I did something completely out of my comfort zone this last
month; I competed in my first powerlifting competition. A powerlifting
competition is when people come together and try to lift more weight than other
people in their weight class. I have always wanted to do one, and I finally
decided that it was now or never. I pulled the trigger, signed up, and then
started training.
Oddly enough, I’ve actually been a marathon runner for the
last 10 years. Yes, I have always lifted weights, but it wasn’t my focus, then at
28-years-old I thought to myself, “what if I did a powerlifting competition?”
That’s how it always begins, right? A question to completely switch gears and
do something we’ve never done before.
The day of the meet, I was so incredibly nervous. I didn’t
know a soul in the room, I didn’t have a trainer, and it felt like everyone but
me knew exactly what they were doing. I saw that the room was set up so that
every single spectator (about 100 people) would be staring at me when I did my
lift. I was afraid I was going to mess up and somehow make a fool of myself.
After seriously considering slipping out of the back door, I decided that I’d stay,
I’d compete, and I’d just hope I didn’t trip and fall.
We are always telling our kids to sign up for dance! Sign up
for swimming lessons! Try out for the school play! Step out of your comfort
zone and try new things! However, when we become adults, most of us get comfortable
in our routines. We get into our daily habits and never question if there is
something better for us out there. We may not be as comfortable as we once were
being in a room full of people we don’t know.
I decided I needed to stay at the competition so that my
daughters could see that their Mom can be brave too. I stayed, I lifted, and it
was the most empowering, exhilarating and coolest things I have ever done. An
insane amount of adrenaline was running through my body because of the nerves
and all the spectators staring, so I was able to lift more than ever before and
actually set a new state record.
I’m going to say to you what you say to your children, try
new things! Step out of your comfort zone! Go after that thing that’s always
been in your mind and heart! Sometimes
it’s hard to jump into something new, but it all starts with a question. Could
I start my own business? Could I run a marathon? Could I write a book? You know
those questions… the ones that light your heart on fire and you just can’t seem
to get the thought out of your mind. Next time, just go for it! Make the first
step! Start the business! Run the marathon! Write the book! You’ll never know if
it will all work out until you try.
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