The only way to change is by doing different things

Seems basic, right? Keep doing the same things, and there's no reason to expect different results.

It's important that I keep reminding myself of this, because I think that's how I've gotten most of the success I've had so far on this journey.

Aside from the obvious stuff (eat better, exercise), I think that it's only when I've been open to taking risks that I've moved myself to the next level, whether it be physically or mentally, that I've found the leverage to get to the next level.

One of the biggest ways I've done that is through being very public and open with people about my plan. Whether it's about my blog, or sharing my story with people when they compliment me on how I look these days, or, more recently joining a facebook group with mostly people I don't know (but some I do) and being very open about where I'm at, how I got here, and where I hope to go... for whatever reason, being very honest and open and apparently, relatable, for people makes a big difference for me every time, and potentially makes a difference to other people. I can't tell you how often I find people saying to me, "You've really inspired me... I've just started doing ____ because of you." Or that my tips and experience really helped them with their own challenge. That means a ton to me, because I know I started *MY* journey not because I was tired with myself (I was, but had been for a long time, too) but because I found inspiration in others to finally do something about it.

The other way has been in being open to trying new things. Now, sometimes that's stuff like different foods, or different forms of exercise (pilates reformer and zumba and c25k certainly weren't part of my vocabulary a year ago!), but sometimes, it's about other things. Just being open to new things in life. New relationships. New challenges. New perspectives. Don't get stale, but don't discard your foundation and the things that work in your life.

My next example in being gutsy and trying something new will be next week, when I'm in Maui. Since my husband and I will be spending time with my sister and her husband, we thought it would be a fun thing to try something new (and a little scary); we're going ziplining.

My sister has done it once, but the rest of us have never done it. We're doing it. We decided to do it. My sister made reservations for us to do it.

Then I looked at the link for where we are doing it: http://www.piiholozipline.com/ . Holy Moley. My stomach is already dropping.

Now, I'm not going to lose any weight doing this or get in better shape or burn any calories by spending an afternoon doing this. That's not my point.

My point is that, when I try something new, even if I'm not successful, I get one step closer to the strength and courage I need to be successful in every other aspect of my life. We all need to get out of our comfort zones every once in a while. We hear that all the time. It's because that's where we grow the most.

What are you trying new these days? What are you thinking about trying new... but something is holding you back? How do you work to get past that?

Find your own stretch outside the comfort zone this summer... and see where it takes you.

Thanks for reading!