This is all so new to me! 😬 In the course of recording and preparing this episode, I’ve felt excited, nervous, doubtful, brave, trusting, clear, resonant, free, expansive, exhilarated, delighted, terrified, ashamed, lonely, hopeful, connected, grateful, centered, curious, optimistic, motivated, and inspired.   

I talk a little about all that. I reflect on my experience of shifting out of my comfort zone, into challenge, and tripping over into overwhelm—feeling the spins of disorientation, being in unknown waters, and the existential fears that tag along—and a few practices I used to reorient and mosey back into the challenge zone (with several necessary dips into grounding/comfort and connection that I might not have mentioned out loud: cozy socks, long exhales, celebration chocolate, a neighborhood walk, communing with trees, watching clouds, oodles of time with my little one, a hot shower, et cetera).   

Refocusing practices  

🌿  Naming the fears—the internal feelings, senses, and imagined scenarios that I experienced in overwhelm—first to myself to define the shape of the fears and get some distance, and then to trusted others to get more distance, perspective, and support, and to practice being present, honest, vulnerable, and trusting (unfiving).   

🌿  Reframing. These fears are coming up because I’m doing something new and they’re trying to keep me safe (in my comfort zone).   

🌿  Considering what it would mean to me if I gave into the fears. It would go against my values. It would keep me small. No thanks.   

🌿  Reconnecting with my motivation to grow and challenge myself by doing this new thing. I’m doing this to become more myself, to be free, to let life flow through me, to be generous, to connect, to expand, to help others live more fully, to be a better role model for my daughter. Big motivation.  (Take that, Fear! 💥  Just kidding—I appreciate you trying to keep me safe, aaand now is not your time to lead. You can have a seat over there. 👉 )   

Check out the Instagram for diagrams I made of the comfort-challenge-overwhelm relationship. This image can remind me to get myself into my comfort zone lickety-split when I find myself deep in the realm of overwhelm or veering toward when I get swept up in mental processing.   

✨ Use what moves you, let go of the rest. And let me know what resonates.✨   

🌸   

Background photo taken by me, Monica Bahan, the day of recording   

Music by Sleeping At Last   

Production by me, Monica Bahan   

Accompanying photos and diagrams on Instagram @un.fiving

monicabahan.com