4/6: STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

One of the things I often talk about is wanting to live a life with no regrets.  By that, I specifically mean I would rather regret something that I did, than regret something I didn’t do.  We have such a small window in life where we are young enough, healthy enough, free enough from obligations, and with disposable income to pursue whatever it is in life we want to do.  While there are definitely a number of things I look back on in life that maybe I wish I hadn’t done, there are few things that come into my mind as I write this that I remember NOT doing that I wish I had done.

Here is a list of many of the important things that took me outside of my comfort zone; turning my life over to Jesus; getting married; adopting kids; opening a business, twice; competing in martial arts at the highest level possible; learning how to juggle and doing hundreds of street performances; doing open mic standup; rock climbing; quitting a job with 25 years of seniority; hiking 14,000 ft mountains; getting in a cage with tigers; being part of a collegiate solar car team; moving 10 hours from home for my first job; buying a house; giving sermons at church; becoming President of a local Jaycees chapter; and adopting multiple pets.

All of those activities come with great risk, including the potential of death (which, I’ve been very close to a couple times).  As a I look back at the many challenges I have undertaken, they all have 2 primary things in common: 1) Each and every one has a significant risk of failure, and 2) Each and every one of them has shaped me into who I am. As I have taken calculated risks over the years, it becomes easier and easier to take the next risk because I have suffered failure and picked myself up, and I have also seen the potential rewards that come when those challenges pan out.  One that really stands out is my attempt to summit Four Peaks Mountain Range near Phoenix, AZ.  To get to the base of the trailhead, you must take about a 20 mile dirt road not suitable for most cars.  It alone takes an hour, then the hike is about 6 hours round trip.  It took me 3 attempts to get to the summit, and I distinctly remember the incredible feeling of success having failed twice before.

One of the things that overcoming challenges does for us is that it allows us to focus our mind on the next challenge ahead and not get derailed by the what-if’s.  This weekend I put that to use.  On Saturday, after my 4th chiropractic visit in 4 days from my back giving out on my Tuesday, my chiropractor suggested either icing my back or doing a cold plunge.  While I have done about a half dozen quick in and out cold plunges, I knew this situation needed more.  Before I had time to think, I came home, put my bathing suit on, grabbed a towel, drove straight to Walled Lake, got out of the car and walked into the lake without hesitating up to my chest.  I’m not sure how long I was in there.  My father said it was 10 to 15 minutes, but I’m thinking 10 was on the high side.  But when I did a second one with my son on Sunday, I made it 7 minutes…..which paled in comparison to his 15 minutes.

So, what is the secret?  Well, we can ALL physically do that, I guarantee it.  But it is the mental aspect that will determine whether we WILL do it.  This was very new to me, but at no point when I determined I was doing to do this did I ever waiver.  I knew it was going to be incredibly hard, but then once I was in it, it wasn’t as hard as I envisioned.  There is something very powerful about overcoming the cold.  It was even better the second time as my son and I were laughing our asses off as those same asses were freezing as a bundled up fisherman on shore clearly wasn’t sure what he was looking at.

But to get to that point of diving in with no hesitation, it often takes increasing levels of risks and challenges to build the mental fortitude to just do it.  The last couple trips to Master’s Worlds, I was nowhere near the level of physical preparation I wanted, but I had the mental reps to know what I needed to do to have a chance to win.  That only came from all the failed opportunities in the past where I learned what I needed to do.  Now THOSE failed opportunities have taught me that my preparation at black belt needs to be even more intense than at colored belts.  The cycle continues.

Stop worrying about the what if’s as much.  It is that fear that paralyzes us all at times.  Life is short.  At 55, my competitive abilities are in their twilight.  My ability to hike 14,000’ peaks is dwindling.  I will definitely miss those opportunities when I can’t do them anymore, but I will ALWAYS feel blessed that I can look back on those opportunities that I did take.

Can you say the same?  If not, start creating those memories TODAY!  It’s not too late.  For those that think, “I wish I would have started when I was younger.”  You will never be younger than you are RIGHT NOW as you read this.  Last week was the best time to start.  Today is the second best.