Three Books On How to Eat an Elephant

     Hey There!  You know the old expression, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time." Ever think the little things in life don't really matter?  It's easy to feel like our small daily decisions don't really make that much of a difference. After all, we don't usually see the results of one day of working out or one healthy meal.  But it's the effect of these habits over time which can make a huge difference in our lives.  

    Maybe you're like me.  I spent a lot of my life saying, "Tomorrow I'll be perfect."  Guess what?  There is no perfect tomorrow.  We have to move ahead one step at a time.  We don't just wake up one day having arrived at success.  

    About 7 years ago, someone introduced me to a book called, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.  If you haven't read this book, I'm going to recommend you get a copy immediately.  Why?  Because it literally changed my life and my thinking, and I believe it can do the same for you.  In fact, this book has had so much of an influence on me that I reread it every year!  The Slight Edge taught me that our success comes from things that are "easy to do", like taking a few extra steps a day or choosing a salad over a hamburger.  But our failure comes from those same habits which are "easy not to do."  You don't notice the effects of these choices right away, only over time.  Jeff says that time will either expose you or promote you.  I realized then and there that I wanted my choices to compound for success, not for failure.  

    And speaking of compounding, if you want to really kick start and streamline your habits, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is the next book you should pick up.  This book takes the principles from The Slight Edge and kicks it up a notch with real world examples and practical steps you can use to fine tune those small daily choices.  Remember, success is a mindset and a journey, not a one stop shop.  

    Ok, so you've discovered that success comes in small steps taken consistently over time, and you've been practicing and tracking your habits like a pro.  Now what?  Is that it?  Is there any room left for improvement?  I want to introduce you to the king of all books on habits.  Atomic Habits by James Clear.  If your already a habits master, this book is for you. Atomic Habits breaks down the science of habits and shows you how to get more and better results out of everything you do.  If you're looking to squeeze every bit of goodness out of everything you do, this book will give you the inside scoop.  I've been a dedicated habits person for 7 years, and this book took what I knew to a whole new level.  

    What am I saying?  If you are wondering how your life got to be where it is, or why you aren't getting the results you hoped for, these books can help you set the record straight.  You have to stop waiting for some big event to change your life.  You change your life by small steps compounded daily. "The slightest adjustments to your daily routines can dramatically alter the outcomes in your life." -Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect. No more waiting, wishing, and hoping.  Take the first step toward the life you want today.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.

Purpose?

     Have you ever asked yourself the questions, "Why am I here?  What am I supposed to be doing with my life?"  These are some of the big, pressing questions in life that we all wrestle with, and while I can't answer these questions for you, I do believe that each and every person was put here with a unique purpose that only he/she can fulfill.  Your purpose may be broad, like to love others so well that the ripple effect impacts generations down the line.  Or your purpose may be very narrow and focused, like designing a cure for a specific disease.  If you're still scratching your head and trying to figure it out though, here are a few things I believe will help.

1.  Get to know the One who gave you your purpose.

    Ephesians 2:10 assures us, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  This should bring us comfort in the fact that we didn't get left out or passed over.  God created you with a unique to-do list.  If you don't know for sure what's on that list yet, it's ok.  Start spending time getting to know God, and He will start to put ideas in your heart.  

2.  Learn and Grow

    Proverbs 4:5a tells us to "Get wisdom." And to "Get understanding."  Once we have an inkling of what we are called to do, we must learn as much as we can so that we can excel at our calling. And even if you aren't sure what your purpose is yet, you can still begin to grow yourself.  As you grow personally, you will open doors to opportunities in your life, and you may just find that one of those doors holds the answers you are looking for.

3.  Take Action

    John 17:4 records Jesus as He is praying, and He tells God, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."  We cannot complete the work we were put here for unless we take action.  Just thinking about, studying, or knowing our purpose does nothing unless we begin to act on it.  You may not know all the steps yet or how you will get it done, but can you figure out the next step and take it?  Life is a journey.  We are meant to make progress.  Don't stay stuck in one spot.

    This year has caused many of us to take a step back and question the way we do work, school, relationships, and life in general.  If you are taking the time to think about your life and your priorities, take some time to get to know God and what His purpose is for you.  Invest in learning and growing towards your purpose, and take action so you can live fulfilled and be all that you were made to be.  You were put on this earth with a unique purpose.  I can't wait to see you find it and succeed!

~K.L.W.

Chaos or Character

   "Discrepancies between values and practices create chaos in a person's life." John C. Maxwell says this in his book, Today Matters. Reading this struck a chord with me. You see, I am a person of strong values.  I hold to my values like a dog to a bone, and those who know me best know that I am not afraid to leave a job or an organization if my values are not in alignment.  However, our values are not just tested by these large, rare, major life decision moments. Although, that is where they are demonstrated most noticeably.  Our values, however, are reinforced and come in to question most with our actions every day.  Our values are not just the final destination, they are the lamppost, lighting the way for us to take each step. 

    Our core values must be lived out daily, or we risk creating chaos in our souls.  And in fact, many of our internal struggles could be eliminated if we learned to live true to what's most important. Our core values must shine through in our habits if we are to truly be at peace with ourselves.  Too often we are impatient and angry and we place the blame on those around us, when in reality, the ones to blame are ourselves.  Let me explain... perhaps one of your core values is commitment, and you may be excellent at keeping your commitment to your job, your local community organizations, and your spouse.  But are you keeping your commitments to yourself?  What about the decision you made to work out three times a week?  Or to stay on track with your budget?  If you are letting yourself down in the commitment department, you are failing to hold to your values, and you are creating inner turmoil which will manifest itself in all sorts of negative ways.  

Here are three ways to make sure you are minimizing chaos by staying in alignment with what matters most to you.  

1.  Know what you value

    If someone asked you what your core values were, could you list them out?  I hope that you could name at least a few without even thinking about it, and if you can't, I encourage you to think hard about what's important to you and put it down on paper.  Then, start using those values to guide your actions daily.  Not knowing your core values is like trying to take a trip without knowing where you are headed.  Figure out your coordinates and move in that direction.

2.  Don't forget the small things

    Reaffirming our values through small daily actions is how we can most clearly demonstrate what is important to us.  For example, let's say you value your health.  It may be logical for you then to avoid smoking cigarettes or taking illegal drugs, but those are the major decisions.  What about holding to your values by eating healthfully and exercising? If you are not choosing those small daily health practices, you are creating discord in your life.  You say you value being healthy, but you are not taking the steps to do so.  This causes you to be frustrated with yourself for not living in alignment with what is important to you.  Make a decision to get yourself in agreement with the small daily habits that confirm your values. 

3.  Don't compromise

    Holding to your values when others are watching is usually pretty easy.  After all, if there are witnesses, you probably aren't likely to steal from someone or to do something questionable.  But what about when no one is watching, when no one will know except you?  Do you hold to your values then?  If you choose to disregard your values when there is no audience, you will create guilt, shame, and fear which will hold you captive and keep you from living freely.  Make the choice to stick to your values, even when no one will know but you.  

    Living your values is a decision that must be made daily.  Choose today what your values are.  Then make a commitment to those values even in the small things, and hold to your commitment when no one knows but you.  This will help you to live in harmony with yourself and to be at peace with your life.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.

Back to School

   Hi Friends, it's that time of year again.  The time when our morning commute is now made longer by school busses, our evenings are cluttered with homework assignments (if you have kids or are in college), and our routines are shaken up by change.  Whether you're going back to school yourself, have a child going back to school, or are in the blissful childfree years, fall can be a great time to evaluate your routines, see what works and what doesn't, and build new habits that suit your life and propel you forward.  

  I have a particular love for seasons, because I love fresh starts.  I love being able to clean out my wardrobe, change up my day, and celebrate a new holiday.  And as we go through seasons in life, we have to keep this perspective if we hope to transition smoothly.  If you are starting a new phase, or if you hope to soon, here are three tips for making the switch.

1.  Dress for Success - Sometimes it's easy to get stuck in a routine, with what we wear, what we eat, where we go, who we talk to, and while routines can be great, if you're feeling stuck, it may be time for an outfit change.  Maybe literally, or just mentally.  Have you heard the expression that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have?  It comes from the idea that you should always dress and carry yourself with excellence, even if you aren't the CEO yet.  If you are feeling stuck, try evaluating your routines.  Would the person you hope to become eat that for lunch?  Would he/she hang out with that crowd after work?  What would the better version of you read, listen to, or wear?  Asking yourself these questions can help you to start behaving like the best version of yourself.  James Clear says in Atomic Habits, "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." What type of person are you becoming today?

2.  Maximize your Efficiency - Have you ever tried to start a new habit, and you just couldn't make it work?  Sometimes our problem isn't with doing the habit itself, but with finding the smoothest way to include the habit in our lives.  Play around with your schedule and find the best times to accomplish things.  Maybe you need to move your workout to the evening, or read that book on your lunch break.  Perhaps you know you don't accomplish anything after work (ahem... me) so you need to get up early to get everything done.  Just because someone else does their habits in a certain way at a certain time doesn't mean you have to.  It's your life, design it the way you want.  

3.  Celebrate - I don't know about you, but I get a palpable feeling of joy when I think of fall and the holidays:  Halloween (pumpkin carving, apple cider), Thanksgiving (visits with family, so much food), or Christmas (gifts, time off work) and New Year's (new beginnings, champagne).  But we can also find that holiday feeling when we build habits and routines we love.  I look forward each morning to my cup of coffee and reading.  There's nothing better than my afternoon chocolate cookie dough keto bar at work.  And the peacefulness of doing my yoga practice after the stress of getting my kid off to school is a reward in itself.  While you're changing things up and finding what works for you, remember to build a life you love.  You only get one after all.  

  Whatever you find yourself doing this fall, I hope you take the time to give yourself a refresh, find the best routines for you, and celebrate the little things each day.  Back to school or just back to usual, make the most of this time.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.

Know Your Sheep

 Good Morning,

I want to talk to you today about a few verses I came across this morning in my reading:  

Proverbs 27:23-27

"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.  When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.  You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls."  (NIV)

At first glance this doesn't appear to have much practical application for us today.  Most of us aren't sheep farmers.  But in ancient Israel, this had a very literal meaning.  Most of them were sheep herders, and they understood that tending their flock would ensure they could provide food and clothing for themselves and their families no matter what the economic climate.  

From a modern perspective, I would suggest that our sheep are no longer literal sheep, but rather the special skills and character we build within ourselves.  Have you ever heard a wealthy business owner state that even if he lost it all and was reduced to zero, he could build it all back again?  That's because he knows the condition of his sheep.  He has taken time to develop himself and his skill set, and he knows that if he loses a job, or a company, or his money, he can earn it back again with the knowledge, habits, and character he possesses.  

Today we tend our sheep by spending time studying our field and also growing ourselves.  Learning people skills, time management, positive attitude, and creating good habits is the modern day equivalent of caring for your herd.  When you develop yourself you can thrive no matter what life throws at you.  Your job is downsized?  No problem.  You can use what you know to get another or build your own company to provide for your family.  An investment goes south?  With what you have developed in yourself, you can learn from the setback and come back stronger.  

Take the time today to start growing your flock.  Make reading and personal growth a daily habit, study in your field of expertise to get better, learn from mentors, and develop positive habits.  When things start to fall apart, you will have confidence because you have been caring for your sheep.  Pay careful attention to the condition of your flock.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W. 

The Main Thing

   Have you ever had a big life goal, something you want to move toward, but you just can't seem to get the traction you want?  It can feel like everyone else is moving forward, and there you are just stuck in the mud spinning your wheels.  There are usually three reasons why people get bogged down and don't move forward.  One is that they don't have a clear goal.  If you don't know where you are going, it's hard to get there.  Imagine a being stuck in a large mud pit in a truck, but instead of driving straight through, you turn your wheels left and gun it for a few minutes, then put it in reverse, then turn right, and so on and so forth.  Essentially, you are just going to dig yourself a deeper hole and never get closer to getting out, because you aren't consistently moving forward.  To get where you are going, you have to first have a clear goal and direction.  

    Secondly, once you know where you are headed, you have to push the gas.  Many of us know what we want in life, and we may have even written out our goals, but it does no good to put them on paper and just sit down and stare at them.  We have to get the wheels moving.  With no action, we get no closer to our goals.  In the mud pit situation, we cannot just put the truck in park.  We have to consistently apply pressure to the gas peddle to make the wheels turn and pull ourselves forward toward where we are heading.  

    Lastly, if we want to accomplish our dreams and goals, we have to stay focused.  We need to keep the main thing the main thing.  There are so many things we can spend our time on, and we can easily trick ourselves into thinking that because we are busy we are making progress.  But busy does not equal productive.  We have to put our time and energy into the things that matter most when it comes to reaching our goals.  In our mud pit scenario, busyness is akin to cleaning the outside of the truck.  After you have been spinning your tires for a period, you notice that you now have mud all over the outside of your truck.  So you get out, go get a bucket and some soap, and you stand in the mud, washing the truck off.  Now, in theory what you are doing is good, right?  Having a clean vehicle is important.  But in relationship to your goal of getting out of the mud, cleaning your truck is not helpful.  Similarly, we get ourselves off track in all kinds of ways by doing those little tasks or projects that aren't the most important.  

    If you're feeling a little stuck today, take some time to get clear on the direction you're headed, then start taking action, and stay focused on the most important tasks.  Repeat this daily, and you will soon find yourself climbing out of the mud and onto the highway again.  Learn to prioritize and get yourself moving forward.  I can't wait to see you succeed!  

~K.W. 

Your Most Valuable Asset

   Good Morning, Friends!  Ever wonder what your most valuable asset is?  Is it your home?  You car?  Your furniture?  How about something more personal, like your family, your dog, or your grandmother's jewelry?  I would argue that all of these answers would be wrong, and I don't need an appraiser to tell you this.  Why?  Because your most valuable asset is your TIME!  

    I read a quote this week from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Guard well your spare moments.  They are like uncut diamonds.  Discard them and their value will never be known.  Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life."  Are you making the most of the uncut gems in your life?  Or are you tossing them away, always wondering why you aren't getting closer to your dreams and goals?  If you're sick of wasting this valuable resource,  and you're ready to start making the most of your time, then here are three simple hacks that you can use to be more productive.  

    1.  Put yourself first.  

        What do I mean by this?  I mean, schedule the things that matter to you first thing in the day.  Give yourself and your dreams peak priority.  If working out is important to you, quit trying to do it after work when you are already exhausted.  Make a commitment to give the best hours to yourself, not to your job or any other entity.  When you utilize your time to focus on your goals and priorities first thing, you will find you have more energy and enthusiasm to pour into your job, your family, and every other area of your life.  

    2.  Use phone apps.

        Now, at first this might seem like counter productive advice.  After all, our phones can be huge distractions and time wasters with social media access and entertainment right at our fingertips. But if you're like most people, your phone is probably the one item you always have with you, and this means you can use those apps to be productive when you're stuck in standstill traffic, waiting to pick up your kid from practice, at the dentist office; virtually anywhere where you have a few minutes to spare, phone apps can be extremely helpful.  Here's the types I recommend.  A reading app (Like Kindle).  Use this to read on subjects that you want to learn more about, finance, relationships, health, etc.  Whenever you have  few free minutes, pull out your phone and learn.  An organizing app, (Like Microsoft To Do).  Always know what you are doing when.  Store important dates and details, your grocery list, and everything else you can think of.  Save yourself the valuable time of losing dates or important items by having them all organized in your phone.  A podcast app (take your pick.)  Podcasts are a great way to increase your knowledge on any subject and learn from experts.  They are also a great way to compound your time, and remember, time is your most valuable asset.  You can listen while exercising, driving, cooking dinner, or getting ready for your day.  Thus doubling up on two important activities at once.  

3.  Keep your priorities in front of you.

    If you know what is most important, then you know what to spend your time on, and what you don't need to waste time on.  Writing down your specific goals and keeping them visible is one of the best ways to make the most of your time.  If you know, for example that your goal is to read 10 pages of a book a day, than you are reminded to spend your time on reading, rather than surfing the web before bed.  Knowing your "MUST do" list will help you use your time to do those things that matter most.  So, before each week begins, take some time to get clear about exactly what you want to accomplish that week.  Then, write it down and follow through (see point 1...schedule your must do list first, and point 2...keep it in front of you by putting it on your phone screen or setting reminders.)

    Friends, I don't believe any of you would take your money and crumple it in a ball and throw it away.  That would be foolish.  But if you wouldn't throw your money away, you shouldn't throw your time away either, because time is the one asset you can't get back.  You can make more money, but you cannot make more time.  Start seeing time as your most valuable asset and using it accordingly.  Your future self will thank you. Make the most of the time you have. I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.  

What Hasn't Changed

  Hello, Friends.  I have been thinking lately about all the things that have changed in our world this year.  It has been crazy and chaotic.  I don't know about you, but I've never lived in a pandemic before, and so everything seems new and different and frustrating.  Plans have been cancelled, social norms have been shifted, our confidence has been shaken.  It can be easy to become blindsided by the upheaval and feel as if there is no solid ground anywhere.  But in truth, there are some things that haven't changed, and if we choose to focus on these, we can find our footing to deal with the rest.  

1.  Vegetables are good for you.  

  Seems simplistic right?  But that's what we need right now.  Simple, solid foundations.  Vegetables are healthy.  They contain vitamins and nutrients our bodies need.  If you're looking for a good place to start to regain some stability, why not eat more veggies at every meal?  Your body will thank you for it.  

2.  Being kind to everyone you meet is still good advice.

  There is a lot of hurt in our world right now.  There is fear and anger and hatred running rampant, and in the midst of it all, voices are crying out to be heard.  People want justice and equality and life.  And while you may not be able to solve a world crisis or end all the turmoil, you can be nice to each person you meet, and that will go farther than you think.  The ripple effects of kindness can make a difference.  But it's up to you to keep dropping those pebbles in the water.  

3.  Our bodies still need rest.

  No, I do not mean laying on the couch and binging Netflix.  We have all had entirely too much of that this year.  What I do mean is allowing your body, mind, and spirit to completely shut off and truly rest.  We don't function well when we are depleted, and one of the best ways to refill is to give ourselves true rest.

4.  Exercise boosts endorphins.

  If the craziness of life has gotten you down lately, take some time to go for a walk, try some yoga, or hit the gym.  (Disclaimer:  I have no medical or nutritional degrees or qualifications, please consult a real doctor before doing something new.)  Science has proven that our bodies generate more endorphins through exercise, so if you need a happiness boost, get your sweat on.  

5.  God is still in control.

  Most of all, when this world seems out of control, it's nice to look outside ourselves and know that God is still in control.  This does not excuse us from doing our part, but it should give us the confidence to continue living our lives, knowing that we can trust there is a grander plan in motion.  

  Friends, a lot has changed, for better or for worse, but there are still some things that hold true.  Embrace new, adjust, pivot, grow, but also look for stability in the unchanging. Eat your veggies, go for a walk, take a nap, be kind, and trust God with the rest.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W. 

What You Look For

  Hello, Friends.  At my house we have  peculiar kind of spider.  This spider has strange little attachments on his thorax that make him look a lot like a little piece of a leaf.  I first noticed one a month or so ago, suspended between the bushes in front of my house.  I thought it was a dead leaf that had got caught in a web, but as I sat in front of the window, presently, I noticed it beginning to move.  I was amazed, as, even with growing up in the country, I had never seen a spider like this before.  I watched it for many mornings after that, following its elaborate pattern back and forth between the bushes.  I pointed it out to my husband as well, and he was also impressed by this sneaky little creature.
  Not long after choosing to pay attention to this critter, I noticed another on the front porch, and another on a window.  It seemed that now that I had focused my vision on them, I could see them everywhere hiding in plain sight when I had spent the previous thirty years never seeing one.
  Life is like this in a lot of ways.  We have to choose what we focus on.  It's called the Law of Attraction.  If you are constantly focusing on, looking for, pointing out, and complaining about all the negative or bad circumstances in your life, guess what you will find more of?  Bad circumstances. Conversely, if you are determined to find the good, focus on the positive, and live with gratitude, you will find more and more things to be grateful for.  It's all in what you choose to look for.  The Bible says it this way, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."  (Matthew 25:29)
  Do you need to change what you're looking for today?  The choice is yours.  It's all in what you pay attention to.  Focus on the positive today.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Visible Progress

  Hi Friends!  I have been thinking lately about making progress in our lives, and how it is difficult to measure our progress on a short term basis in most things.  We may work out for two days and then grow discouraged at our lack of chiseled arms and six pack abs.  We might put in our best effort for a whole week at work and not get a $1,000 raise.  In our heads we know that success is a long term game, that we have to stick with our good habits for days, weeks, maybe even years to achieve the results we want.  The Rock wasn't built in a day, know what I mean?
  Despite knowing that results take time, we live in a microwave, I want it now, purchased on credit kind of society.  We've never been accustomed to waiting for anything, and so waiting for success seems extra difficult. So, what's a tangible way to measure our success?  Is there a way to see day by day our progress in small increments?  I think that there is.  And that measuring stick is reading.
  Now hear me out.  Charlie Tremendous Jones stated, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and books you read."  I like the person I am today.  But I sure don't want to still be the same in five years.  So for me, reading is a daily habit.  It's a way to move myself towards my goals on a daily, tangible basis. And the beauty of reading is that you can find a book on almost any subject you would ever want to get better at:  health, fitness, finance, spirituality, relationships, success, investing, business, organizing, the list goes on.  And the other great thing about reading is, books aren't that expensive.  You can get a $20 book on investing and read it daily.  If applied, the knowledge you gain should net you far more than $20.  And here's the best part.  When you read, you can do it a few minutes or pages at a time, and you are still making progress.  Try it.  Get yourself a 300 page book on a subject you want to learn about.  Check it out from the library if you aren't committed to investing the money to own it yet.  Then splurge and buy yourself the coolest $2.99 bookmark you can find.  And here's the hardest part.  Decide to read for just ten minutes a day. (It's not actually that hard... it's easier than sit-ups.)  Just set your timer, and do it.  Stick with it, and I promise you, day after day, you will have the satisfaction of moving that book mark.  You can literally see your progress through the book on a daily basis.  That, my friends, is exciting.  But what is even more exciting are the subtle changes you won't even realize are happening.  As you read, you will see an idea, and maybe you will decide to try it, and you might find another idea a few pages later, and pretty soon, you've started to implement new habits, and before long you've changed for the better.  Book by book, you will start to become the person you've always dreamed of being, and if you keep up that ten minutes a day, five years from now, you might just be impressed with who you've become.  But it's all based on that daily measurable action.  Are you ready for noticeable progress?  Move the bookmark today.  I can't wait to see you succeed!
~K.W.

Jumping In

Hi Friends!  A while back I shared with you my 104 Things, and I wanted to continue that story a bit.  If you remember, I shared with you a few things I had checked off my list (riding a camel, riding the Banana boat).  And I'm excited to tell you that I have checked off more things since then.  (Successfully growing a plant, and trying Sound Bathing) to name a few.  If you go back and read the thoughts I wrote about my list, you will see that there was a regret I had tied to one of my goals, and that was that I let fear stop me from diving in.  When given the opportunity to dive into the open ocean and go for a swim, I said "No," because it was out of my comfort zone.  But my regret of this moment caused me to make a commitment.  To not allow myself to miss out on life experiences because of fear.  And last week, I got an opportunity to make good on that promise. 
We were doing some trail walking with my family over the holiday weekend and happened upon an amazing swimming hole.  One of those that is a rare find of deep, cold, fresh water, secluded and inviting on a 90 degree day.  Typically I would have just sat and put my feet in at the edge, because swimming in water where I cannot see the bottom is not my thing (ie... outside my comfort zone).  But I decided, this time I would go all the way in.  I crept out a bit at a time until my feet could no longer touch the bottom, and I enjoyed the cool, refreshing pool and the joy of knowing I had overcome my fear.  But then a greater challenge arose.  On the other side of the pool was a ledge of cement jutting out a few feet above the water.  Various individuals had been climbing up and jumping off into the water during our time at the pool.  They had warned us that if you jumped, you had to jump far enough out to clear the rocks and to reach the deep water safely.  This was enough for me to remain safely planted just on the edge of my comfort zone in the water slightly deeper than what I could touch.  To make the jump meant to swim all the way across the pool, which meant there was no land within inches to turn back to.  And then there was the jump itself, another way outside the comfort zone thing which I might have avoided, had it not been for the voice of my ten year old speaking up. 
"I want to jump."  He said excitedly.
"No."  Came my knee-jerk reaction, followed by a series of whining and pleading from him.  Slowly my thoughts of the ocean invitation started to come over me, and I realized to say "No" to this opportunity was to miss out and cause my child to miss out all because of fear.  And I had committed to not doing that.  I knew that if he was going to jump, I had to do it to, and so, with my heart pounding I acquiesced, adding the admonishment that he understood if he jumped he had to swim the entire way across the pool as it was too deep to touch and also that he was not allowed to go head first (the goal was to push the comfort zone, not to be all out foolish). 
I began my swim across the pool reminding myself that this was just a little challenge, and I could do it.  Now, I know that to many of you this probably seems quite mundane, but to someone with a fear of open water and a general avoidance of any new activity, this was monumental.  Reaching the other side I climbed up on to the rock and asked for advice as to the exact spot we needed to jump in order to avoid hitting the rocks.  I gave my son several last minute warnings and then sent him off to jump.  Seeing him safely come back up and start swimming toward my husband I knew it was my turn.  I set my sights on the spot I needed to land, took a small running start and jumped.  And you know what?  It was fun!  I survived.  I had taken a leap outside my comfort zone and felt the joy of overcoming. 
For me it was simple.  Jump into the water.  For other things in life it may not be so simple:  take that new job, make the call, invest in the opportunity.  Sometimes the things that stretch our comfort zone are mild, like swimming across open water; and sometimes they are big, like moving across the country.  The more we choose to open up to life and push those boundaries, the easier it will be to say "Yes" when the right opportunities come along.  What do you need to say "Yes" to today?  Stop allowing fear to keep you from your destiny.  It's time to jump in!  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W. 
*Photo credit to Chris Hoefler