Waitress Wanted

 I had just recently quit a job I hated, because I wanted to follow my heart and start in a new direction that was more in sync with my passion and my talent. I was doing my part to find a new job. I posted advertisements for American English classes in different libraries and laundry mats. I invested time in networking and giving out my business card, but I was not getting any feedback.

After a few weeks without find a new job, I started to panic. I was worried my worst fear was coming true--that I had left the safety of a job I hated only to realize that my ideal job didn't exist or was unattainable. I was so desperate to find a job that I even applied to work at a low class restaurant. I would never eat there, but there was a sign in the window that said "Waitress Wanted." When I took my CV into the restaurant, the manager didn't even give me 2 minutes of his time. I left the restaurant so angry because I had lowered myself to the worst job I could possibly apply for, and I was treated disrespectfully.

I know I have so much to offer. I had quit the first job to pursue what I truly wanted to do and to develop my talent. I knew that I did not want to be a waitress at all, and that I was reverting to old self defeating patterns based on fear. It was enough to jolt me out of my paralysis an help me regain my resolve to pursue what I truly want.

I cannot let myself wallow in fear. Fear could be a good thing. A sign that I'm heading in the right direction because I am actually concerned about the outcome. I want to succeed. I am discovering that it helps to acknowledge my fear. When I allow myself to feel the fear, it releases me from my paralysis and I can move forward.

What if we can welcome fear, let fear have a healthy acknowledged place in our lives. Fear will always exist, but if we make friends with it. Feel the fear. Accept it, and then choose to move forward.

I am starting to seek out things that make me afraid. Like Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Do one thing everyday that scares you."

You are stronger than you think. Explore what you can accomplish when you feel your fear but choose to act in your own best interest.

The first step

This year I am dedicated to taking good care of myself, developing my talents, and getting outside of my comfort zone. The only way I can have this kind of life is by letting go of fear and trusting myself and God. I have named this blog "Get Uncomfortable!" as a reminder that it is easy to get stuck in my comfort zone, to be unaware of the ways in which I sabotage my own success in any area of my life. I want to use this blog to share tidbits from my life as I let go of fear and move forward in my life.

I am breaking new ground. About 6 months ago, I accepted a job offer to work for a study abroad program in Florence, Italy. I am a globetrotter, and this seemed like a solid excuse to move to Italy. Everything sounded great, and it would look good on my resume, but after the first week I realized the job wasn't a good fit for me. It required long boring hours doing a little busy work here and there. I wasn't able to use my Italian language skills or interact with people. I continued trying to make it work over the next 4 months. I was throwing all of my energy into my tasks, obsessing, stressing myself out--but my heart wasn't in it. After trying to coerce myself to be happy and enjoy a job I despised, I decided to quit. I have never been a quitter, in fact I have put myself through many painful situations just so I could claim that I didn't quit. But in fact, quitting was the best decision I could have made because I was honoring myself. I started listening to myself, to who I am and what inspires me.

I have recently moved from Italy to Brazil, and I am starting to write. I am taking small steps, but I feel much more in tune with myself.

I have come to realize that I have to work with something I love. Life is short, and my God-given talents are not being developed or shared with anyone.

It is easy to get stuck in a rut because its comfortable. Fear of the unknown can keep us stuck in jobs or patterns that we know are not good for us.

Are there things you would like to change but are stuck in your comfort zone?

How much is this job/pattern/belief/behavior hurting you or inhibiting your happiness?

If you took a chance and changed this one thing, how much could it improve your life?

I believe that there is so much more potential within each of us than we give ourselves credit for. Each of us has talents that we could develop. The world is missing your talent. There is space in the world for what you have to contribute.

I believe that good things are coming. It's time to get UNCOMFORTABLE!