I’d like to point out a few details that may be obvious, but it’s imperative that we are well aware of them. I hope this will inspire and jump-start your personal evolution to help you flow to the best of your ability.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Neale Donald Walsch
Change is the only constant.
Heraclitus said it in many ways: nothing endures but change; Everything flows, nothing stands still; the only constant is change.The same way the universe is constantly changing, constantly transforming chaos into order, our living cells are always trying to maintain equilibrium and if they cannot, they die and are broken apart, recycled and flushed. Our bodies are refreshing, replacing and regenerating themselves in many ways, all the time. I’ve always applied this constantly-changing motif to our biological processes since there are millions of things happening simultaneously in our bodies all the time. However, it’s even more important that we apply this concept to our personal development and self-education to reach our goals and dreams.
Like a plant, you’re either growing or dying.
When I was 20 years old, I was at a Millionaire Mind seminar and the main speaker, T. Harv Ecker told us, “Isn’t it interesting how a plant seems like it’s either growing or dying? Just like a plant, you’re either growing or dying as well.”
The statement that we’re all either growing or dying is very dramatic and while cellular processes are more complicated than that, it is very true in the long-term. Our mind, body and spirit are constantly adjusting to everything we’re experiencing. Every time we reach a new level of skill in something, that automatically becomes the new norm. Conversely, when we stop learning, exercising or practicing, given enough time, we simply fall behind.
There is no such thing as maintaining in the long-term.
In a universe of change, you have no choice but to succumb to it. Since change is the only thing that’s happening all the time, if you don’t try to ramp yourself up to a new level, you’re going to regress. If you’re not going forward, you’re going backwards. Something must be changing one way or another. If you’re just trying to maintain, then you’re going backwards. Maintaining is a passive form of regression.
As far as your physical health goes, your body is literally a sculpture in constant progress. If you are exercising regularly but do not vary your workout routine, your body will adapt and go on cruise control. Bodybuilders and athletes are very aware of this exercise plateau. They have to constantly switch up their routines and attack their muscles in different ways to surprise the body and force it to adapt to new levels. If you don’t exercise at all, then your muscles and bones will invariably get weaker. If you don’t give them any reason to grow, then they will waste away.
However, atrophy is not limited to body parts. The same goes for your mind and spirit. If you have a job and you’ve learned everything there is to learn in that position, then eventually you’re just maintaining that current position. How long will it take before you become a zombie to the routine? If you get sick and tired of a job, you’re probably sick and tired of maintaining that position. You need to find a way to grow otherwise it becomes a waste of time and your spirit will want nothing more than to break up the monotony.
” If we aim for some middle ground or status quo, it’s an illusion—beneath
the surface what’s actually happening is we’re dying, not growing. “
Robert K. Cooper
Stand at the edge of your comfort zone.
It is quite the challenge to exert oneself to new levels at all times. It’s definitely trying on my soul but it’s the only challenge worth accepting (considering the alternative). Research biologist Albert Szent-Gyoergyi, who was twice awarded the Nobel Prize, called this syntropy, a kind of negative entropy which he defined as the “innate drive in living matter to perfect itself.”
For example, starting this blog is very challenging to me in a lot of fresh ways. When I create a weather video, it’s generally kind of exciting because I’m not used to being videotaped and talking to an audience. Pushing myself to new boundaries helps me grow and it makes me feel alive. I can feel the excitement in my heart. I could feel my brain working in new ways. Creating new content, such as this article, is pushing my comfort zone because I’m literally putting my name and image out there directly in front of everyone.
Even if the status quo you’re surrounded with is very prestigious, like say, you’re a professor at an Ivy league school for decades and you’re credited with many discoveries, that is the norm for you and you can easily branch out and push yourself in new ways from that position.
Embrace change with baby steps.
Embrace the fact that you can instantly turn things around for your benefit. All it takes are baby steps. With baby steps you can get anywhere and do anything. It just takes the smallest effort to create a long-term, progressively oriented action. Strive for development and cultivate who you really are and who you want to be. When you get those moments of inspiration, write them down (or type them in your phone) immediately. You never know when those fleeting moments of brilliance will come back.
You will never be the age you are now ever again, so you might as well take advantage of your limited time here on Earth. Don’t just wait around for something to happen because waiting will kill your precious time. There is a grand version of you that is so great the universe doesn’t even know what to expect. You know that deep inside. Every once in a while, maybe in your dreams or while you’re daydreaming, you’ll see a glimpse of your dreams turned real; an image of yourself so grand and exquisite that you wonder how you’ll ever get there (read: baby steps).
You can have unparalleled control of your health, education, career and relationships if you embrace change. Allow your life to have a healthy theme of progression built-in to it and everything will flow effortlessly. Don’t be stagnant! Stagnation leads to missed opportunities, a waste of time, and unrealized dreams. Meet your own expectations and attack your goals with great passion to continually build yourself anew.
I’m really glad I have finally shared this info and I hope this provides some inspiration to truly be who you want to be and achieve those long-term oriented goals. I would love to hear what you have to say and add to this. Please leave your comments below and thank you for reading!
