How to hang outside your comfort zone and not fall flat on your face

How I came to hanging outside my comfort zone

This morning when my alarm went off, I’d wanted to sneak in a little snooze. Except that my doorbell then rang. Hah. Ok, Universe, I get the message! Time to literally get out of my comfort zone (my warm, comfy bed) – roll out of bed and start my day.

After dropping my car off for servicing and getting a soy latte at the dealership, I was dropped off at my local gym, where I am currently sitting, writing this.

Last night I had signed myself up for a Beginners Reformer Pilates class. Something I am quite comfortable doing.

It’s a Beginner class, so expectations are a lot lower, right? Which means I will be forgiven easily if I don’t get something right.

Arriving at the gym over an hour before my class was to start meant I had time to check my emails and the class timetable again, to see if I’d want to swap to an earlier class instead.

Edward Vilga’s “The Real Secret of Flight” caught my eye, and he’d written,”You’ve gotta stick your neck out a little more than feels safe and at the same time stay lifted so you don’t collapse and fall flat on your face.”

I felt inspired by his words, and looking at the timetable, decided to swap what was a safe bet, to a class where I’d have to lean my heart forward a little more than is comfortable, and lift my heart at the same time.

Yes, I decided to step outside my comfort zone. I took action and booked my spot.

I was going to the Antigravity Yoga class.

I was going to take flight, even if It was in a hammock.

What to do when you doubt yourself

Somewhat tentatively, I stepped into the class and the yoga teacher came over to adjust the hammock for me. My uncertainty came across, and I thought she seemed to subtly suggest that I might be in the wrong class and ought to do a Beginner class instead.

Or perhaps that was just how I’d wanted to give myself an out. Honestly, I did consider it. I almost asked her if I should leave and go to her beginner class later in the morning.

Gratefully, I was aware of that thought, and that it was only a thought. A thought I chose not to follow.

I quietly stood on my mat, hammock in front of me, and said to myself, “You can do this. You can take flight.”

Magic happens when you step outside your comfort zone

So the class began. Together with everyone else, I paid attention and listened to instructions.

I gripped the soft, silky fabric and pulled myself up off the ground completely. Wrapping the fabric around my wrists, I flipped myself upside-down so I was hanging in mid-air multiple times.

I did the “Vampire” pose and hung in “Downward Dog”, hammock at my hips. I did many moves on that hammock today that I hadn’t ever dreamed of doing before.

By the end of the class, I was standing taller, feeling stronger, smiling wider. I thanked my teacher for her guidance.

Most of all, I thanked myself for showing up to class.

For stepping outside my comfort zone. For deciding to play a bigger game, one step at a time.

Where in your life can you take one step outside your comfort zone?

What area can you step up and play in a bigger way? How will you show up for yourself today?

I would love to read your comments. If this resonates, please feel free to share and/or leave a comment. Let’s play! 🙂