I admit it. I am a huge hedonist who would much rather have the benefits of hard work, without the hard work, the toned body, without the toning and the developed mind and spirit, without the concentration and focus. I’ve learned to clear out all the people, places, things, and activities that have dragged me down in one way or another and have replaced them with people who energize me, places and things I enjoy and activities that motivate me into action such as yoga class (because I feel so good afterwards) and scuba diving (because of the sites I see and because it is fun).  However, lately, I’ve noticed that I am sliding on a daily exercise program and so I want to nip that in the bud.

So, I finally took a tennis lesson from a friend who happens to be a tennis pro.  I was really hesitant because a.) I have a belief that I have poor eye/hand coordination, b.) I don’t feel as in-shape as I’d like too and c.) am I ready to invest the time, energy and money into practicing, as well as playing tennis well? 

Inspite of my reluctance, I enjoyed the lesson very much. I’m very grateful that my instructor is very patient and repetitive (ready, pivot, step, swing, follow-through). I need lots of repetition for my brain (and my body) to “get it”.  I realized today after I took this lesson that I was stepping out of my comfort zone. I believe that stepping out of our comfort zones is a good thing for us to do because it “wakes us up” from being hypnotized by our daily routine. In Dr. Judith Orloff’s book, “Positive Energy” in Chapter 6 (The Sixth Prescription: Open Yourself To the Flow of Inspiration and Creativity” she says that “If you’re low on inspiration, take a good look at a daffodil or a turbulent sea. Watch the wind making love to scraggly oaks.  Feel thunder rumble. Or get a contact joy from animals. All this transports you out of yourself”.  I also believe that when we do something that takes us out of our comfort zone, that it naturally transports us out of “ourself” (i.e. ego) so that we can become open to inspiriation, creativity and ideas that can move us forward possibly in a direction that had never occurred to use before.

What is one thing that you are willing to commit to doing that is out of your “comfort zone” (and when I say out of your comfort zone, I don’t mean something that isn’t safe, I just mean out of your daily grind, whatever that is for you) that you can do today or possibly even over the weekend.  For many of us in the United States we have a three day holiday for Memorial Day. What a great opportunity for you to explore doing something new! Try it and then let me hear from you and what you discovered about yourself.