Stepping Out of Your Box

A brand new year, 2019 is just a couple days away. For many, a new year is a time for resolutions and a fresh start. Resolutions are great, but only if you follow-through with them. More often than not, resolutions are so lofty and unattainable from the get-go that the individual who set them quickly gets discouraged and quits. 

My resolutions tend to be challenging, but not unattainable. I learned a log time ago, that If I have too many goals, I'm going to get discouraged when I realize I can't accomplish them all. I also learned a long time ago that in order for me to grow, I have to step out of my comfort zone. So, I tend to pick one goal that's going to push me, get me out of my comfort zone box.

Sometimes I've stepped out of that box by choice and other times I've been shoved. In both cases I've learned so much and become a stronger individual. Becoming a 5th grade teacher, moving my family to Greensboro to pursue a writing/editing career, speaking in front of large groups at national conferences, being laid off from a job of 13 years and going back to school at 45, opening a small business (who does that during the great recession?), coaching hundreds of runners, creating RunTheBoro. Each of these life events were hard. Sometimes I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I'm still growing. At times, I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking, "What am I doing?" "How am I going to get through this?" 

At times I had to force myself out of my element. But over the years I've learned that your element is not cut in stone. Your element is often self-imposed. Your element can change. It's up to you. 

So, make 2019 a year of positive change for yourself. Remember that stepping out of that box can be scary. Don't leap frog out of that box. Take it one step at a time and remember the RunnerDude mantra, "Trust. Believe. Conquer!"