How Stretching Made Me Look Good & Feel Even Better
How To Kickstart A Stagnant Life
A couple of weeks back I was starting to feel like my personal growth was getting a little stagnant and I wondered how to rejuvenate it. While brainstorming, I came up with this idea: I must find what I’m afraid of doing, and do it.
Back To Doing The Most Important Thing
I was going back to the most basic, and most powerful strategy for a greater life of all: stretching. Stretching is the act of doing something that you know is good for you and/or good for others and it scares you.
But boy, was I in for a surprise. Lo and behold, as Steve Pavlina likes to say, put out the intention and they will come.
How I Discovered My Fears Were Dwarves Disguised As Giants Part 1
I had dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time, who’s currently the design of a local fashion magazine called Nuyou (‘girlfriend’ in Mandarin). Out of the blue she asks me whether or not I would be in a photo-shoot for one of their latest events. I suggested another friend of mine, but she said she would put me in too.
Now, a little about me. I don’t look like the hunchback of Notre Dame, but neither would I win a Mr Universe title. While I’m fairly secure about my good looks (ahem), I have a complexion that would make a pothole blush. So I was pretty nervous about even saying yes.
But in that instant, I realized that gnawing feeling I had was a push against the limit of my comfort zone; after all, what did I have to lose? I was afraid, but would the experience grow me?
Knowing the answer was yes made it easier for me to go (that, and my friend, and my girlfriend whom I brought along).
I needn’t have worried.
Everyone was very friendly and encouraging, and while it was awkward at first in front of the camera, I had a blast. I appreciated the new experience and it was pretty fun. It’s too bad I can’t get a copy of the photos taken until after the magazine is released in October, but the moment I do I’ll post one up here (be prepared 
).
How I Discovered My Fears Were Dwarves Disguised As Giants Part 2
I thought life was done with stretching me…not yet! Today I confronted one of my longest standing fears, and it wasn’t even my idea it happened!
My girlfriend Valerie suggested out of the blue (yup, out of the blue again) that we go jogging in the afternoon. Even though I said yes, there was a deeper undercurrent of doubt beneath my confident exterior.
You see, I was an avid jogger during my teen years; I would run every week, 3 to 4 times a week. And I wouldn’t just run, I’d alternate between jogging and sprinting for 4km. It was intense. Pushing myself to the limits time and again caught up with me, I don’t know what happened but one day I felt burnt out and stopped.
Ever since then, I’ve never run, only cycled. And after I got a nasty knee injury 3 years ago, I’d develop this phobia about running; I never knew whether I could ever do it again, so I never did.
But I knew I’d have to confront my fear sooner or later, or it’d always be holding me back and hinder my personal growth and confidence.
Well, today I did, and guess which was the biggest surprise of all? Not that I did it, not that it was painless, not that I had fun, but it was a lot easier than I’d imagined.
The same with the photo-shoot.
I guess what Ralph Waldo Emerson said all those decades ago still rings true:
When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.
And you know what? After pulling off that beard, I feel good 
So, what is your photo-shoot, and what is your running track? What is something you could do in the next 7 days that scares you, but is good for you?
I really enjoyed this post. It’s easy to forget how powerful our physical reactions are! I like your approach here. Especially reminding the reader that we are not always ready for change — though we think we are! I agree that the real failure is letting fear stop us. Thanks for posting this!
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad it was helpful! “Coping with Stress” is a part of a series of articles on Stress that I have written, hopefully Life Coaches Blog will be posting the rest. So keep in touch!
Kindest regards,
Karen
This is a great article. I especially like the list of symptoms… some of which a lot of people may not recognize as a sign of stress.
It’s also important to continue with your stress managment activities even when there are no signs or symptoms of stress. Doing this will help you become stressed less often and ward off stress before it even begins.
Hi Jill,
Absolutely, it should be a way of life! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Kindest regards,
Karen
Hi,
Great site!!!!! Good health is very important with the high cost of medical coverage. We need to have a healther lifestyle by taking care of our health eating and exercising. I am a cancer survivor and I know. Our health is our greatest asset. Keep up the Good Work!!!!!
The physical body does not differentiate between happy stress and overwhelm. Stress is stress. We need to develop coping mechanisms in our daily life to avoid the harmful, physiological effects of stress.