Almost five years ago, you could definitely say that I was going out of my comfort zone when God told me to start this blog. I had always loved writing when I was younger. I wrote poems, songs, and short stories that were really just for myself. I never shared them much with those outside of my family circle. It was uncomfortable because I was finding out that some people don’t always support you when you have a gift and a love of doing something that you really enjoy. So, I kept it inside. Although I call it a gift, I really know now that it was a gift given to me by God.
When you love to write like I do then you learn how to grow into that gift or it can mature with you. Over the years, I learned how to separate objective writing from subjective writing. That’s a really big difference especially when I was a special education teacher. As a SPED teacher, you are dealing with facts for the IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) that you are writing to show what a child with disabilities educational needs were and how we, as a school team, were helping them to grow to the best of their abilities. Details and wording mattered and it’s also important because it is a document that can be used in a court of law. So, yes, that sort of writing for objectivity was crucial in who I was, at that time. Now, I am going outside of what I had EVER envisioned and opening myself up to all of the world. It was definitely out of my comfort zone, although I am getting much more comfortable now!
The thing is, is that now I have also learned how to marry the two styles of writing. That is, giving facts but also adding in my own personal observations and the life lessons that I have learned along the way with my own journey. It doesn’t always lead to being in a comfortable position. Why? No one, and I am including myself here, likes to really look within and see where we need to change our thoughts or our opinions in regards to others and ESPECIALLY when it comes to looking within ourselves. It’s outside of our own comfort zone to see where we need to make some changes.
The thing is, is that I don’t want to change you. That’s on you to do for yourself. My goal is to help you to become more self-reflective in what you do, perhaps help you to figure out why you do it and then recognize that you need to change. Guess what? I’m doing that right along with you, so you are not alone when you are going outside of your comfort zone. The difference is that you get to do it privately, while mine is more public but that’s a choice that I made when God guided me to do this blog. Let’s see where we both end up. What do you say about that?
What did I learn from this? My sister asked me one time why I do this part of my post when I already, hopefully, made my point in the main part of the post. Well, here it is…I do it this way because I think that this is what makes my blog different. Yes, it is a personal niche blog based off of the lessons I have learned and yes, it is also about finding your joy as you go through your life journey. However, it is more than that. I’m growing just like you are. I’m not better than anyone else, but I’m, hopefully, relating to each of you who struggles because we all have been there. It’s knowing that I can possibly help someone else to get out of their own comfort zone to find real and lasting change that can help them find their joy and gifts, as well. I think that it’s just that simple. (Related post: In Service to Others)
So, what can you gain from this? I get it. It’s hard to look inside of ourselves and see something that we don’t like. It’s even harder to change what you don’t like that you are seeing. Perhaps you don’t even know why or for what reason you are angry or mean or sad or ….. you can fill-in-the-blank here. The thing that I want you to keep in mind is that change doesn’t come easily and it may take some time. Give yourself that time. Go get some help, if you need to. There is no shame in that. Read your Bible, pray to our God who knows your heart and ask Him to heal you where you hurt. Yeah, I know that it may be going out of your comfort zone, but what do you have to lose, especially when you have everything to gain? (Related post: He Stepped Out of the Boat)
