Yes, this is a quote from Mary Poppins. While we can’t all have a carpet bag that is bigger on the inside (she must secretly be a Time Lord…) this is still an appropriate title for this post. Last time we talked about being ready to seize opportunities. Now, let’s talk about how the actual health benefits of the mindset of “being ready”. Are there any? If so, how do they really effect me on a day-to-day basis? Let’s find out.
We touched last time on your comfort zone, and how being ready to leave it when needed is important. This is true, but it doesn’t stop there. In fact, leaving your comfort zone is not even an end result. When we are honestly being “ready”, we are saying that we trust that no matter what comes our way we can handle it. This doesn’t make us truly leave our comfort zone, but rather EXPANDS IT! That has big implications.
Let’s take an example that can not only demonstrate how it being ready actually expands the comfort zone, but also how easy it can be in our everyday life. A young lady is afraid of horses. She is so afraid that just being around them scares her. She gets the chance one day to visit a ranch with some friends for the weekend. She knows this ranch has horses. Here she is presented with a choice: Stay in her self-imposed, limiting comfort zone, or take a “ready” mindset, and go to the ranch with her friends. She chooses to go. This expands her comfort zone ever so slightly. She gets there on Friday afternoon with the rest of her friends. Everyone is unpacking the car, and she sees in the orange sunset a group of horses in the pasture running. She sees how majestic, and beautiful they are in the golden haze, and she resolves to see one closer tomorrow… But not ride of course. Her comfort zone expands again.
Saturday comes, and the group has planned to go out hiking. They head that way, and pass the stables. She sees a copper toned horse getting it’s brushing. It seems quite happy, and content. It even nuzzles with the ranch-hand that is brushing it. Our young lady thinks that she might like to do that. That would surely be okay… But no riding. So, after she returns from the hike she does just that. Her comfort zone is quite a bit larger now.
Sunday is here, and they are leaving in the afternoon. Her friends hear about the morning ride, and want to go. Here is her final choice: go with her friends, and have a good time, or stay here, and just wait for them to get back. “Well” she thinks “I do want to spend the time with my friends… And the other people here did look like they were having fun riding… And the horses did seem to like it when I brushed them, so maybe they will like me… Okay, why not!” And she goes for the ride. This young lady who was so scared of horses that she didn’t even want to be around them is now riding one.
It all started with her choosing to be ready (even sub-consciously) to seize an opportunity. Today look for ways not to just leave your comfort zone, but expand it. You can accomplish more than just getting on a horse; trust me. Have a great day, and enjoy!
In truth, sincerity, and love,
Adam L. Spain, President and Trustee of The Eden Wellness Alliance
211 North Greenwood Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas
1.479.207.0872
The Eden Wellness Alliance 