Why we forget our dreams?
I was doing some reflection the other day and wondered what was holding me back in a few areas. I took a moment and thought back when I thought I was fearless. You know when you're young and there's nothing you can't do. Nothing stopped me. I didn't have a comfort zone. I didn't even know what that was. I noticed as I got older and responsible I developed this thing called a comfort zone. I was working in a corporate structure so whenever I thought outside the box they would say, "Mike, we don't do it that way." I wanted to rise in the ranks so I became a corporate clone.
I promised myself that when I was in charge that I'd be different. The crazy part I found myself saying to my subordinates the same thing. 'Sorry, we don't do it that way.' I managed to stop any original thought anyone had. I lived in a boring and safe world. Unfortunately, it’s very hard not to take this philosophy and apply to life. I found as I rose to the ranks my comfort zone became smaller and smaller.
So what do comfort zone and dreams have in common? When we were younger we dreamt we could do, be, or have anything we wanted. We had no limitations. As we got older, our parents or corporate limiting values were taught to us. This is when the circle for the comfort zone – our safety zone - was formed. We stopped thinking for ourselves and trusted someone else's beliefs. Our thoughts became limited and now we find that it’s easy to stay where we are because it’s too scary or too painful to change.
We have a tendency to forget our dreams when we stay in our safe zone. For some reason we think there’s wall around this zone and nothing can come in.
We settle and what we really want is buried. To accomplish any dream, we need to grow but a comfort zone doesn't allow for growth. We stay safe and forget the dream.
When we know what we want and really go for it, we find that our comfort zone expands to keep up with us. Keep pushing the edges and we will achieve what we are shooting for.
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All of that and the rules of proper conduct set for us by society. Why can’t I try that? Because “people” wouldn’t like it. Please! I call it the “claws” in our lives. Family rules, corporate do’s and don’ts, and society’s idea of what you should and shouldn’t do. Stifling to say the least!
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