Get Out of The Way!

I think the biggest hurdle and roadblock that we often face is ourselves.  We stand in our own way much more often than anyone or anything else does or will.  Part of this is a protective reaction  - the last thing that most of us ever want to do is experience that feeling of discomfort that comes with pushing our edges and leaning against what we have defined as our comfort zone.  Lots of good things happen within our comfort zone without having to break too much of a sweat or put ourselves in a position of vulnerability.  But so much more can happen as you push and lean against those boundaries.  And as you do so, you will start to realize that those moments of discomfort will fade and suddenly where you once felt uncomfortable, starts to feel a bit less scary.  A bit less out of our control.  As children we are constantly pushing against this comfort zone as we learn how to move from crawling to walking to running to climbing trees and hurtling ourselves into all sorts of adventures head first.  And as parents we encourage this development, for the most part, as we know that our children may get scraped knees or a sore bum from falling down, but they can't go through life crawling and staying safe.  So what stops us from taking those chances as we get older?  Is it because we are farther from the ground, have more to lose, farther to fall?  Are we are more sensitive to feelings of failure, ridicule and disappointment?  And who is it in our lives that is causing us to feel the strongest of those feelings?  I think in most cases, if we really think and are honest, WE are the ones who are our biggest critics and as a result are the ones who are holding ourselves back.
Think of what we could accomplish and achieve if we just took a step aside and let ourselves stretch outside of where we have been living.  If we just took that deep breath, summoned up our most courageous selves and went for it, whatever that it is....starting a new hobby, introducing yourself to that handsome stranger that you see every day at the coffee shop, looking at ways to make your career more satisfying.
Get out of your own way and let your destiny unfold.  It is going to be scary to take that chance and yes you might fall down in the process, and that is okay.  As long as you keep picking yourself back up, gently dusting yourself off and congratulating yourself for the risks taken, vulnerability shown and courage demonstrated.  And then try again.  And be kind to yourself, like you would be to a child who is trying something new, because at the root of it, that is really what we are.