2 posts tagged “risk taking”

This jump was a risk that I opted to take, and that my boyfriend Michael opted out of.  Most everyone else has said they wouldn't dream of doing it.  Why did I?  Comfort zone expansion. 

When we think of changing things in our lives or businesses, of going to the next level, and then actually do something which commits us, we often get that uncomfortable feeling inside.  "Oh, NO!  What have I done??"  Kind of like the feeing I had when I leapt off that platform.  Sometimes, that feeling alone will force us to turn back from our goals, and prevent us from living our dreams. 

The key to breaking that cycle is to learn to tolerate that feeling, and eventually embrace it.  Feeling uncomfortable is a good sign.  It means you're pushing through the membrane of the universe you've already created into the universe you want to create.  Being on that edge feels funny, but it won't kill you.  By taking unrelated risks such as this jump and stepping out of your comfort zone, you can practice having that feeling and going forward anyway.

I can tell you that this sort of adventure would never occur in the United States.  We had one guide for four people, Gavin.  Gavin drove us to the site, taught us what to do, did our safety checks, even took the pictures.  The four of us were completely in his hands.  If any of us had been hurt, there was no witness to back Gavin up in saying that we had not followed the rules.  There was no official representative at the back of the line, just Gavin at the front.  To exit the caves, each of us had to climb a 100-foot ladder into the gloom.  Gavin went first, leaving the rest of us in the bowels of the earth alone.  Michael was trained to attach each climber to the safety line, Gavin asked us if we each trusted him, and then he left. (!!)  Does that sound like a lawsuit waiting to happen?? To us Americans it did.  But, as I was informed at some point during our stay, "We don't have those down here."  Which made for much more exciting, authentic experiences. 

If you haven't been out of the States, please go.  You can live without lawyers out there....