The Discomfort Zone

I woke up again in the middle of the night.  Only this time it wasn't my head racing, it was my fatigued muscles keeping me awake.  Particularly my sore overworked biceps.  As a woman, my natural strength is in my legs, but my power is in my arms.  It's power well earned.

Amidst the frenzy of submitting my book to the editor, I didn't realize the pole dance recital was so close.  I had chosen a song months ago, but I didn't have time to put much together.  Which left me scrambling at the last minute to come up with something, anything that worked to fill that three and a half minutes.  What I ended up with isn't a  flowy routine loaded with dazzling moves.  It's more a series of athletic maneuvers thrown together.  At first, I was kinda disappointed.  I can do more, I thought.  Before I concluded,  this is what I want to do and it fits my personality perfectly.  So I'm gonna do it.

I used to live in the discomfort zone.  I still have a condo there and visit quite frequently.  But over the last few years, I don't go as often as I used to.  Because finally, I've figured out that the cure for discomfort is making yourself even more uncomfortable by doing it.  Whatever "it" is for you.  For me it was being in a room full of people I don't know in my underwear dancing on a pole.  Singing in public.  Writing a book.  Submitting that book to an editor who's gonna rip it to shreds, cause that's her job.  (I keep reminding myself of that one.)  And several other smaller, but no less significant, terrifying life things.

And while things like singing in public may not seem significant, it is.  Taking the first big leap is the hardest part.  After you do that, the discomfort actually becomes more comfortable.  It's true. Your fear is slowly being replaced by courage.  Sure, you'll probably screw it up. But who cares?  Because courage's tag team partner is confidence.   It's worth the risk. No matter what happens, even if you fall flat on your face, you still win.

So what are you waiting for?  Stock up on some tiger balm, band aids and maybe a suture kit and step out of the discomfort zone.  Improved strength guaranteed!  (Sadly, Linda Hamilton Terminator arms are not.)