Casting your line

I usually allude to the point of my post at the end of my writing. Today, I'll just be blut from the start. I think it's vital to step out of your comfort zone if you ever want to learn anything about yourself. I was trying to think of a metaphor for stepping outside your comfort zone and for some reason fishing popped in my mind.

Here's how it goes: if someone wants to go fishing, but they don't know how to, they have a few options to start learning how. They could blindly go into it and learn as they go; they could observe others fishing but not ask questions; or they could ask someone to personally give them guidance on possibly where to fish, what equipment to use, and helpful techniques. I believe the third option would be the best decision: it gives you a push in the right direction and gives you a bit of confidence going into it. In the same way when trying something out of your comfort zone, it's always beneficial to ask someone with experience. One you are prepared though, you still have to take the bold next step: actually doing it. You can begin to start fishing by casting a line out on a dock. Maybe the first day you catch nothing which is disappointing, but you at least learned how to put bait on the hook. The next day you might catch a fish and that gets you excited, so it spurs you to keep doing it. Within weeks you begin to try your own creative techniques and are finding new fishing spots. A year passes, and you are fishing from a boat and fishing has become your favorite pastime. Now think about your comfort zone: when you first step out, it will be rough at first, and you won't always know what you're doing and probably will feel disappointed. But with perseverance, you begin to develop skill in what you're doing. With that skill you push the boundaries even more, and before you know it, you find yourself learning new things about yourself. As with the fishing metaphor, it might become a new passion. Thus we are left with a lesson: if you are willing to take the first step of boldness, it can pay off huge dividends in the long run with the experience you gain and knowledge you acquire about yourself.

So let's start getting out of our comfort bubble and pushing the limits. You never know what could come of it, and that's the most exciting part about it!

Peace,
Andrew Battiato