Dog Wisdom

“Dig Life, chase your dreams, be loyal & faithful. Take lots of naps. Learn new tricks. Play. Wag more, bark less. Be quick to forgive. Be brave no matter your size. Love unconditionally. Make new friends.” – Unknown

What I have learnt from these quotes, is that we so very often have our minds fixed on all the bad, negative depressing, worried, anxious, stressful parts of our life’s, that we miss all the good, beautiful, glorious, smell the roses kind of things around us!

I for one am one of those people. It’s true and trying to deny it will be a lie. Be honest with yourself, are you?

Now to understand why I say I am one of those people, when some might think why would I be, I am going to be really honest with you. I am 90% a perfectionist when it comes to myself and things I can control. When I can’t control a situation, I can’t control the outcome and then it’s really out of my hands. I get stressed, worried, anxious, even depressed sometimes. It took me a while to learn how and when to let go and stand back so that what’s supposed to happen work itself out. With the grace and faith in God, doing this has relieved a lot of the above-mentioned feelings and emotions. I still often feel like this but that’s being human I guess.

Another thing that I struggle with, believe it or not, is stepping out of my comfort zone. Some might ask: “But you packed your bags and moved half way across the world, how is that not stepping out of your comfort zone?“ It is!!! Many new things I do in life, I don’t just do! It could take me months (like it did) to get used to the idea of something new like moving to a different country. Or at least a day or a few hours if something unplanned (that’s out of my comfort zone) comes up. For me it could be an unplanned outing/gathering with people (just one person or a whole group) that I don’t know. When instead I made plans to stay home and do some personal things I have been putting off for some time now. This you could call an introvert, yes, I know, I am that too. (Most of the times, although I do have my extrovert moments more often than you might think.) In saying this, I had little friends. In fact, none that I really ever could make plans with because we saw each other at dance every day.

But as I decided that I would make new friends here, I actually am! With not even making an issue about going out and finding them. That would be just too stressful!

Instead, I go out, even on my own…at first, and go have a coffee at a coffee shop. I take my work with me, if I have any. You would be surprised at the conversations that you could start or that people will start with you! Anything can become a conversation starter. Try it next time you want to meet new people. It wasn’t even my intensions in those moments to meet new people, but I did regardless. This way you are stepping out of your comfort zone one foot at a time.

Even if those people turn out to be lifelong friends or just passing through, you get to learn things about yourself, others, even your environment and it gets easier! For me making new friends is exactly that. Almost every time I have been out on my own, I have met new people. Regardless if they stay in my life or just passing through, I have found that every time, I have seen a new part of the city, new places that was actually right under my nose. I just couldn’t see because my attention was always on the stressful, anxious, worried part of my life that the good, beautiful, smell the roses kind of things passed me by. Or rather I passed it by.

In conclusion, stepping out of your comfort zone can actually lead to the greater things in life. Sometimes it might not turn out so good but more often that not, it will be. Things that you thought would only cause you stress, anxiety, worries could actually be the things that take away all that. I have even realized that the real culprit causing these negative emotions is usually the same things that’s keeping us from stepping out of our own bubbles! It’s time to take the needle and pop it!!! That’s hard to do, I know. Even I still struggle to do it. But sometimes all it takes is one deep breath, squeezing your eyes shut and an extra dash of courage to pop that bubble!

And like Heather Stillusfen said: “You can do it.”

Go have a listen to Jason Mraz song – Living in the moment. It always makes me feel more relaxed and happy when I listen to it. You will too!!!

I hope you all enjoyed this week’s post! Keep reading and leaving your comments. I really appreciate all the support and love!

To Live is To Dance!

xoxo