Stuck In a Rut?
A Moment of Clarity to Brighten Your Day
Clarity Quote
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
- T.S. Eliot
An early morning image I captured exploring new boundaries on a bicycle.
A Moment of Clarity
Eliot’s quote reminds us that we all have the potential to push beyond our comfort zones and embrace challenges. By the end of this article, if you’re stuck in a rut, you’ll be ready to move forward.
For example, I’ve been aware that I spend too much time in front of screens. We don’t need to be neuroscientists to feel the suck of being stuck inside and in front of computers and large displays streaming endless stuff at us.
Because I’ve felt stuck in this regard, I decided to ramp up the miles I ride bicycles every week. I love to ride bicycles and explore.
Because of that and my magnificent magnifying imagination, I’m dreaming up and training for some overnight backpacking adventures.
Here’s my formula for the planned bicycle adventures for the next 12 months:
Bicycle + limited camping gear + lots of pain and suffering = Heavenly.
As the sun rose this morning, I headed out into the early Arizona heat despite being tired and sore from yesterday’s ride.
I knew I’d be uncomfortable for a while, but after warming up, my body would adjust to the time and distance for the planned ride. I’ve been through this routine 10,000 times.
Bicycling parallels life. There can be many unexpected hazards on the roads and trails.
During the 20-mile loop on back roads and dirt trails, I saw two rattlesnakes, five lizards, and three rabbits and endured an early Arizona morning heat that would make most humans turn to beef jerky.
I was uncomfortable more than once, but I am comfortable being uncomfortable. It takes lots of practice.
Here's my point …
If you can learn to be okay with being uncomfortable, you will find new thresholds and limits that fuel your mind, body, and soul.
But you must be curious, willing to open your mind and heart, and willing to be uncomfortable.
We are all the same in this regard. When we get off our butts and into nature, embracing the unknown, exploring, and willingly adapting to the constantly-changing environment, we grow.
Playing it safe might protect us from failure and limit our growth and achievements. But we discover our true potential when we take reasonable risks and step into the unknown.
What’s reasonable?
It depends on who you are and what you want.
Daily Commitment
Today, what could you do to take a step toward something that scares you?
It might be a small risk or a big leap, but moving through our fears is essential for personal growth and achieving our full potential.
When we face our fears head-on, we challenge ourselves and build self-confidence.
Fear often signals growth opportunities; confronting it teaches us more about our strengths and capabilities.
Embrace the uncertainty and see where it leads you.
Use your fear to fuel yourself.
Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing my article. I write about the art of human transformation and help freedom-seeking entrepreneurs achieve predictable cash flow. Discover the art of business development at www.learn.cliffordjones.com.