So back in January I posted my 2012 predictions, not because I particularly believe in New Year Resolutions, but because I wanted to make stuff happen this year and wanted to make sure I held myself accountable.
In that post, I promised that by the end of 2012 I would have quit my job and be fully engaged doing meaningful work for myself.
I'm well on the way to this but, as part of my journey, I'm planning on doing something else as well.
Ever since I did my yoga teacher training in 2009 with Conrad Paul, I've wanted to travel to India to spend a month in an Ashram, developing my knowledge and understanding and being completely immersed in the yoga lifestyle.
With work and everything else this hasn't happened yet, but what better time to do it than when leaving your job to go free range?!
So, back to my original question - why on earth would I want to pay good money to go sleep on an inch thick mattress in a hot, non-air conditioned shared room and wake up at 5:30am every day to do yoga and theory and work until 10pm at night, 7 days a week?
Simple - it's a challenge.
It's going to be hard - mentally and physically - quite possibly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but it will also be one of the most amazing.
You see, I was never really one for challenges. I never liked fairground rides or absailing or anything adrenalin junkie-esque or scary. I never really got it.
However, pushing yourself is something which, if you don't do, you'll always end up feeling un-fulfilled.
If you always play it safe; if you never wonder 'what if'; if you never take a risk, you'll always end up in the same place, asking yourself if you've ever reached your potential; if you could have done better; if you could have achieved more.
I often think of the rocking chair analogy now when working out if I should do something or not.
If you imagine yourself, sitting on your rocking chair, aged 102 or however long you figure you're going to live for, look back at your life and ask yourself if you have any regrets.
People often say it's better to live life without regrets but it's easier said than done.
I know it's scary. I know there are always other options that seem safer, but ask yourself, 'will I regret not at least trying this?' Even if it goes wrong, sometimes that's the best way to learn where your limits are and how best to work around them.
I KNOW you can do amazing things with your life. Every single person can do at least one thing in their life that they are amazing proud of.
Trust yourself to take the next step. Not next year, not next month, not next week...today.
You got that? Take one step towards something scary TODAY*!
N.B. Cross posted to my blog.