And... Read More
Most of us, at one point or another, take a... Read More
Let's look at the lesson we should all pay attention... Read More
Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System... Read More
In 1982, I found myself in Eden. What I found... Read More
"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the... Read More
It's interesting how we intellectually know that tomorrow will be... Read More
Let's file this one under the heading of random musings... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 20,... Read More
Inspirational |