Unstuck your Rut!
Recently I took my 12-year old niece Shannon to Karate. When we were about to leave the sky opened and it starting pouring rain. I thought I even saw a cat and a dog come down! I made a dash for the car and thought Shannon was right behind me. Not today. She sauntered along with her little smiling face turned skyward and mouth open trying to drink rain.
I yelled out in my stuck-in-a- rut voice, ‘Shannon, what are you doing? You are getting all wet.’
She happily replied, ‘It is just water, Janie. Enjoy it! Besides, it makes your hair soft.’
I stood there in the rain and thought about it. Yes, it was only water. I am not the Wicked Witch (open for debate) and melt. And it sure felt great to stop and enjoy it! I was going to take a shower anyway so who cares if I got wet?
It made me think of all the rules we tell ourselves:
• It is raining. Stay inside.
• It is snowing. Stay inside.
• It is too early to walk.
• It is too late to walk.
• I don’t eat that.
• I don’t do that.
• I’ll do it later.
Where does it leave us? Inside, bored and out of shape! Are you stuck in a comfort zone that is not even comfortable?
ACTION STEP
1. Identify what part of your life is in a rut.
2. Brainstorm some fun ideas to try.
3. Do it!
Here are some ideas.
• I always told myself I couldn’t paint. Boring comfort zone message.
Then my dad taught me and now I just love to paint! Energizing action!
• I was always scared to stay home alone. Boring comfort zone message.
So I signed up for karate and now I am a stress-free blackbelt! Energizing action!
What about you? What one simple thing can you do today to declare a jumpstart on your life? A walk around the block? Turning off the TV and playing Twister? Calling an old friend and planning a jet-ski day? Go for it! You might even get softer hair out of it.