Give Your Comfort Zone A Nudge
Robert Battocchio B.Ed (PDHPE) is a Personal Trainer & Motivational Speaker. For any advice or queries, write into Fit For Life care of The Wollongong Advertiser, 284 Keira St, Wollongong 2500, or email Robert at: rob@fishinternet.com.au. Reproduced with permission of the author.Have you ever wondered what sets elite superstar athletes as Ian Thorpe, Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi, Susie O’Neil and company apart from us mere mortals? Is it purely genetics? Is it a blend of determination, countless hours of training, diet, coaching, skill, experience and the internal furnace of drive that won’t let go?
Truth be known, all of the above applies. But there also one other vital ingredient, - and that’s the willingness to extend themselves past their comfort zone, - to nudge the boundaries, to test their physical, emotion and mental levels, to enter the unknown.
The good news is this trait doesn’t belong exclusively to elite athletes. Each and every one of us can and should strive to extend past our comfort zones to achieve personal success in life.
Sure, the boundaries may differ from an elite athlete, but all of us can extend ourselves a little further if we try. As an elite athlete ventures into the unknown seeking a personal best or World Record, we too need to extend into the unknown to attain personal success. For some it may be to begin a new fitness regime, to stick to a sensible weight loss regime; it may be to train for your first City To Surf Fun Run, or Illawarra Aquathon; or it may be to trek across the Himalayas. For others it may be to get out of the rat race and start a new profession, to learn a new skill; to quit smoking, to seek a new life in a foreign place, live independently for the first time; or to seek personal knowledge, and to explore ways to challenge yourself…The possibilities are endless, the choice is yours.
As in athletes, the desire is only as strong as one’s willingness to pursue these challenges with zest and determination. The Susie O’Neil’s of the world didn’t succeed in their first attempt; they fought on through sheer determination each and every day. - There is no magical instant potion for success.
They didn’t quit at the first hurdle; they didn’t say ‘it’s just too hard’; they didn’t seek to blame others, life, genes; - but they did push through both physical and emotion fatigue; they did suffer setbacks, they did feel like they were walking up an un-climbable ladder at times, and yes they do go through the trials and tribulations we all suffer. Importantly though, they all share one common element- their endless pursuit to accomplish their goals.
Our bodies are instruments that can be fined tuned, strengthened, skilled, enhanced, and ultimately changed somewhat to achieve many of our desires. Let’s not seek to change what we can’t, let’s not ponder on the ‘if only's’- rather lets seek to explore these magical bodies of ours. Let’s try to flood our bodies with healthy nutrients, clean crisp oxygen, exercise, laugher, happiness, and to challenge ourselves and explore further the boundaries of our comfort zone.
Become your own elite athlete, conquer a dream, challenge yourself and set yourself up for success. Don’t leave it to chance. Surround yourself with positive people, and with those that can help guide you towards success. If you want to really lose weight than get expert advice, follow it, stick with it, and conquer your goals. If you want to qualify for University, study hard, listen in class, don’t let poor influences detract from your future desires; if you want to get fit, make a start today, be sensible, seek advice, but make a start.
Finally, accept that perfect blissfulness is an unattainable dream. Blissfully perfectly happy in your life and how you chose to lead it- well that’s an entirely different issue!
Go on, give that comfort zone a nudge. Robert Battocchio B.Ed (PDHPE) is a Personal Trainer & Motivational Speaker. For any advice or queries, write into Fit For Life care of The Wollongong Advertiser, 284 Keira St, Wollongong 2500, or email Robert at: rob@fishinternet.com.au. Reproduced with permission of the author.
