a way out of your rut

Be Unstoppable

I wonder why Jesus asked him that silly question.

Here’s the story. One day, Jesus saw a paralyzed man lying near the pool of Bethesda. The guy has been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (Read the full story in John 5:1-9)

       I find that…uh, rather strange. 

Why ask that question?

       The paralyzed man could have answered, “Helloooo… Is the sun hot? Is the Pope Catholic? Is Bo Sanchez handsome? Of course I want to get well. Goodness, are you blind, Jesus? Isn’t it pretty obvious? When you were a kid, I was already lying here. Before you were born, I was already lying here. I’ve been stuck here for 38 years. My gosh, why wouldn’t I want to get well?”

       But Jesus asked that question because he knew human nature. 

Let me shock you: Suffering people are ambivalent. Torn. Confused. Conflicted. Two-minded. 

Many sick people aren’t sure if they want to get well. Many poor people aren’t sure that they want to get rich. Many problematic people aren’t sure that they want all their problems to be solved. Many abused wives aren’t sure if they want to get rid of their abusive husbands.

       It’s crazy, but true. 

       How do you know if someone is ambivalent? If he gives excuses for not doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

       That’s what the paralyzed guy did. He said, “I can’t, sir, for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” (The people there believed that the pool was miraculous.)

Believe me, I’ve heard the line, “I can’t…” a million times already. I hear it from suffering people who seemingly want to get out of their suffering—but don’t. After saying “I can’t…” they’ll give their excuses.

       Let me give you one example…

 “I Can’t Because…”

I’ve talked to a number of jobless people. Here are the actual statements I heard from them…

o   “I can’t find a job because there are so many others looking for a job.”

o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t know anyone…”

o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t know how to make a bio-data.”

o   “I can’t find a job because I have no one to accompany me.”

o   “I can’t find a job because it’s so hot these days and I’m allergic to the heat.”

o   “I can’t find a job because I lost my cellphone.”

o   “I can’t find a job because I don’t have anything nice to wear.”

       I repeat—Excuses are simply signs that they’re ambivalent. Bottomline, they don’t want a job. At least, they don’t want a job bad enough.

Here’s what I learned in life: If you want something bad enough, nothing much can stop you. Not a million other job applicants. Not the heat. Not the lack of a companion. Not the lack of a cellphone. Not the lack of nice clothes.

       Why are people ambivalent?

Two reasons…

Two Reasons For Ambivalence

       This seems insane—when a suffering person is not sure if he really wants to get out of his suffering or not.

       But there are 2 real reasons for this ambivalence…

1. Suffering Has Become Your Identity

       The paralyzed man had been paralyzed for 38 years. That’s a pretty long time. He saw himself as paralyzed. I bet he couldn’t see himself in any other way—until Jesus came along.

       For many people, their suffering becomes their Safe Zone. They’ve gotten used to the pain. And what is familiar is safe—no matter how painful that situation is.

       Listen to this statement from author Robin Sharma. The most dangerous place is your safe zone. If you want growth in your life, you have to get out of your safe zone. Because your safe zone is the place for dead people.

       At the root of all ambivalence is Fear. What kind of fear? The fear of the unknown.

       No matter how painful suffering is, at least we’re familiar with it. That suffering has become our identity. And once there’s an opportunity to get out of suffering, fear of the unknown grips our heart. Result? We become ambivalent.

       When I converse with the poor in slum areas, I cannot count the number of times I’ll hear these words, “I’m poor”; “We’re poor”; “My family is poor”… It’s a common refrain you’ll hear again and again.

Poverty has become their identity.

Many of them have gotten so used to it, if you give them an opportunity to leave poverty, they’ll not take it. Because they’re afraid at what will happen to them if they lose their identity of poverty.

Here’s my big question to you: What problem has become your identity? The man’s paralysis was his identity. So much so that his mat became his master. His problem ruled his life. His mat controlled him, not the other way around.

What is your Mat?

Jesus said, “Stand up and pick up your mat.” Don’t let that problem control you. Take control of your problem! Take charge of that sickness. Take charge of that debt. Take charge of that situation. Stand up!

       Here’s the second reason for ambivalence…

2. Suffering Has Become Your Income

       Problems have side benefits. Always.

       For the paralyzed man, his paralysis was the reason why he could earn a living as a BEGGAR. For 38 years, his paralysis put food on the table. No wonder Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” In other words, Jesus was asking, “Hey Buddy, if you get well, you’re going to lose your income. You’ll have to change your career. Are you sure you want this?”

       This is a fact. We derive all sorts of income from our problems, not necessarily financial.

       I met a woman who was sick with hypertension, diabetes, allergies, and heart disease. And every year, she’d have a new sickness. She was going to different doctors almost every week, sometimes two or three times a week, for 12 long years. 

       After talking to her, I realized she was such a lonely person. She had no real family around her. And here’s my suspicion: She likes getting sick. The only time someone talks to her, or listens to her, or holds her hand, or touches her arm, is when she is sick. Her 6 doctors, all the nurses, and the clinics’ receptionists have become her small community. 

       Believe me, she’ll never get well. Unless she finds an “income-replacement”. (I invited her to join me at the Feast each week. So she’ll find a new community there!)

       Here’s my question to you: What income do you get from your suffering? Identify your income. And identity your “income-replacement”. If you don’t, you’ll always have ambivalence. Fear of the unknown will always hold you back.

       Today, I’d want to give you the three steps to get out of your paralysis, three steps to get out of your suffering…

3 Things To Do To Get Out Of Suffering

Are you paralyzed by your problem now?

There’s hope. You can get of your paralysis. You can pick up your mat and walk.

Here’s how…

1. Remove Ambivalence

       Every week at our Feast, I ask people to lift up their list of dreams written in their Novena to God’s Love. (We give this Novena to all first timers for free.)

       Why do I encourage people to pray for their dreams daily?

       Here’s why: Because Abundance is attracted to Clarity. 

Not Ambivalence.

       You need to be very clear with what you want. Let the question of Jesus reverberate in your heart.  He asks you, “Do you really want to get well? Do you really want to get out of your suffering? What do you really, really, REALLY want?”

Abundance Will Give Her Heart To

Someone Who Really Wants Her

Abundance is like a beautiful woman, waiting for the right suitor to win her heart.

Mister Ambivalence shows up at her doorstep, but looks terrible. He’s wearing an old pair of shorts and an ugly shirt. And he smells. He hasn’t taken a bath for a week. It’s clear he hasn’t come to court her. 

When Lady Abundance opens the door, he looks at her and says, “Miss, you look interesting.  I think I like you. But I really don’t know. You see, I’m in a complicated relationship with another girl right now. Her name is Poverty and she’s a real pain in the neck.  But I’m not ready to give her up just yet.”

What will Lady Abundance do? She’ll tell him, “Bye!” and shut the door. She’ll drive him away.

And then Mr. Clarity arrives. He looks dashing in a tie. He smells fresh. And he has a red rose in his hand. He says to her, “People told me you were lovely, but gosh, you take my breath away.   This might be too fast, but I have to tell you what’s in my heart. No, I don’t expect you to answer me today, or tomorrow, or next week, or next month. It doesn’t matter. I will wait. But I need to tell you that I will pursue you with all my heart until the ends of the earth. And I have to ask this question in Tagalog… Bangin ka ba?” (Are you a pit?)

Miss Abundance asks, “Why?”

“Nahuhulog ako sa iyo.” (I’m falling for you.)

What do you think will Miss Abundance do? You can bet she’ll be more attracted to Mr. Clarity than Mr. Ambivalence.

Do you want to get out of your suffering? Do you want to get out of your paralysis?

Remove ambivalence. Be unstoppable.

And you’ll get out of your suffering.

Here’s the second step…

2. Restore Authority

       The paralyzed man thought that healing came from the pool. The superstition was that the first person to jump into the water when it starts moving would be healed. 

       So far, for 38 years, he’s not been healed. Why? First of all, no one offers to carry him to the pool. Second, he’s never the first guy to dive in when the water bubbles up.

But Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” In other words, Jesus said, “Forget the pool. Forget about waiting for someone to carry you to the pool. You don’t need the pool. Stop waiting. The power isn’t in the pool. The power is in you.”

       Let me say that again: The power is in you!

       So many people look for power elsewhere. They believe that the solution to their problems depends on someone else. 

They wait for the government to help them. They wait for Mommy and Daddy to solve their problems. They wait for a friend to rescue them. They wait for their boss to promote them.

But unless you understand that the location of the power is within you—you won’t get out of your suffering.

       Jesus said, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:23)

       You can change the topography of your situation. God has given you the Authority to command the mountain of your problems to move!

       When you believe that the power is within you, you become unstoppable.

And finally, the third step to get out of suffering…

3. Repeat Action

       Psalms 23 says, Even though I walk through the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalms 23:4)

       Face it. There are many valleys in our lives.  Many places of suffering.

But I love this Psalm because it says that we don’t stay in the valley. We don’t sit in the valley. We don’t stand in the valley. We don’t sulk in the valley…

We walk through the valley.

       I love the illustration of walking because walking is a repeated action. Walking is putting one foot in front of the other foot. If you want to get out of suffering, you have to keep on doing the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley.

          Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Walk.”

For 38 years, this guy has never walked. He was rusty. I can imagine how clumsy it must have been at the start.

His toothpick legs were wobbly.  Shaky. Unbalanced.  People probably held him up so that he wouldn’t fall. But he took that first wobbly step. And he took another step. And another… Until he walked out of his suffering.

To walk out of your suffering, you have to keep on doing the right thing again and again.

Are you jobless right now? Do the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley. Keep developing yourself. Keep training yourself. Keep applying. 10 companies, 20 if necessary.   Don’t stop. Soon, you’ll walk out of the valley.

Are you buried in debt? Do the right thing again and again until you walk out of the valley. Don’t borrow again. Keep paying your debts. Keep living simply. Don’t stop. Soon, you’ll walk out of the valley.

Be Unstoppable

Let me repeat my big question to you: Are you unstoppable?

       The reason why you don’t have what you say you want is because you don’t want it bad enough.

       You say you want a strong relationship with your kids. But do you want it bad enough, you’ll do anything to make it happen? Like spending more time with them? Like giving up golf, TV, computers, games—so you could hang out more with your kids? Do you want it bad enough that you’re willing to humble yourself before your kids to ask forgiveness from them?

       You say you want to become wealthy.   But do you want it bad enough? Will you live simply so you can invest every month? Will you be willing to sell and be rejected? Will you get training? Will you read the right books, attend the right seminars, and seek out the right mentors?

       You say you want to be healthy. But do you want it bad enough? Will you do anything to achieve it? For example, will you eat the best nutritious food? Will you walk everyday?

       Remove ambivalence.

       Be clear with what you want.

       Be unstoppable.

       And walk out of the valley.

       May your dreams come true,

       Bo Sanchez

PS. Do You Want To Build Multiple Income Streams?  Join Me At My TrulyRich Financial Coaching Program on May 25 and 26 at Pasig, Metro Manila. Don’t be ambivalent. Be unstoppable. I want to teach more people to gain financial freedom. For more information, click on at the link below…

Tell me more about the TrulyRich Financial Coaching Program

On May 25-26, 2012

PS2. Learn about the Power of Intercession. Experience the Power of God in your life.  Discover your power to stand in the gap between God and your loved ones. Vita Monforte will give this Seminar on May 26, at 8am to 6pm, in Pasig. Learning Fee is supposed to be P700 per person, but because of generous sponsors who subsidize this seminar, it’s now only P200/person for the first 9 seats and P250/person for the remaining seats. To register, email beaconlightevents+seminar@gmail.com now.

MY THOUGHTS

I am so overwhelmed by what I read, I think I just stopped thinking.  I don't know what I'm thinking.  I can't think  of what I want to think.

But I know how I feel.  

I feel guilty. I know there's so much more I can do.  But I stopped moving because I feel comfortable already.  I have stopped being unstoppable.

I feel like a fraud.  I tell people, train people, on how to "manage yourself".  And yet, I have forgotten the very principles I ask people to espouse.

I feel motivated.  Bo Sanchez always does that to me.  From the time we had lunch with him as Shangri-la to the time he facilitated our retreat in Bangkok, he never fails to encourage me through his newsletters.

I feel blessed - to have read this article - and read it on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I have time to munch and mull over every word Bo has printed. 

I have created my own mat.  And I'm picking it up, this very minute.

 

 

ARE YOU SELF-MOTIVATED?

Tickle Me Motivated
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published July 11, 2007
http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Motivation/Tickle_Me_Motivated.aspx

I was having a discussion the other day with a colleague about self motivation, and we both strongly agreed that it is an essential ingredient in the formula for success. We also agreed that, unfortunately, most people have a serious lack of ability when it comes to motivating themselves to accomplish their goals. Oddly enough, in my experience, these are often the very same people who are absolutely excellent at motivating others. So why is it that some people can be such great cheerleaders for others, but when it comes to inspiring themselves, they fall way short of the target? In a nutshell, I think the problem that most people have with self motivation is very similar to the phenomenon of self tickling. Have you ever tried to tickle yourself? Isn’t it amazing how someone else can barely touch you and you can’t help but laugh, but YOU can’t produce a single giggle when you try to tickle yourself. Sounds strangely similar to self motivation if you ask me.

The dictionary defines self motivation as “The initiative to undertake or continue a task or activity without another’s prodding or supervision.” In learning theory, there are two kinds of motivation: intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) motivation. According to the definition above, self motivation is an example of intrinsic motivation. Those of you who have the ability to self-motivate reap the benefits every day. But many find that trying to muster up self motivation leaves them just as frustrated and unsuccessful as trying to tickle themselves. However, finding the success you dream about, no matter what your goal, is not likely to happen if you don’t find a way to MAKE it happen.

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare


MY THOUGHTS

so, better start tickling yourself. i think self-motivation is a sign of real maturity. you do things without someone or something pushing you. and you take it even further by doing things well, even when no one's watching.

Thinking Outside the Box

Thinking Outside the Box
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published August 31, 2006
www.lifescript.com

I was talking to a friend the other day when the phrase “thinking outside the box” came up. I’m sure most of you have heard or used that phrase at some time in your life. For those who are unfamiliar, however, the phrase “thinking outside the box” is a euphemism for considering options unthinkable before. When I was in private practice, I used to offer a little riddle to my patients to demonstrate this point. In the spirit of helping you to think outside the box, I offer it to you today.

Now I want you to imagine that you are sitting in a 12 x 12 room with one door and no windows. I want you to further imagine that you are sitting in a chair that is against the wall that is directly opposite the wall with the door. As you sit there, you are asked to exit the room by taking the shortest route. What do you do?

The typical answer to this question is to stand up and walk directly to the door opposite you and exit, which, on the surface, appears to be the only way out. However, the truth is that the shortest way out of that room is to go through the wall behind you. However, since you hold the belief that you “can’t” walk through walls, you don’t even try that route. Now, of course you can’t walk through walls but here’s the point. You tend to not even consider actions that you don’t believe are possible for you. Are you beginning to see where I’m going here? Your beliefs have a tremendous influence on your behavior. And once you box yourself into one specific mindset, you become oblivious to other options also available to you at the time.

The shortest way out of the room challenge was a real eye opener for many of my patients. Even though the shortest way out of the room is to walk through the wall behind you, you don’t even consider that option because you “know” that you can’t do that. There lies the power of thought. Why not make today the day you start thinking outside the box?

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare

MY THOUGHTS

i like thinking outside the box. i like looking for different ways of doing things. unfortunately,there are people who do not appreciate this. they feel i'm making their lives miserable because i keep on challenging them to 'find ways'. so what! i wouldn't have accomplished certain things if i go by 'practice' or what is 'acceptable' or 'normal'.

WANNA BREAK A HABIT? USE TIDE

Turn The Tide!
Daily Inspiration
John H. Sklare, Ed.D
Published December 14, 2006
http://www.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Motivation/Turn_The_Tide.aspx

Habit is the enemy of change! The force of habit is what draws you back to old, negative, self-defeating behaviors. Habit is a very powerful force in our lives and, once it gets a hold of you, it’s very difficult to break free. This is how habit becomes the enemy of change and how habit provides the background music for your life. In order to bring new music into your world, I offer you the following activity. It is designed to allow you to be proactive regarding change. I call it the TIDE technique. It’s a formula for increasing awareness and enhancing change. Here’s the simple 4-step procedure:

T – Think It: What new dance steps (behaviors and thoughts) do you want to learn?

I – Imagine It: Take a few moments every day, find some quite time, close your eyes and actually imagine yourself performing these new steps (behaviors and thoughts).

D – Declare It: At least once every day look into a mirror and declare these new behaviors and thoughts as your own.

E – Experience It: Practice these new thoughts and behaviors in real life situations

Change requires that you break the bonds of habit by creating new background music for your life. Choose something that you want to change and apply the TIDE technique today. If you do, you may be dancing to a different drummer tomorrow!

Wishing You Great Health!
Dr. John H. Sklare

MY THOUGHTS

so, so hard! an easy read but very hard to follow.

MANAGE YOURSELF: TAKE OWNERSHIP

Take Ownership
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published February 04, 2011

One way to make your life happier, more meaningful and less chaotic is to take personal responsibility for what you do and say. We live in an environment today where personal responsibility isn’t encouraged as much as it should be. If you want to improve the world we live in, bolster your character and live a more honorable life, take personal ownership for what is yours. But this is much easier said than done.

Taking ownership shows both maturity and wisdom and simply cannot be forced upon you. For example, when someone close to you tells you that you’re doing something wrong or counterproductive in your life, many people push back and don’t respond in a positive way. However, when YOU realize that you’re doing something wrong or counterproductive and decide to take ownership of it, real change is possible.

The power of ownership is summed up with this: With ownership comes personal consequences, and without consequences you don’t learn important life lessons and assume responsibility. Is there something you should take ownership of? And, if you did, how do you think it would change things in your life?

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com

Follow Dr. Sklare on Health Bistro!

MY THOUGHTS

and without life lessons you never learn. when you're stuck you don't get to mature. so, own up. take responsibility and show that you really are managing yourself.

An Ocean Voyage Called Life

An Ocean Voyage Called Life
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published December 29, 2010

Life is a lot like an ocean voyage. We all have a journey ahead of us as we enter this world, but the journey called "Life" is different for everyone. When all is said and done, the twists and turns of your life are intimately tied to the actions you take and decisions you make. In a sense, we each get to choose the kind of journey we take. And we all have storms to endure that test our skills and threaten to sink our ships. Some of you find that your ships capsize easily during emotional storms. Others find a way to stay on board and keep their boats afloat no matter what challenges the seas of life present. It’s true that some seem to encounter more storms than others, but none of us can escape these storms entirely.

Sometimes these storms are predicted and you have time to prepare. For example, when you’ve been given notice that your job will be eliminated. However, other times these storms arise suddenly, like with accidents and illness. Nevertheless, the key to surviving these storms and maintaining your bearings is to keep a level head. Regardless of how often you find yourself in one of these battles, how you respond will determine the extent of the damage you incur. So the next time you feel the choppy waters of life churning, hunker down and persevere! These are more than just mere storms; they are also opportunities for you to gather strength, hone your battle skills and create character!

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com

MY THOUGHTS

well put. some may think nothing is new in this article. what caught my attention is the phrase "intimately tied" to our actions and decisions. it's a cop out to think that what happens to us is fate. that way we don't need to take responsibility for our actions. but God gave us the wisdom to make choices, to decide on which path to take. it's not God's intention for us to simply wait for His plans to be realized. His intention is for us to journey with Him and be the person He wants us to be. how long and how stormy the journey would be depends on how closely we journey with him. the "straight path" is truly the "path less chosen". it's easier to be crooked. there are no rules. no standards. you feel free. and yet it's the crookedness of life that makes us prisoners. and the true freedom we want can only be reached if we journey through the "straight" path. for sure there will be "choppy waters" here and there. but remember, with God you never journey on your own. you are the captain of your own ship. but you use God's map. even if you get lost. you will be found.

Driver or Passenger?

Driver or Passenger?
Daily Inspiration
By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach
Published December 14, 2010

When you boil it all down, there are basically two types of people in this world: drivers and passengers. The drivers take charge, grab the helm and take on a leadership role during periods of crisis. The passengers take direction well, excel in working closely with others and get the job done.

Even though we all exhibit both of these behaviors at times, you’re typically and consistently more one than the other. Today I ask you to consider this concept and think about the following question: When it comes to matters in your life, do you take on the role of the driver or passenger?

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com

MY THOUGHTS

in my life, i'm a driver most definitely. especially when no one else is taking the wheel. but once in a while, it feels good to let someone else do the driving. there's also a lot to learn from being the passenger. what i know about driving i didn't just learn on my own. i become a better driver when i remind myself of how it feels to be a passenger. but of course, i drive only up to certain point. and i try hard to use the map of the greatest driver of all. God is the one who's supposed to drive my life. and for as long as i'm in tune with Him, even if i get lost, for sure, he'll direct me to the right path.

3 Ways to Break Out of a Career Rut

3 Ways to Break Out of a Career Rut
By Jessica Stillman | September 23, 2010

Learning, like getting in shape, isn’t a comfortable process. If you’re not sweating and worrying about whether you’re adequate to the task, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. And what’s true in the classroom and at the gym is also true at the office, according to an excellent guest post by Tara Mohr on blog Productive Flourishing.

Entrepreneur Mohr shares her own story about plateauing at a place where she was comfortable with her skills but not gaining many new ones, but her problem could be experienced just as easily by someone working at a large company. She relates that six months into starting her business,

Things started to settle. I had a regular group of clients. I had run a few workshops. I was guest posting regularly… That was April 2010. Now we’re in September. Here’s what I’ve noticed: I’ve gotten stuck in a business comfort zone.

So what is Mohr doing to break out of her rut? She has a three-step process to get fired up for new career challenges:

Get clear on the current state reality. Write down the list of business activities that are within your comfort zone and those things that are outside of it. In your second list, focus on the top five activities you believe would enrich your business but that you are avoiding, delaying, ignoring, because they are out of your comfort zone. How do you know if you are avoiding something because it’s outside of your comfort zone? These are some good indicators: Do you get anxious when you think about doing it? Does it involve risking rejection, “failure,” or taking messy, imperfect action? Do you get mentally foggy when thinking about it?

Clear your own BS. Using your list, review the items outside of your comfort zone one by one and deconstruct or disprove the BS that is stopping you from going after each one. Create new incentives. We all have a huge natural incentive to play it safe. We have to create an alternative incentive to leave the comfort zone. When my husband and I were working conventional jobs, we had a special agreement on salary negotiations. We agreed that the first one of us to ask for a raise that got turned down by the company would win a prize from the other. On the one hand, we both wanted to win. On the other hand, neither of us wanted to propose a raise so outlandish it would offend our bosses. That stretched us to ask for the most money we thought would be perceived as not-offensive. We gave ourselves an incentive to take a risk.

If you’re curious what sort of BS Mohr is talking about in her second point, she lists three types that often come up and ways to combat each:

Fears. Fear of rejection, failure and the unknown. Get down to that root of the fear. See it for what it is. Have compassion for yourself. Question whether the fear is realistic, and look at whether you are willing to move forward in spite of the fear.
Inner critic chatter. You might hear your inner critic saying you aren’t ready to do x, that you aren’t good enough. You might hear old stories that you picked up from your mean second grade teacher, about how you can’t write or aren’t good with people. It’s all BS. Notice how the inner critic is functioning to keep you in the comfort zone, and start separating your own best thinking from its voice. Create a character and a name for your inner critic and talk back to him or her.
Your crazy stories: “I need to get x number of blog subscribers before I reach out to so and so about a collaboration.” “I need to have a fancy website before I sell products.” We make up all kinds of false rules like these about how the world is. Check out your assumptions. Write them down, look at them in the plain light of day, and question them. Talk them over with a friend or adviser.

MY THOUGHTS

what this article is saying to me is i should feel lucky that my job hardly gives me the time to feel my comfort zones. i am not in a plateau. sometimes i feel i'm spiralling down. i tell my boss, "we make 1 step forward and then slide back 5 steps". and yet, in reality, these steps backwards are ways for us to get out of a career rut. i thought this article was about getting another job. silly me. for someone who runs the 7 habits, i should have known, that looking for another job is a cop out. God will not take us to a place where we cannot handle things. He will never take us even a step further. He wants us to take certain steps in faith, even when they seem too much for us. Then, He will put a stop if we can't wing it- and we won't have to make a single step.