Last month my parents’ best friends, whom I call my “parents”, invited me to go camping for one week. Their VW California camper bus was our home for six nights. I had never been camping before.
But I’m always up for a challenge and challenging my comfort zone – to stretch it and myself.
Thankfully it turned out to be Camping Deluxe ;-) because my “parents”, who are usually quite adventurous and very close to nature, adjusted their routine for me ;-) They slept under the roof in sleeping bags, whereas I got an almost real bed…and it turned out that their camper is like a home on wheels…
If they had asked me several years ago… I would have said “no way!” But that’s because I didn’t have the right mindset back then. I had to control everything, plan everything ahead into the tiniest details (have plan A, B & C in place, just case), calculate the risk of exposure and vulnerability… does this sound familiar?
But then I started to do things differently, learned to let go, especially of things having to be a certain way, and expectations… And interestingly… life has become more fulfilling. Exciting. Fun. Joyful even.
The EGO (which to me stands for “Edging Go(o)d Out”) is afraid of change and would have thrown several hissy fits to make sure I remain “safe.”
But here’s what I learned: The comfort zone keeps you stuck.
It feels “safe”, like you’re in control. But it can also be stagnant and boring. As we begin to venture out, try something new (like going camping or maybe booking a Reiki session for the first time), fear kicks in. Doubt. Questions arise. That’s when we have a choice. Do we remain where we are? Or do we feel the fear and do it anyway? Fear can then turn into courage – and a shift happens within us. As we take on new challenges, get into unfamiliar territory, we also learn new skills, build confidence and resilience, maybe even find a sense of freedom.
Once I settled in into the camping site, I discovered a sense of freedom. Acceptance. A judgment-free zone. Nobody cared that I walked around in my bathing suit most of the day, everybody minded their own business, time slowed down, we followed the rhythm of the sun.
Now that I’m back in New York and about to start work again next week, I have some news to share:
Instead of returning to my friends and the comfortable familiarity of The Healing Collective, I’ll join Dr. Brian Yodice at Collaborative Chiropractic in White Plains, N.Y.
Trying something new is scary, isn’t it?
Something unknown.
Crossing the line into unfamiliar territory.
But it’s time to grow my business in a different direction. To be in alignment with my values and who I am. To be true to my vision… which is to help make Reiki practice credible and a well-respected profession.
About Andrea Deierlein & Thrive Reiki:
I’m a Reiki professional, who specializes in stress regulation and resilience building, so you can gracefully navigate life’s challenges and live your truth.
For more information: www.thrivereiki.com