Challenge to change I always say. On my fitness DVDs and in my classes, I encourage my peeps to dig a little deeper and challenge themselves--whether that's using heavier weights or doing all the reps in a set, even when it's difficult. But this mindset--challenge to change--can help you in every aspect of your life. When you do a little more than you think you can, it changes how you see yourself. You can push past preconceived limits and redefine what you are capable of ... and how cool is that? If you always stay in your comfort zone, you may never fully discover your abilities and how amazing you truly are.
1. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. There's a common mantra for exercise enthusiasts that is "get comfortable with the uncomfortable" and it's a reminder that exercise isn't always easy and it doesn't always feel fabulous. For example, if you are a runner, you know that some days you feel like you could run forever and other days each step feels major work. But if you tell yourself, "get comfortable with the uncomfortable" you can tap into your resilience and strength. It's a little reminder that can play big in your life. Not every activity, exercise, new work project, obligation is a walk in the park, but if you can practice "getting comfortable with the uncomfortable" you just may surprise yourself at how you can push through, and what you can do. It's easy to gravitate toward those activities where you easily thrive, but when you persevere through some of the tough stuff, that's where you can get the biggest payoff. You are like: "Wow! I did that? Awesome!"
2. Redefine how you see yourself. Speaking of feeling spectacular, challenging yourself changes your limits. You used to see yourself one way. After you do things you didn't know you could do, you expand the boundaries of how you see yourself. What you used to think was a challenging workout becomes your warm-up. Maybe you used to fear public speaking (lots of people do) but you challenged yourself to talk in front of a small group. Success! The challenge you took on redefined how you see yourself. Your list of what you can do gets longer, and your list of what you are willing to try grows. Your skills go up a notch. And the way you see yourself goes up with every challenge.
3. Trust yourself. When you continually prove to yourself that you can do more than you thought you could, your belief in yourself gets rock solid. You naturally start building a "I've got this" mentality. You rely on yourself more and trust yourself. And you are ready for step 4 ...
4. Tackle new challenges. When you face things that aren't easy and have positive results, you are more likely to do it again. And again. It's the whole, imagine what your life would look like if you operated without fear? You meet risk head on and get more done. You won't get lost in procrastination or hesitation. When you are brave about your choices (even the tiny ones) your confidence just soars. Watch out world!
What challenges are you going to take on? Challenge to (AWESOME) change!