I know I am not the only one that worries.
My family and I move a lot! We have made moves around the country and have lived on the other side of the world. Each time I move, I am faced with helping my family adjust, applying for a new job, acclimating to a new house, meeting new friends, and getting to know a new town, etc. I become anxious. Doubt fills my head and feelings of inadequacy fill my heart. What if I am not qualified for a new job? What if I don't make friends? What if I hate this town? What if my kids don't fit in?
I worry about other things, too.
One of my children recently graduated high school and I have the same feelings as they forge their own path. I worry if they will be okay, I wonder if I did enough, and if their life choices will protect them and allow them to thrive.
To top it off, these worries seem small compared to the worry of pandemics, war, the economy, school shootings, and a divided country, that sits heavy on all of our souls. What can I poosibly to do help? Do I have the courage to help my community? Where do I start?
All I know is that when worry is overwhelming, it feels safer to keep my family indoors and not try anything new. When worry clouds my heart, it feels better to hide in my comfort zone.
Comfort zones are a peaceful place to recharge, soothe emotions, and recenter yourself. However, I have learned that if worry keeps me in my comfort zone, it can hinder my personal growth.
I learned this first hand on a trip to Petra, Jordan.
If you are not familiar, Petra is an ancient city in Jordan that dates back to 300 BC. It is one of the world's wonders as it used to be a thriving civilization. Everything there is carved in rocks that are about 600 ft tall. Houses, temples, amphitheaters are all carved into rocks. Perhaps the most recognizable site in Petra is The Treasury. Most of you have probably seen this in the movie “Indiana Jones”.
My husband and I had the opportunity to visit and as we walked through the dusty trails for a mile or so, we ended up at The Treasury. The treasury is 130 ft tall and the rocks surrounding The Treasury are about 600 feet tall. It was breathtaking.
I was already out of my comfort zone being in a foreign place and I was ready to head back to the comfort of my hotel or maybe just sit for a minute and take everything in that we saw when a shepherd approached us and asked if we wanted to ride on a donkey to the top of the mountain that oversees The Treasury.
Absolutely not.
There were so many worries running through my mind like, I did not know this shepherd nor have I ever ridden a donkey. There were no seatbelts on that donkey, there were no railings on the mountainside and it was VERY high. If we hopped on that donkey, we would be climbing 600 feet… I was overcome with fear and all I wanted to do was hide. I had a million reasons to hide.
Despite my greatest efforts, my husband and the shepherd talked me into riding a donkey 600 ft to the top of Petra. I was internally freaking out.
It was steep, rocky and scary. At one point the kind shepherd could tell I was worried and looked at me and said, “Why you worry, lady! Just trust me, lady!” I decided to trust him, and myself, as we continued to climb.
It was then he did something crazy and something I never expected. He let go of the rope that was holding my donkey and told me to lead the way. Talk about out of my comfort zone! I didn't feel prepared and I hardly knew what I was doing. With fear and courage running through my veins, I led him and my husband up the rocky mountain. Was I scared? Yes. Were there still cliffs? Yes. Did my donkey enjoy looking over the edge, yes! Did we make it to the top safely and were there miraculous views? Also, yes.
After we got to the top, we started wandering around the wilderness for what seemed like a lifetime until we ended up at a tent.
I was just getting comfortable at the fact that we were on solid ground when the shepherd wanted us to go inside the tent. I didn't want to go inside, I had no idea what was in the tent or what was on the other side. Again, the shepherd promised me it would be worth it and told me not to worry.
We crawled into his tent and much to our surprise, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The jewel-toned tapestry and fabric that lined the sun-kissed walls were magnificent. We were taking it all in when he lifted back one of the pieces of fabric we were on the edge of a cliff 600 ft high, overlooking The Treasury. He then gave us hot tea as our feet dangled, the breeze blew through our hair and we were allowed to stay there as long as we wanted.
I am so glad I chose to step out of my comfort zone that day. I chose to trust myself and others around me to lead me to places I never dreamed of. Had I stayed in my comfort zone, I would have missed out on so much.
I grew emotionally and mentally that day because I gained confidence and courage. Had I stayed in my comfort zone, I would not have grown.
Stepping out of our comfort zones, like making new friends, applying for that job, trusting your big kid, and helping others in your community, can lead us to extraordinary experiences and personal growth.
As we navigate through life, it's essential to remember that embracing new challenges can open doors to unforeseen opportunities, just like the unexpected beauty that unfolded in Petra, Jordan. When you allow yourself to trust, let go of fear, and venture into the unknown, you may find ourselves in places we never imagined, both physically and emotionally.
Remember that growth often lies just beyond our comfort zones, waiting for us to take that first courageous step forward.
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