Don’t tell me the Sky’s the Limit… when there’s footprints on the Moon

Are there really any limits to our dreams, goals, or desires?  The statement above would prove that there aren’t.  When you put your mind on something, make a decision to do something, is there anything that can stop you?  I believe there is only one thing that could get in the way…you.  Your fears, doubts, confidence levels, and so on are the only things that can stop you from achieving your goals and dreams.

Here’s a thought for you…What if you put yourself outside your comfort zone?  No really.  Think about this for a moment.  Are there things in your life that you want or would like, but aren’t sure if you can do it?  Why don’t you think you can have those things?  If you went out on a limb and pushed yourself beyond what you thought you could do, what would happen???  One of two things.  You might fail, get frustrated, feel silly, be upset with yourself.  OR You might surprise yourself, achieve something you never thought possible, feel great about yourself, learn something new, and so on and so on!  If nothing else, you will have taken that chance.  You will learn what works and what doesn’t.  Have a story to tell.  Know that you gave it your best shot.

More often than not, when we go outside our comfort zone, whether it’s for a split second, an hour, a month or a year, we come out with some sort of positive result.

Over the winter break I decided that I wanted to go caving.  This was one of my goals for the new year (I currently have 55 on my list and it’s still growing!).  This goal was something that I wanted to do for a long time.  It is adventurous yet a bit scary as you are climbing to depths of about 65 feet underground.

The first 5 minutes I wasn’t so sure that it was a good idea.  When the guide showed me where we would be entering the cave I thought he was joking.  It was a tiny little whole in the rock, that seemed to lead into complete blackness.  After a minute of letting this idea sink in and trying to figure out if I would fit into such a small space, I decided that I had come that far (20 min drive and 20 min snow shoe up the hill), that I needed to at least give it a shot.  Plus, I had convinced my mother to join me and if I didn’t go for it, I would look a bit silly.

So began the process of twisting, turning, squeezing, crawling, shuffling, crouching, belly sliding and negotiating.  There were a few times that we weren’t sure we would get through such tiny spaces (including one called the birth canal!).  But we did it!  It was an awesome feeling when we emerged from the cave back into the daylight of cold and snow.  We had done something that we weren’t sure we could do.  It was scary and tough, yet we accomplished it.

Once we were out the guide asked if we would like to do another cave and I was the first to say “you bet, let’s go!”  Things don’t look so scary after you have done it once…

So as we begin a new decade, I challenge you not only to set goals for yourself for throughout the year (big, small, long term or short), but think about the things in life that you aren’t sure you can do.  Really challenge yourself this year to go outside your comfort zone.

YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU CAN DO!

THERE ARE NO LIMITS!!!

As you set some of these goals for yourself, pass them on.  I would love to hear what you are going to achieve!