This morning I dropped off the kids at school, parked my car at home, put on my 16 lbs rucking backpack (soon to be 20lbs hell yeah!) and off my dog Atlas and I went for our daily morning ruck across the South Burnaby and Vancouver, BC divide. Hahaha!

“Atlas, wait for me it is so slippery.” Atlas stopped and began to partake in an icy snow snack on the sidewalk.

I was walking slowly and very carefully; we were having snow and icy roads due to current -5 C temperature and everything was extremely slippery.

I wasn’t sure I was going to make my entire 6-7 km daily rucking track but there I was anyways.

Why was I putting myself through this?

The next 1.5 hrs were for sure going to be uncomfortable. But I had to go. My body was taking me along and wild horses could not stop me from going today.

Rucking 16 lbs in normal weather with no ice and no snow is one thing but having to maneuver the ice and snow under your feet AND be out in -5C weather is a whole other challenge for the body.

As I walked carefully along, I felt the challenge immediately but I couldn’t stop going.

Back just 2.5 months ago, when I was stressed and exhausted and doing things in places that I was not in integrity with, my body would have NOT EVEN FLINCHED to go about this very adventure today.

Everything was HEAVY then and I just wanted to be in very comfortable places like lying on my PEMF infrared heated mat anytime I got the chance. I couldn’t even walk without a rucking backpack for 2 km, much less 6-7 km with 16 lbs in the snow and ice.

Forcing myself out of ‘my comfort zone’ then would have been a huge mistake. It would have caused frustration, injuries, and a rapidly declining trust in myself.

My body was BEGGING for comfort. And I gave it the comfort it needed with GUSTO.

I followed my body’s signals to a T.

The more I gave it what it needed, the QUICKER it started nudging me to go do certain other things that were good for me.

You hear this ALL THE TIME.

This is the biggest cliche there EVER WAS.

This CLICHE creates so many MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS in people - it is not even funny.

I have seen hundreds of clients go through this.

I cringe at this every time I hear it because it is not EXACTLY like that.

You have to understand the deep nuance behind it before you go all gungho in forcing yourself to do things that don’t resonate with you.

You don’t tell a newborn baby:

You also don’t tell a baby:

Instead, you give it what it needs. With time, this baby will come upon a day when they had their needs so very met, that they want to stay awake and play instead of have a nap.

Adults of any age need deep care just as much as babies do.

You don’t force yourself into some random uncomfortable zone because you want to make your mindset change or your resilience grow.

This will never ever work.

What will happen is you will lose trust in yourself and create major mental health problems.

That cliche:

“ To grow and realize your dreams you have to put yourself out of your comfort zone,”

…works if AND ONLY IF,

You are standing on a grounded world of “My thoughts, feelings, and actions are in resonance.”

In other words, when you are in integrity with who you really are AND furthermore, you OWN IT and you are not afraid that others will see and experience that in you, THEN yes, placing yourself out of your comfort zone will be useful.

—- (I love unlocks as they make your mindset soar!)

When you are in integrity with yourself and you OWN it, this expansion of ‘putting yourself out of your comfort zone’ will be SUCH a natural thing, that it won’t be an actual THING anymore - you know what I mean?

Downstream. Easy. It will flow like water going downhill.

Your feeling of freedom from being in integrity with yourself and owning it will be so freaking liberating and strong, that your mind, body, and soul will continuously soar like an Eagle.

Because now, you TRUST YOURSELF. You are now free to experience life.

When baby needs food, rest, and love and is given these things in abundance, they will feel so comfortable and at peace in this security that they will explore and learn effortlessly.

That certainty you are looking for in life?

Comes from you trusting yourself.

Trusting yourself comes from listening to your body and giving it what it needs and from owning how you want to live your life regardless of what other people are doing.

THEN, expansion (placing yourself out of your comfort zone) will happen naturally and you will have the time of your life.

If you want true optimal health and vitality to grace you with their presence, YOU’VE GOT to learn how to listen to your body and give it what it needs REGARDLESS of what anyone says. This is a major piece of a rock-solid health foundation that is non-negotiable.

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