Do something that scares you
Hi !
It's Halloween.
Aside from thinking about the ridiculous spooky decorations everywhere... it's got me thinking about fear.
Several years ago, I was abseiling for the first time. I'm not a huge fan of it. There's something my head doesn't like about leaning backwards over an edge and descending using friction alone.
Earlier, the instructor had been talking to us about the Stretch Zone. If your Comfort Zone is a circle, then the Stretch Zone is the thin band around it that separates comfort from danger.
In your Stretch Zone, you can grow without being in danger. That's the place I was in.
Of course I was scared. But it was the place that puts butterflies in your stomach, not a cold chill of fully-blown fear.
Fear's almost like the warning sign that you're approaching the danger zone and things might not be ok very soon!! Usually I try to stay firmly in the Stretch Zone, but there have been a couple of times I've crossed the line - one particular knife-edge ridge in winter springs to mind...
So although I'm not going to encourage you to dress up as a pumpkin tonight, I might encourage you to do something that scares you a little.
I've been abseiling several times since then and, although my technique is far from elegant, I can do it without feeling scared. It's part of my comfort zone now.
So use Halloween as a reminder to do something a little scary every once in a while. At least something that gets you into the Stretch Zone, facing the unknown and expanding your comfort zone.
INSPIRE
Nikki Love just completed her 750 mile run around Ireland! https://nikkilove.co.uk/
Nicky Spinks the famous trail runner, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for outstanding services to sport and charity. More about it and Nicky here.
Read Ellie Berry's incredibly detailed blog post about walking the Western Way in Mayo, Ireland https://toughsoles.ie/blog/2018/western-way-mayo
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BADLY ENOUGH YOU'LL FIND A WAY. IF NOT YOU'LL FIND AN EXCUSE.
- Nicki Keohohou
ISSUE 6 IN THE POST
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I'd love to know what you think of the new printing style when you get it. The paper is now from sustainable sources too :)
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