I\u2019ve been learning a lot this past 12 months \u2013 about myself, my habits, my patterns, and what lights me up inside. What it means to live my best Illuminating Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I\u2019ve also been learning about the things that hold me back, and stop me from living the life I want to live. Some things are simple and easy to identify, and therefore simple and easy to shift. But other behaviours or habits are deeper, more insidious and harder to spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a personal development training call recently, I recognised one of my deeper, more insidious behaviours, and how it shows up in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were talking about habits, and identifying habits that didn\u2019t serve us. Everything in our lives is a result of our habits, both things we are in the habit of doing or having, AND things we are in the habit of NOT doing or having.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So as part of this exercise, I wrote out the behaviours\/habits I have that don\u2019t serve me, and habits I have struggled to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the coaches in this group pointed out that when we do things habitually that don\u2019t serve us (e.g. choosing to eat too many sweets\u2026 one of my habits!) we are choosing to do something that is not good for us, and hence not being fully loving to ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WOW. That hit me like a brick between the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHY?! I instantly asked myself. Why would I be choosing to NOT fully love myself? What could prompt such a behaviour?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then \u2013 almost as though she was reading my mind \u2013 the coach went further: When we consciously choose to do something that doesn\u2019t serve us, we are often numbing emotions that we don\u2019t want to feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ouch. (Another brick in between the eyes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I continued exploring, and began listing emotions that I might be numbing because I didn\u2019t want to face them. Fear. Uncertainty. Discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DISCOMFORT.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I reviewed the list of habits I wrote above, and noticed something striking. Almost all of them were rooted in avoiding discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wow. The impact of this was profound. To be honest it kinda rattled me. Avoiding discomfort! Such a BORING pursuit, yet one we are all programmed at some level to seek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we weren\u2019t so predisposed to want comfort, then there wouldn\u2019t be such a prevalent market for TV remote controls, electric windows, power steering, air conditioning and many more \u201cinnovations\u201d for comfort. The expression \u201ccomfort zone\u201d exists for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So does this mean we must eschew all creature comforts, live in caves, and be uncomfortable ALL the time?! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n