What does "Have you stretched today?" mean? When I first had this dream 3 years ago, I woke up to this phrase repeating in my head. I was in a place in my life where I was just mildly content with my current job and stayed in that job because it was comfortable. I knew that deep down, I was not learning anything new, nor was I in a job that I was passionate about. I stayed because it was convenient for my family and my paycheck. How many of you have been in this situation before?! If not your job, then a relationship or some other place in your life.
It wasn’t until I lost my job that I realized that I had an opportunity to completely stretch out of my comfort zone and not take a job in the career path that I had so carefully crafted for myself, instead, I needed to take a risk, stretch and chase my passion of coaching and training. And thus, the birth of Have You Stretched Today, came about.
So, what is Stretching exactly?
The act of stretching out of your comfort zone into a space that may lead to discomfort, newness, or any feeling that would normally hold you back from attempting something new. When we stretch with intention and mindfulness, we can enter a zone where learning and possibility can happen.
Ready to learn more about what it means to STRETCH out of your comfort zone? I broke down the process by the word stretch itself. Pick up a copy of my workbook that will guide you through the 7 steps to STRETCH beyond your comfort zone and harness your power in life and work.
S - Step into Awareness
T - Tone: Set the tone. Decide your attitude.
R - Reflect on what’s needed
E - Engage in new ideas: Exit your comfort zone.
T - Take Action. Step into the stretch and follow through with the extension.
C - Change Management: Collect the data, what’s working, what isn’t?
H - Harness the power: Celebrate your stretch out of your comfort zone.
Of course, this is all easier said than done. But if it were easy, you wouldn’t need this push. The most essential part of achieving any of these steps is mindfulness. Become aware of the problem you need to solve and focus on the solution you envision. Then--STRETCH toward it! Again--I know, easier said than done. But I believe in you. You can do it!
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