Monday, June 11, 2007

Makeover Monday: comfort zones and other balloons

I interviewed a choreographer in elementary school for some project or another. Her recurring motto was to "go beyond your comfort zone" and to "stretch your comfort zone". It's easy as pseudo-grownups to forget that we are still growing up. That the way things are inside of us isn't the way that they have to stay. That we can keep expanding our mind and our experience as though we were still kids who expect they still had changing to do.
There's an overwhelming suffocation to the idea that one "arrives" at being the adult that they are going to be, and that from that time henceforth they will cease to metamorph, and be a static character.

Heavens, people aren't made of glass, we're made of rubber! Perfectly suited for s.t.r.e.t.c.h.i.n.g. until it starts to hurt, and then pausing (but hopefully not retracting) and then stretching some more.

So, how can you stretch the limits of psychological comfort today? What uncomfortable thing do you wish you had the guts to do? Where do you suppose those guts come from anyway?

7 comments:

Deena said...

I'm thinking.

hairyshoefairy said...

I find I need to stretch a lot, but it makes me nervous because it can hurt and be scary and what if I screw up. I like this analogy. It makes it seem not so scary to me and I like that it reminds me it's normal to not be done stretching yet.

tracy m said...

Ohhh, your questions are sooooo good...

Thinking about it, it's been a while since I stepped off the edge... Getting married was one. Travelling in Europe alone was one. Moving across country and away from my family was one. Joining the Church was one. But it's been a long time since I did a big one.

What can I do that I'm afraid of...? Right now the most obvious is to go to the Temple. I've been a member five years, and I haven't gone yet. It scares me. But I have been feeling compelled that the time is nigh.

I also need to go bigger with my business. The product and idead and creativity are there, but I am actually afraid of success. Usually when I get close to doing well, I back away from the edge- and I've done that more than once.

Em, you really are marvelous.

Katie May said...

Ahhh...so true and yet painful to think about. My stretching will be pretty forced soon enough so I better get a head start! Any tips on making friends in strange places?

pepper said...

Well I just jumped in and had my hair bleached for the summer...I love having dark hair the darker the better but I decided to just mix it up. Its not that big of a deal but for me it was an uncomfortable change that I'm now enjoying.

Anonymous said...

i must say that you have some of the best comments. i always feel very wise after reading your monday makeovers...nice job!
Madie

Em said...

1 - Oh Tracy! I wish so much I lived closer! The temple for the first time IS scary, or at least intimidating. It is really important to go with people you love, respect, and trust the first time. But oh, the help that heaven sends you afterwards! (And lots of peace to boot). I totally understand being afraid to succeed. Written in words it doesn't make much sense....but inside it's something overwhelmingly different.

2 - Katie May - I think, I SUPPOSE that the secret to making friends in a new place is to lower your expectation. People do not always rush to meet and befriend the new girl, and that's ok. Pretend instead that you are the stationary one, and everyone else just moved in. Start offering to do things for them, and try to get to know them as though THEY had just moved in. You'll have much more success and spend a lot less time feeling sorry for yourself than, say, I did.

3 - Pepper, I do hope you'll be posting a photo soon so I can see your new hairdo!

Thanks for being so nice everyone!

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