Photo by Kyle Cottrell
“Vitality is simply an energy that comes from living a life of enlightened knowledge and action. When we do what we know to be right and true we are revitalised and renewed right where we live.”
Baron talks about how there’s a belief today that we have to get away to somewhere exotic to rejuvenate ourselves or in order to reclaim our sanity from the hustle and bustle of our work.
And he believes that vitality is something we can find right here within each moment of our lives.
The reality is some of us cannot afford to go away or we are stuck in a situation that seemed hopeless.
The thing is if we go away, does that make the problem go away? You’ll have the job that you hate, you’ll still be overwhelmed with your to-do lists, or the thoughts that you’re not good enough. You’ll still be scared, depressed, anxious and worried.
You will be the same unless you change how you respond and the words you say to yourself.
The idea here is for us to discover our vitality, right wherever we are. Stop complaining that things will not change or it’s unfair, and be in discovery of what makes us happy, what lights us up? Rediscover a lost childhood love of horses, for example or go connect with others. Go dancing, pick up a new skill.
Week 2 of Vitality is related Law no 3 and 4
Law 3: Step out of your Comfort Zone
Drop the patterns & Stories of the past
Law 4: Commit to growth
No matter what comes up, we learn to stay RIGHT where we are
“If we want to be up to big things in our lives and the lives of others, then there can’t be any conditions on what we are willing to work on.”
In Law 3, for or anyone on a journey of transformation, Baron asks “that instead of asking this question of "Will I survive if I step out of my comfort zone”, ask this instead “will I survive my comfort zone.”
Baron shares that "stepping out of your comfort zone means dropping patterns and stories of the past” and "to let go of the things we think we know and to try something different." It also means letting go of the concern of looking good. It requires us to be vulnerable and courageous at the same time. When we step out of the comfort zone, we are "letting go of yesterday’s limited thinking" and moving forward to unlimited possibilities.
The mistake often made is believing that the comfort zone is actually comfortable. The comfort zone should really be called the discomfort zone because rather than it providing us a safety net in our lives, it is the discomfort we are seeking to escape……
Most times, our comfort zone looks exhausting, frustrating, overwhelming and leads to numbing behaviours like overeating, oversleeping, binge watching tv or reading, constant social media scrolling, alcohol, drugs, overplanning, overscheduling, always busy and more.
“Playing it safe doesn’t move us forward or help us grow; it just finds us where we are and leaves us in the condition it found us in.”
The thing is we are used to it and comfortable in the mess of suffering. Many of us sense that "something is wrong and a deep change is needed - a brave unveiling about who we are at our core. But we doubt ourselves and our self-worth, so at some level, we cling to what we already know and accept as reality.”
In our comfort zone, we will keep repeating and doing the same things over and over again getting same results and then complain “Nothing ever changes in my life”...... until we choose to step out and commit to our own growth.
It’s a choice and it’s scary. It has that feeling like our heart in our throat, standing with our toes at the edge of the grand canyon. "We are afraid to let go, to face the groundlessness and uncertainly.”
Marianne Williamson says
Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
“And if you really look closely and be honest with yourself, it’s less to do getting out the comfort zone, and more to do with forgiveness. The truth will set you free.
”
In Law no 4: Baron writes, “the practice of committing to growth is committing to staying through struggles, urges and cravings. Either you commit to a change of heart and mind and leave it (the struggles etc) out or you’re just playing around.
Which is it?
Which one do you hold as more precious - growth or self-preservation?
Baron talks about the ancient Native American teaching describing the 2 forces of growth and self-preservation and this video aptly depicts it.
So the one you choose to cultivate - will strengthen.
Self-preservation looks like doing whatever you want to do like choosing pleasure and something that feels good, because you can or choosing to leave when things get uncomfortable.
Like sleeping, watching netflix, scrolling through IG, numbing through food, alcohol or drugs - it distracts us from the truth. It gives us the illusion that everything will be okay if you don’t think about it. These self-induced barriers and blocks hold us back from showing up for others with integrity and even showing up for ourselves.
We choose to stay in this personal fog - because it’s safe and comfortable.
If we commit to growth, we are committing to the possible mundaneness of life ie meditating or journaling everyday, eating a healthy breakfast every morning, going to the gym daily. It requires discipline.
If we commit to growth, we might have to do things we don’t feel like doing like running 45 mins on the elliptical machine, sleeping early or even waking up; having that difficult conversation, talking about our feelings…..
If we commit to growth, we are committing to stay even if “every inch of our being wants to run in the opposite direction.”
“If it’s not important, you will not have any resistance.”
The practice of yoga is the perfect opportunity to practice the art of staying, of staying in our body. It gives us the opportunity to see where we are reacting and/or fleeing from in uncomfortable poses or situations.
No matter how much we are tempted, we don’t run out of the room during practice, when it gets challenging. We learn to stay.
The ability to stay with the discomfort is a practice.
So ask yourself this question: “Which is more important - short-term gratification (self-preservation) or contribution to my long-term intention to have vitality and happiness (growth), so I can show up with integrity and leave others in their own greatness?”
Baron says, "Without integrity there is no power!”
When this question is truthfully answered, the choice comes with ease and our commitment is reinforced.
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
Vitality is the 2nd theme from the 40 Days to Personal Revolution.
The source of your vitality can come from many difference sources. If we come back to what’s available right now for you is simply…..
BREATHE
Whenever you feel frantic, hopeless, worthless, overwhelmed - bring your attention to your Breath, your Body and your Surroundings. Put your hand your heart, and breathe.
Start there.
Get present to the truth what you’re doing doesn’t work anymore, and it’s Okay. It’s Okay to feel what you’re feeling. Right now, there’s nothing to do, there’s nothing to fix, nothing to figure out.
For now, just stay.
Journal
What makes you happy? Energizes you? Lights you up?
Is there still something that you’ve stopped doing that will make your 8-year old self cry? Make a list.
What forces drain your energy ie who what are your ‘energy suckers’
AN INVITATION
I invite to you challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone every day for the next 7 days.
Every morning, ask yourself what can you do today to be uncomfortable?
**This is just an exercise to find the courage in doing things that scares you things you’d always wanted to do, but there’s something that stops you from doing it. Something as simple as saying hello and thank you to the bus driver; wishing good morning to a stranger in the lift.