What I have come to notice about life is this: “Life begins at the end of my comfort zone.”

Throughout my years of living—like when I became a mother at the age of 17—my comfort zone was moved several notches in a direction that would surprise and push me to be more.

It was not a comfortable feeling in many ways, and it was the most wonderful feeling all at the same time. Then there was mixing in a new marriage for me at such a young age (not much comfort there). I was awkward and fearful and believing in romantic love, the kind with no conditions. Of course I had to step out of my comfort zone and look for tools to assist me with the new conditions I found myself in.

Life offers us opportunity to use the uncomfortable times in our life to face whatever has shown up and to decide to do our best, not shrink out of fear of what others will think or how we may experience pain if we make the wrong choice. What really matters is this: when we look in the mirror, we love who we see there, because we know we have risen to the challenge every time our comfort zone is infiltrated by an experience we are unfamiliar with.

I’ve noticed when I sit in my comfort zone too long there is hardly any movement in the direction toward where I know my soul longs to go. To push the self to live more actively involved in actions that move us beyond our comfort zone: this is where life begins.

Blessings,