The Amazing Truth About Moving Out Of Your COMFORT ZONE

You might be wondering what a comfort zone is. What is it that you do every day? Do you wake up at 8 am and go to a job that you have been in for years? That's a comfort zone. Do you only paint pictures of landscapes? That's a comfort zone. Do you love singing but avoid doing so in public because it makes you nervous? Then that's something outside of your comfort zone. 

I am an anxious, nervous person by nature so I always stayed in my comfort zone. Why would I want added stress in my life? That has changed recently. Graduation from university required me to public speak. A lot. So if I wanted that degree, I needed to so it. After I graduated high school, I needed a job. I took one as a youth care worker where I work with children with challenging behaviors. That caused me a lot of anxiety in the beginning as the work was brand new to me. My brother talked to into going to Los Angeles with him. Traveling independently was definitely out my comfort zone, but I did it. Posting my art online and blogging. These things are new to me and it was challenging and stressful to do so. 

Why would you want to do something that causes you stress or anxiety? Moving out of your comfort zone is an opportunity for amazing growth. The anxiety that you feel when you are doing something new is good! It means you are learning and growing. 

So if you want to grow, move out of your comfort zone. Make the change. It can be something small like posting your art work online or something big like changing careers. And if you don't want to grow, by all means stay in your bubble. But before you make that decision, read further for what you will experience when you move out of your comfort zone. 

1. You Will Learn

When you try something new you will make mistakes but you will also learn from those mistakes. And you will just learn in general which is an enriching experience. Learning is great. Who doesn't want to be more knowledgeable?

2. You Will Appreciate Failure And Rejection

Moving out of your comfort zone is not always easy. You may face criticism, failure and even rejection. Keep going! If you do, you will come to see these things as an opportunity. When one door closes, ten more open, right?

3. You Will Gain Confidence

If you survived switching careers or singing in public, you will never sweat the small stuff. You will have this confidence that makes you feel like you conquer the world (and you definitely can!). 

4. You Will Become Unstoppable

I'm not joking. More out of your comfort zone a few times and you will become addicted. I'm always looking for a change and to try something new. 

5. You Will Make Memories

I think about the first time I gave a presentation in school. I was nervous, my voice quivered, I never looked up from my notes, and at one point I lost my train of thought. It took me several moments to get back on track. At the time, I felt so embarrassed. But I did it and I look at how far I've come since then. When you move out of your comfort zone, you will make many inspiring and sometimes funny memories that you will cherish forever.

6. You Just Might Find Your Passion

When you move out of your comfort zone, you will learn a lot about yourself. Your strengths and weaknesses; what you want and don't want in life. This can cause you stumble on (or perhaps reignite) a passion that you never knew you had.

7. You Are Likely To Create A Lifestyle From Your Passion

I have already established how inspiring and motivating moving out of comfort zone is. Once you discover your passion, you will no longer be afraid to chase your dreams. Warning! This can change your life in the best possible way.

You need discomfort and uncertainty to change and grow. Great things will happen when you take a leap of faith and try something new. When it's all said and done, you will have no regrets. The only regret you can have is never trying.

Thanks for reading, and good luck.

Ang

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Unhealthy (Again)

If you are anything like me, you value a healthy diet. But you often find yourself reverting back to your old eating habits, even if it's only for a short time. I know. It really is a struggle. But there is something that helps me get back on track.

There are so many articles and videos on the web about what happens to your body when you start to eat healthy. It's important to educate yourself on this and use it as motivation to make good food choices. However, whenever I fall "off the wagon", I notice a lot of changes in my body. Feelings that I never noticed when in the past when my diet was consistently poor.

To be honest, it's hard to see the positive changes in your body until it's taken away. That's why I want to share with you what happens to my body when I eat poorly for a weeks or even days. I use these adverse feelings as motivation to make the best choices I can with regards to food.

1. Constipation Hurts

I know. TMI. But early in my life when I never gave food much thought, I was chronically constipated. I knew that but it never really bothered me because I never felt pain from it. Boy has that changed. If I have a few days or more of poor eating, guaranteed I won't be able to use the bathroom which now gives me serious stomach aches.

2. You Can Get Food Drunk

I had several weeks of eating a primarily raw vegan diet. I ended up "relapsing" and had a few days of eating a lot of processed, sugary, fatty foods and you know what? I got drunk. Food drunk. I had those warm fuzzy feelings alcohol tends to give us. It felt good. I never noticed that sensation before. I remember understanding at that moment why people find junk food so hard to give up.

3. Junk Food Depresses Us

I think this is tied to the previous point. But after several heavy, fatty meals, I noticed I felt a little sedated. I actually told the person I was with that I was "numbed by food". The scary thing was that I liked the sensation. I never noticed it in the past, but food is a drug. More specifically, a depressant.

4. Food Affects Our Sleep Cycle

I'm generally an early (ish) riser. I often wake up before my alarm ready to face the day. However, if I ate junk food the day before, especially after 4-5 p.m., I will be able to sleep around the clock the next day. And I always thought that me staying in bed until noon was just teenage hormones. Maybe not quite, or at least not exclusively.

5. Junk Food Contributes To Further Cravings

Growing up, I always thought that I had a sweet tooth or a big appetite. I realize now that when I eat well my cravings are kept at bay as I feel satisfied.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be controlled by food. I don't want it to make me sick, tired, and numb and cause cravings to perpetuate the cycle. That's why I don't feel terribly distressed when I I fall off my healthy diet. I use the experience as fuel to get back on my healthy lifestyle.

So don't get discouraged if you fall of your healthy eating journey. It make take several efforts for your brain and body to detox from the old in order to make a new association between good food and feeling your best.

Keep trying. You (and I) will get there.

Ang

Want To Let Go Of A Thought, Fear, Or Worry? Read This For The One Thing You Need To Know.

You're worried that you won't have enough money to pay the bills next month? Accept it.

You haven't been feeling well lately. You think you might have cancer and you only have a few months left to live. Maybe so. A lot of people die of illness.

Your partner has been distant. You keep thinking that they are having an affair with one of their coworkers. So what? You will be able to find someone else too.

Have you ever had a thought, worry, or concern take over your life? Maybe it was one that I mentioned. Maybe it was something else. Either way, it takes over your life. It's literally all you can think about.

You probably google signs and symptoms. Maybe you keep replaying a scenario in your head over and over. You keep making assumptions.

I have been in this situation for almost my whole life. It gets to to the point where you would do anything to have a peace of mind. To get your life back.

I know that my responses to the above scenarios sound harsh. But this, acceptance, has been a pivotal point in my life.

I believe one of the reasons that we keep obsessing over things is because of the uncertainty. Not necessarily the outcome itself. And this uncertainty causes us to conjure up the worst case scenarios. I guarantee that if one of those situations were true, we would handle it with courage and confidence. People do all the time.

If you really want to put your worries/obsessions or whatever you want to call them to rest, you need to do one thing: accept it. Yes, it's scary and yes, it takes a leap of faith. But just try it. Look at all the possible outcomes to your troubles (good and bad) and accept them. Tell yourself that if this is how it's going to be, you will handle it. Remind yourself that the world will not spin out of orbit if your fears come to fruition. Tell yourself you will worry about it once it actually happens (it usually doesn't). People are put in challenging situations all the time. You (and me) are no exception to that. You just got to deal with it.

Once you accept all the possible outcomes, anxiety about the unknown goes away. It has no choice but to. They are polar opposite ways of thinking and feeling.

Accepting the unknown outcome was what really allowed me to change my thought process. It gave me so much mental clarity. I never thought I would make it to this point. But I did and you can certainly can too.

I hope you find this helpful.

Ang

I wrote another article on a similar topic. You might find it helpful:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/do-you-have-repetitive-distressing.html

How To Enjoy Your Trip To The Fullest

I have been having a deep desire to travel this past couple of years. I have had a couple of dreams recently that I was going to England and Germany. I'm currently looking into going somewhere within the next few months.

Traveling is also very daunting. Especially when you are going solo or with people who are not experienced travelers. Last May, me and my brother, out of almost no where, booked a flight and accommodations to go to California. Naturally, when the date of our flight got closer, I became worried and I wondered if I made a mistake. Should we have went with more people? Are we safe? How will we get around? What if we get lost? Should we have waited for a better time?

Let me tell you. If you have the money and resources to travel, there will never be a better time. Yes, it is intimidating but it is also an incredible learning experience and an opportunity for growth. It's always a matter of perspective.

Looking back on my visit major excursion, I made a couple of mistakes. Not mistakes that made me regret my trip. More like, mistakes that held me back from enjoying my trip to the fullest. I will definitely keep these "mistakes" is mind next time I travel. But for now, I would like you to read them. I hope they resonate within you and help you make the most of your next trip (and life, in general).

1. Go With The Flow

While it's important to have a plan (i.e., places you would like to see, the hotel you are going to stay), try not to obsess over every detail. This can take you out of being in the moment and that is kind of the opposite of a vacation or get-away, in my opinion. As long as you are being safe, have a cell phone, and a GPS or map, don't be afraid to get "lost". Explore a little. You will never know what you may find. These make the best stories and memories!

2. Try Not To Feel Out Of Place

When I first arrived in the Los Angeles, I felt that everyone was looking at me thinking "there's a Canadian girl here". This can be especially so if you do not look like the people around you. Which made me feel more vulnerable when I was in Korea Town. In actuality, no one is judging you and who cares if they do. These feelings only prevented me from truly enjoying the moment. Be confident in yourself and have fun. And ask yourself what your reaction would be if you say a tourist where you are from. I'm sure it would not be a negative reaction.

3. Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes

The general routine in California is much different than where I'm from. I was scared I would make a mistake and look like I was being disrespectful and I felt stupid if I asked a question. Not only did this stop me from doing things that I would have liked to do, it also took me from the present moment. Don't worry to much if you make a mistake or need to ask a question. If you do this you are really making the most of your trip, in my opinion.

4. Do Not Be So Obsessed With Time

I was always so afraid we were going to miss our bus. Because of this, we ended up leaving some places before we really had the chance to explore them. Is it really a big deal if you miss a bus? There will always be another. A cabs are readily available as well. Breathe. Take your time. Explore and enjoy.

With all that being said, it's still important to be a smart traveler. Plan and prepare well in advanced. Have a taxi number in your phone. Don't go anywhere alone at night. And if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. But there is a difference between being unsafe and being obsessive.

These suggestions are based on my experience of one recent trip. I'm sure I could easily write an updated or revised list after another experience.

I hope this helps.

I wish you a wonderful vacation :)

Ang

This is when I was in Santa Monica. I really wanted to stay longer, but I was afraid I would miss my bus and never get back to my hotel. Why I didn't go there another day I have no idea.

Tips That I Use To Shop Less (A Minimalist's Guide)

A couple of days ago, a wrote an article on how I keep my home minimal. One of those tips was to shop less. I wanted to talk more about this so I decided to give it an article of its own.

Today's society has such a strong emphasis on materialism. Not only are we exposed to advertisements every single day, society has taught us that we should reward ourselves with "stuff". You work hard, life is short, buy this item.

I don't believe minimalism is attainable if you find yourself in a shop more than once a week. What's the point of cleaning out your home if you're going to replace it with more stuff? That's a waste of time, money, and resources. If you are dabbling around in a minimalism lifestyle, less buying is crucial.

I know first hand how difficult it can be to not shop. I never thought of myself as materialistic but looking back on it, I probably had a bit of problem with shopping. But I have to say that I have made some changes this past year and reducing the amount of time I spend shopping has changed my life in so many ways. It has given me more time to engage in productive activities (like writing a blog). It has given me more money to invest in other things such as travelling, which is fantastic! But above all that, it has given me a new freedom. I no longer feel tied to this idea of consumerism. I have been able to live minimally which has been a liberating experience.

But it hasn't come without any struggles. I have had a few slip ups. I don't think of them as failures, though. I learned a lot about myself and my need to shop through these failures. I am going to share what has worked for me with you.

1. Think Of How Much Time You Spend Shopping

You probably live a busy life. Maybe you're a parent or a full-time student or worker. Or maybe you do all of those things and more! What do you do in your time off? I would often spend my days off shopping. When I got home, I would be disappointed that I never spent my day off doing something more productive. Now the best part of the day is over and I had to work in the next morning. Boo.

Do you have books you want to read? Documentaries you want to catch up on? A painting you haven't finished yet? These things are attainable depending on how you manage your time. Next time you're getting ready to go shop, ask yourself what's more important. Self-improvement and quality fun time or spending 3 or 4 hours (if not more) shopping.

Making this connection has seriously reduced the amount of time I spend in the stores. I find myself blogging and drawing much more than what I use to.

2. Find Your Passion

The previous tip will be difficult for those you haven't discovered a passion yet. If you haven't found one yet, keep trying! Think back to a time in your life when you had no responsibilities. Was there something you would do? Something you could do for hours that seemed to make time disappear? Do more research, join different groups you think you might like. Try something new. The worse that can happen is you won't like it and you will move on something else.

Finding a passion will give your life so much meaning and fulfillment. You will no longer feel the need to look for external stimulation (shopping) when you have downtime.

3. Beware Of The Media

I have a guilty pleasure. I love Korean Pop (Kpop) music. I could easily spend hours watching Kpop music videos. I never thought for a second that this could affect how much time I spend shopping. But it did. You see, when we are exposed to media, we are exposed to beautiful men and women who are prompting the latest fashion trends. They are style icons after all. When I saw Kpop idols wearing certain clothes or using certain beauty product, I would plan to go and buy these items on my next day off.

Now, I don't think it's fair to say that media "caused" my shopping problem. I don't believe I was brainwashed and I do have self-control. But media was a trigger for me and it definitely increased my desire you want to shop and buy more things. Go a week with minimal exposure to the media whether that's TV, YouTube, Instagram, etc. and see if that lessens your desire to shop. You might be surprised.

4. Shop At Stores That Offer Full Refunds

I have made mistakes along the way and found myself buying more stuff than what I needed. The good news is that when I came home, I felt guilty for buying and I ended up returning a lot of what I had bought. You may have given into a temptation at the mall but it is much easier to rationalize at home. Ensure that you can return what you buy.

I'm not saying that shopping is evil. I still enjoy it on occasion. Although I'm not perfect (nor will I ever be), I have become a much more mindful shopper. I feel happier and freer and I wouldn't change that for anything.

Sincerely,
Ang

How I Maintain A Minimalist Life

I wrote an article recently about the true meaning of minimalism. I have been interested in minimalism and I have been trying to obtain this lifestyle of quiet sometime. If something in my home doesn't add value or purpose to life, I will get rid of it.

Reducing the amount of stuff you have in your home is not hard but it can be an ongoing task depending on how much you accumulated. I have been working on reducing what I own for quite some time now (maybe a year or so?) and I'm still working on it. I know getting rid of your possessions is intimidating, but fear not! I have developed a method for maintaining a minimalist life that I would like to share with anyone who may be interested.

1. Clean Out Your Home On A Regular Basis

Most people seem to clean out there house twice a year: during the spring and winter. I go through my closet and other areas of my home almost on a monthly basis. I will go through my stuff and get rid of things I know I don't use or don't want. Knowing that in a few more weeks I can do this again makes getting rid of what I have a lot less intimating. I would rather take months to get rid of stuff that I know I don't want as opposed to rushing the process and getting rid of items I may regret tossing.

2. Put Your Items In Storage

If you come across some items that you are unsure you want to get rid of, put them in a box or a bag and put them away in storage somewhere. A place where you can't see it. If a few months pass and you have completely forgotten about that item, there is a very good chance it's something you can do without. Then you can toss it on your next cleaning day.

3. Stop Shopping

There is seriously no point in taking any of my recommendations if you keep shopping. Even if you shop with the intention of being mindful, there is a good chance you are going to bring in useless garbage at some point of another. The quick fix to this is to reduce how often you shop!

4. Be Mindful Of What You Get Rid Of

I have a two flashlights in my home. I hardly use them, but I won't toss them. They came in handy when our power went suddenly for 24 hours!  Are you getting rid of that lamp because you have no use for it? Or because it isn't aesthetically pleasing? You don't want to get rid of things only to go buy something similar to it again. That's a waste of money and resources.

On a side not, when I say to "get rid of stuff", I don't necessarily mean throwing it in the garbage. I would recommend you donate, re-gift, or upcycle your stuff. That way they have a better chance of getting the home they deserve and staying out of our landfills!

I hope you find my suggestions helpful. If you have any of your own, I would love for you to share!

Happy cleaning!

Angie