Mostly its awesome but sometimes it sucks
I get why people stay in their comfort zones.
If you keep doing the same thing over and over you get REALLY good at it.
So whenever you start a new thing - at first it might really suck.
A few examples of new things I’ve tried lately:
Cold morning showers (my husband built me an outdoor shower in our beautiful backyard garden!)
The Calm app’s daily 10min meditations (I like Jeff’s the best!) before bed
Leaving my kids little notes in their lunch or the books they’re reading to say hi
Writing for 30min everyday, just a stream of consciousness thought dump
You know what?
This whole personal development thing isn’t always fun or easy. Sometimes I feel like it would be a lot cooler if I could just BE peaceful and calm rather than constantly striving towards inner peace and calm. I’m left wondering if it’s really even worth it!?!?!?!
It is worth it
When I was stuck working too many hours, burned out and spinning my wheels, disconnected from my family and friends, feeling like trash - life wasn’t fun or easy either. Sure, I’ve loved my job through thick and thin MOSTLY ITS AWESOME but sometimes it sucks and that’s ok. I had to get comfortable admitting that I was on the struggle bus before I could ask the driver to pull over and let me off.
After starts and stops, getting outside of my comfort zone, and really being honest about what I wanted and needed, I treat personal development as an integral part of my daily habits. Like brushing my teeth. Our lives are subject to ENTROPY and if we don’t clear out the weeds every now and again, chaos will take over. Starting a new habit, something big like cutting alcohol out of your daily life or something small like taking a cold shower, might seem hard at first because you are used to doing other things.
PUSH THROUGH THE DISCOMFORT
In only two years of pushing myself through this personal development journey, I’ve:
Created a social media presence to help forensic professionals, last responders, and death care workers feel like a part of the Thin Line community with over 4,000 followers!
Shared my story with thousands through public and virtual speaking spaces and 4 online courses (more to come!)
Obtained my certification as a life coach
Quit drinking alcohol
Started a virtual peer support space for responders
Received invitations to collaborate on research projects about forensic professionals mental health
When I was in my dark place, I would have never imagined anything from that list. Let alone WANTED anything on there either. I was disconnected and didn’t want to help anyone with anything. I was put off and put out. But when I started to hear how other people were struggling and learned that I wasn’t alone? I knew I was ready to give back.
None of the end results you dream of happen by staying inside the comfort zone.
And at first (most people don’t tell you this part) - a lot of it is gonna suck.
It’s the only way to get better.
“Everything that is now easy for you was once hard in the beginning.”
Robin Sharma
Slowly but surely I started to see success in these areas after showing up TIME AND TIME - sucking at first - embarrassing myself. Only to experience breakthrough at last.
Why did I keep going?
Why didn’t I crawl back into that comfort zone? It would be so much easier…
Exactly. We are strong. We don’t do what’s easy - we do what’s right. It might suck at first but you got this - and you’re not alone!
All the best,
Kat
