There are innumerable sayings, of which getting out of your way is one that loosely implies its intent but leaves a lot to the imagination. Superficially it makes sense, as many of us engage in counterintuitive habits to attain our goals, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find it’s a little more nuanced. Hence getting out of our way can present a challenge if we don’t know how we are blocking the flow of life (aka blocking our blessing). This post will explore the mindfulness practice of getting out of your way to do the things you may perceive as impossible.
The Reality of the Comfort Zone
So much of what we’ve been taught about goals has been solely focused on doing more of what we already know how to do well. This often keeps us within a persistent loop (aka groundhogs day), where we are bound to repeat the same habits and practices daily until we make an intentional change. Unless we boldly choose to do something completely new, we’re regulated to continue going through the motions, taking the safe, familiar route to avoid stepping too far outside our comfort zone.
Every time we mix things up a bit and upgrade our desires to go beyond the comforts of what we believe we are equipped to do, we instantly become engulfed with fear. This is not just your typical form of fear that calls you to step outside of your comfort; it’s the intense fear of the unknown that often scares the sh** out of us to the point where we do all that we can to regain some semblance of comfort.
Fear of the Unknown
When we muster up the courage to venture into new things, we are instantly met with fear and uncertainty of the unknown. Where the unfamiliar resides, unpredictability, uncertainty, and fear are at the crux of the unknown. This invariability can take us into the downward-spiraling effects of fear, which most frequently presents as physical discomfort. As with any other form of discomfort, the natural response to bodily tension and discomfort is to do whatever we possibly can to alleviate it.
Much like when we touch a hot stove, we instinctively withdraw our hands to alleviate the pain; this logic doesn’t exactly apply when conquering the unknown. As with most things, we can mask our true feelings until it becomes unbearable, as pain invariably pushes until a vision pulls us to take the first steps outside of our comfort zone. If we solely lean into what we confidently know we can achieve and the goals which are an extension of what we already know we can accomplish, we limit ourselves. Add in something new that’s completely outside the realm of the familiar, and the next thing you know, we have an open willingness to embrace the unknown.
Thankfully, the only requirement to go after the big ideals when you have yet to learn where to start is to forget about the how and take the first step, fear and all. Fear is an interesting concept in that we all experience it to some degree. Invariably, we can each respond to it in one of two ways (F.E.A.R.), face everything and run, or false evidence appearing real.
Depending on one’s perception, its presence can be immobilizing and stop you in your tracks, making you unable to go beyond the discomfort, or it can inspire you to persist beyond any perceived obstacles. This goes against S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) and every other strategic approach to actualizing your goals.
The problem is the more we ignore the desires of our hearts and continue to operate within our restricted comfort zone, the more likely we are to settle, subjecting ourselves to remain in a cycle of doing the things we dislike and, in some instances, have a complete disdain for. From staying in relationships that no longer serve to remaining in jobs that spark no interest or joy, we subject ourselves to undue suffering.
Persist Beyond The Discomfort
Invariably pain pushes until we are drawn to our innermost desires, which are an extension of our unique talents and gifts. When we have an open willingness to vision beyond our fear, it magnetically pulls us to a vision of a reality that allows for the full expression of our unique talents and gifts. This vision can be more expansive than what we may outwardly deem possible. No matter how illogical or improbable a vision may outwardly seem, know that if you persist in the feeling of the dream fulfilled, you can achieve it.
When venturing to accomplish a goal completely outside your current reality, everything feels uncomfortable; it may feel that the bigger the venture, the more physical discomfort, so naturally, we try to avoid it at all costs. Only getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is the only growth path. Hence, we must invest time and effort to persist and grow through situations, circumstances, and new ventures, to yield the fruits of our labor.
As spiritual beings having a human incarnation, we were already encoded with everything we could want, need, or desire to live an abundant and prosperous life. Likewise, we are each individualized expressions of the Divine, with unique talents and gifts. In other words, we all have the innate power and ability to actualize our desires; we need to recognize our power. Aside from the limits we place upon ourselves, there are no limits to what we can achieve.
Even if we do not know how to go about getting it done or where to begin, as long as we have an unwavering desire, the universe will supply us with the ability to achieve it. Regardless of where we come from, the odds against us, or any other fear-based belief, we have the ability and fortitude to achieve it, even if social norms and finances misalign with our intention.
The Truth of Your Being
The key to success is remaining steadfast in the belief that comes hell or high water, we will actualize our intentions, despite any appearances that affirm otherwise. Early on, we were taught to rely heavily upon our senses to provide physical evidence for what is possible, often placing limitations on the how, why, and when we think it should happen. Only universal intelligence operates on a higher frequency that is beyond human comprehension. In other words, our sole responsibility is to remain firm in the belief that it is already done rather than how it will work in our favor.
If we are not conscious of our inner power, we can not access it to work in our favor. We are energy in motion, and if we stay within the limited space of the known (aka. what we already know completely), we create a ceiling that forms a cap for how far we ascend. The more we persistently resist impending change to avoid the discomfort of embarking on something new, the more we regulate ourselves to remain in the same paradigm and suffer. We seemingly endure suffering anytime we go against the flow of life. As life evolves and unfolds, we are persistently called to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and follow our passions into the expanse of the unknown to experience more good than we could have imagined.
Doing the Impossible
Recognizing our innate power is the key to actualizing our potential. Notably, this is where the inner work comes into play. Outwardly it seems simple enough, however, embarking on the journey to unlearn and shift some of the deep-seated beliefs that we have heavily relied on for so long takes consistent, concerted effort, which requires us to persistently practice, over and over again, until it gradually becomes easier and easier. As with any new practice, some ups and downs and missteps will make it seem impossible; anytime you miss the mark, exercise grace and begin again as often as needed. Remember that persistent effort despite appearances is the key to success that will bear the fruit of your desires.
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