This past year has involved a lot of stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s involved facing fears & awkward situations, and going to sleep with my mind racing. It has also involved realizing a lot about myself and gaining a ton of confidence along the way.
As I mentioned in a previous post, a year ago I was told that my kickboxing studio, Amerikick, was going to cut the kickboxing program. After some discussion, the owner allowed me to run Saturday morning classes but he wouldn’t be helping me bring people in. That would be my job. After the thrill of the opportunity to keep classes going subsided, the reality of the situation hit me: this class would never grow and be successful without me somehow promoting it. How could I do that? I ended up using Facebook as my primary way, but that sparked a ton of fears along the way.
Regularly promoting my class. Cue fear: maybe that’s going to be annoying to people. Posting pictures and videos of myself instructing. Cue fear: maybe others will think you’re not fit enough to be instructing. Posting videos of myself prepping food. Cue fear: maybe this is dumb and no one is actually watching them. Putting together at-home workouts and posting videos of them. Cue fear: are these even good workouts? Starting a private Facebook Group about health/fitness. Cue fear: will anyone join? Who am I to lead this?!
About 8 months ago, an acquaintance at my gym I had chatted with a few times approached me and asked if I wanted to train together. I work out on the bag at my gym every morning and he, being really into Muay Thai, wanted to train together and hold pads for me. Cue fear: I have never worked out with pads. I don’t even know this person. What if I make a complete fool out of myself?
About 6 months ago, this same guy asked me to try a Muay Thai class at the place where he trains. Oh yeah and the class will be made mostly of men. Cue fear: now I might make a fool out of myself in front of an entire group of people. Oh yeah and they will be made mostly of men! 😧
Some of those fears may not seem like that big of a deal. But, they were a big deal to me. A huge deal. And involved a lot of struggles with self-talk. BUT, despite all of the nerves and anxiety, I stepped out of my comfort zone and did them every. single. time.
I wasn’t going to let my fear of other people’s opinions potentially keep me from establishing a thriving Saturday morning class. Kickboxing was too much a part of me. And guess what? None of my fears ever came to fruition. I have received amazingly positive reactions to the meal prepping, workouts, and recipe posts I put out. What is even crazier is that, the more I stepped out of my comfort zone, the easier it became. My mind started letting go of things that previously might have consumed it. As that occurred, the more determined I was to seize every opportunity to do things I normally wouldn’t have.
I started training with that acquaintance. His name is Akash and we’ve become best friends & training partners through all the training we’ve done- and continue to do- together. Not only was I actually pretty good at throwing punches at his pads, but now I hold pads for him. I have found a new activity- Muay Thai- that I love as much as cardio kickboxing. All because I took a chance and stepped out of my comfort zone. I ended up going to that class at his studio, Gracie Barra in Lawrence Township. Loving it, I became a member and starting going to class twice a week. Just recently, I was hired as regional director of a new fitness program being launched at 3 of its studios. I will also be a part of the wellness coaching program they are also launching (more about that in future posts! 🙂).
What I’ve learned in the past year is that, in order to grow as a person and ultimately be my happiest, I had to get uncomfortable and face some fears. I had to shake off the negative self-talk and just go for it. Yes, maybe things would go terribly. But, maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe something amazing would result. And if it didn’t, well, that’s still pretty friekin’ awesome that I had the guts to go for it and try. Over time, you start to see yourself differently. What might have previously rattled you doesn’t seem so bad anymore. Give a speech at my friend’s retirement party? Sure, let’s go. I got this. Write posts about my personal life for 185 people to potentially read? Many of whom I’ve never even met? No problem. I’ve got great insight to share. And I’m not going to let anything get in the way of me sharing it.
Try new things. Get uncomfortable. Face those fears. On the other side of them may just be something life-changing. Don’t keep yourself from experiencing what may be a new level of happiness.