Fearless?

I often get accused of being fearless.  I'm constantly trying to do things that push me beyond my comfort zone.  It's not uncommon for me to do something alone simply because I don't know anyone else who wants to do it. I've actually met some of my favorite people this way.  But I need to make something abundantly clear.

It's not that I'm fearless.  I'm actually terrified.  I'm a complete scaredy-cat.

I just do it anyway.

I refuse to be a victim of my fear.  As a matter of fact, if something REALLY scares me, I often push myself to do it more.  I would hate to get to the end of my life, having run from opportunity and experience, simply because of a little fear. 

And as a result, I've traveled to Africa (and been named by a Zambian Cheif), skydived, am a triathlete, half-marathoner, and Tough Mudder, hand-fed crazy, wild, ravenous Parrot fish in Hawaii, climbed mountains, walked through a rainforest to a volcano, explored the Pyramids, was mugged by a baboon, was gifted a ring by a sweet little girl in a Honduran village, felt the exhilaration of jumping off a cliff, and so much more.  I even opened a Wellness Center.  The amazing thing about all of this, is the paths that crossed along the way.  I think of all the people I have met from feeling the fear and doing it anyway, and the gifts they bring.  I think of all the lives that changed as a result of those meetings... how much MY life changed as a result of those meetings...

Once again, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Charlie "Tremendous" Jones:  "You are the same  today as you will be five years from now except for two things: the books you read and the people you meet."

Fear can do two things. It can keep you alive, or it can keep you from truly LIVING. When we refuse

to step outside our comfort zone, we can never truly grow.  Just like the eagle needs to step out of the nest to fly, we need to leave our comfort zone to truly live.  I often think of how to boil a frog when I get too comfortable. If you threw him in a pot of boiling water, he'd just jump out.  But when you slowly turn the heat up, he just dozes off until he's cooked.

Are you in your comfort zone?  Or are you learning how to fly?

Silly Seagulls...

Hello from Myrtle Beach!

I wish I could say I'm here purely for leisure, but I actually have a seminar to attend. However, I did come a day early to refresh before sitting in an overly air-conditioned conference room for three days.

It's amazing what happens when you give your mind a chance to slow down and reflect...

I just finished an amazing run on the beach... and as I type that, I'm struck by the irony... slowing down by going for a run...  Doesn't seem to make much sense, does it.  But exercise can be such a meditative experience; especially exercising in nature.

As I was running, I was amused by the seagulls running away from me, seemingly as if I was chasing them.  In fact, I am thoroughly convinced that those seagulls thought I was chasing them.  In reality, I was just running my predetermined path, but I can understand why it would appear to be hostile to an ignorant bird.  Then it struck me how human beings do the same thing.  How often do we run from preceived fears? React to an assumption? Take things personally that were never meant to be so?

The truth is, some folks DO chase seagulls (specifically children, but I'm sure there's some adults out there embracing their youth), just as some folks ARE out to hurt others.  But the majority of us are just out there running our predetermined path, oblivious to what those around us are thinking.

Something to think about next time you assume someone's actions are about you...

Are you being a silly seagull?

Swimming for the first time without fear? Priceless.

I'm always so excited to share my patient's successes and this is no different.

I met Michelle at a triathlon where she was volunteering and I was competing.  Somehow, we got onto the topic of her fear of the water.  I was amazed that with such a severe phobia, she was even capable of being a triathlete, which really says a lot for her strength of will and determination.  She didn't even learn to swim until three years prior.  Now in her early 50's, this incredible woman had completed multiple triathlons but still had to fight back the panic every time she got in the water.  I told her about NET and how it had helped me complete my first Olympic tri, and she took my number and said she would check it out.

A week later, she went to compete in her first Olympic tri, and sadly, couldn't finish. She had a panic attack in the water.  How scary is that?!  Shortly thereafter, I saw her at my office.  I examined her, and believed I could help (she seemed like a GREAT candidate for NET!), so we got to work.  We had one week before her next tri, and honestly, I didn't know if she'd be ready... one week isn't much time and we found a lot that needed to be addressed.  With her first adjustment we cleared her Allergy point, which we found out of balance due to accumulated emotional stress.  This was simply to set the stage for the work we needed to do, and start to bring some semblance of balance to her nervous system.

You won't believe what happened next.

On her next appointment, after only one session, she came in and reported that she had done an open water swim in the ocean that morning, and she was fine!!  Even I didn't expect results that fast!  It truly is a testament to her strong constitution!  I can't wait to see what happens when her nervous system is actually functioning at it's MAX!

GREAT JOB, MICHELLE! I'm so proud of you!!

Feel the Fear, Do It Anyway.

I will admit; I am terrified.  I'm in that phase of Triathlon training where there is no more training to be done.  The heat index is expected to be at 97 degrees this Sunday, and for the first time in my life, I will be doing a 1500 meter swim, 25 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run, all in one morning.  I don't know if I'm ready, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be, so it's time to relax, hydrate, take a deep breath, and hope for the best.   Time to trust that my body is capable of anything I set my mind to accomplish. Time to feel the fear, and do it anyway... What fears are holding YOU back?

  

Me at my first Triathlon last year (a sprint)