Step it up a Notch
I had an interesting conversation with an associate today about the need to inspire others to move out of their comfort zones and into a greater, fuller expression of themselves. As with so many conversations or events that catch my eye or interest, my thoughts on the matter have evolved through the day and it is my delight to share them with you in the hopes that you and those around you might be inspired to step your living up a notch.
Let’s Face It #1
It is so easy to let yourself be lulled into a false sense of security that comes with familiarity, but let’s face it, we live in a dynamic world in which change is constantly afoot. Despite the earnest efforts of many throughout history to defy the laws of living, you cannot really “stay the same” for in so doing you fall behind and eventually apart, for adaptation is critical to survival.
On “Staying the Same”
To be sure, you cannot “stay the same” physically, for your body is constantly exchanging cellular material with your environment and you, biologically speaking, are not the same person as you were yesterday or that you will be by the time you finish reading this post!
Try as you may to “stay the same” mentally by clamping down on ideas and beliefs to which you vow to adhere come hell or high water, your mind is constantly adapting neurologically to the changing stimuli around you.
And your heart, well, don’t even get me started! Your heart, as much as some like to use it as their brain and others like to ignore it all cost, is the most impressionable and thus malleable of the tools you have which give the inner you, your spirit, your being, or whatever you’d prefer to call it sentience, sentiments and mobility – your body, mind and heart!
Let’s Face It #2
Everyone has experienced tragedy, loss or failure of some sort in his life at some point or another. Some are exposed to more devastating and chronic negative influences while others manage to escape relatively unscathed, but we all have mental, emotional and physical scarring to deal with. The more extreme cases may require delicate handling, but everyone has an opportunity to move forward, to grow up and to move more gracefully with the flow of life that will occur with or without the participation of humanity.
What can you do today to step it up a notch? One of the best ways to answer this is to first ask yourself “what limiting assumptions have I held in this area of my living?” An honest answer to this query will invariably get the ball rolling. Maybe you’ve held someone hostage by your prejudiced views or inflexible expectations of them. Or perhaps you’ve not felt yourself up to the task of taking the next step to expand your world. Limiting assumptions always lead to atrophy, which in turn lead to entropy.
I do not possess enough faith to believe that the dizzying complexity of your body’s construction with all of its levels of coordinated organization, the intricate design of your mind and the limitless potential of your heart came together to form the peculiar vehicle that allows for the expression of the unique focus of life that you are just so that you could live a life of mediocrity! You are here to grow and learn, to move from glory unto glory each and every day of your life so that your soul (in the sense of nephesh, that is, the tangible aspects of your life – your body mind and heart) can accommodate the steadily expanding and refining expression of your spirit, the invisible, intangible aspect of you.
This is important for you personally, but the greater blessing is to the world around you. Each time you step it up a notch you prove to those around you that they too can take heart and move forward. Life is too precious to waste by dithering in mediocrity or settling for the sake of comfort.
Rise up and bring it!
Gregory Hake 
Great post. For me it’s about my spiritual condition. The closer I get to the God within me, the more I grow. Let me add I am not a religious person. Too much conformity and creation by culture for my taste. I have found what serves me well in my spiritual path, and this is what keeps me ever growing and evolving. REALLY enjoy this thank you!
LikeLike
I like your approach and am happy to hear you enjoyed this post!
LikeLike
The least we can do in our lifetime is to move from glory to glory, giving the truth of who we are the greatest chance of expression, or we ourselves become the jailers, locking away the evidence of our own greatness. Life is a gift, one that can be easily wasted by refusal to learn from our mistakes or failure to take responsibility for the world around us. To chose to “step it up” may take some courage but the consequences of not making the changes, to not choose to “grow up” are far worse. We do all have an abundance of emotional scars and traumas, mistakes have been made, but why allow that to be a reason to give up on our lives? I know that for myself, there are alot of people that depend on me to “step it up”, and I will do just that, everyday! Thanks Gregg!
LikeLike
Giving up is not an option!
LikeLike
I absolutely love this Gregg.
LikeLike
Why thank you, sir!
LikeLike
Asking yourself what limiting assumptions you have is really a brilliant starting point. We all have lenses which we view the world through, but a question like this should be able to cut through them. There are a few more questions that might also be helpful. Where do you feel like you are living a mediocre life? Where do you feel like you’ve fallen into a rut? Is there somebody that you need to forgive for something?
There is always a way to bring it to the next level. If you think that you’ve reached your highest potential, I would like to talk to you and learn your secret. But if you feel like there’s still some progress to be made, remember: to take steps forward, you don’t need to take steps back. Constant, daily progress is possible.
Thanks for a great one!
LikeLike
“There is always a way to bring it to the next level.” I agree!
LikeLike
When life flows, the changes come and we are urged by its nature to expand and refine. Resisting this wastes time and opportunity and in the end is futile. Vive la change!
LikeLike
Resisting change is painful and well, futile.
LikeLike
I don’t think trying to keep things the same can really be called a comfort zone. Real comfort is when we feel alive, vibrant and necessary to more than ourselves. Your blog is one of the beacons that increase my ability to fulfill my purpose as I understand it. I also have other things I read and practice; all these inspire and challenge my status quo. If we are to step it up a notch I think it will always require the interest followed by actions. Since osmosis also may be an advantage, be sure to as much as possible to surround yourself with influences that are expanding not clutching to the past with pestilent ascendancy.
Thank you for your practical inspiration.
LikeLike
Interest followed by action. This is not a mind game! It involves every aspect of ourselves, inner and outer!
LikeLike
love this post! & the picture is worth a thousand words!
as Les Brown would say, “you gotta be HUNGRY!” – check it out –
LikeLike
I’ve seen that happen, it’s true. Say when one person begins to assume more responsibility in their job, their peers immediately are faced with some new quality from that person that was not there before. Everyone perks up a bit in a sense, and that must be that ‘intangible’ finding a greater range of expression.
All will feel it, but the reaction can be quite different. I believe it is natural to join with it if your defenses aren’t too high, and thus you are inspired to do the same. There’s a spark and a crackle in the air and it can be irresistible! If the walls of your heart and mind have grown thick, then it can be a challenge for that inspiring quality to penetrate and the feelings and reasons quickly flood in echoing your defensive position. It can be tough, but it is never hopeless. Everyone deserves a chance, and perhaps through one’s consistent commitment to growth and refinement, the walls the world ’round one day will crumble.
Now, the aim personally is to always step it up! To view each day to see where I can interact with those around better and more fully. That ultimately forces me to step out of comfort zones if my aim is to find its target. I realize it isn’t so bad after all; in fact, something is freed up inside and the release of energy that follows has no comparison.
LikeLike
Great post, love it and I plan to see where I’ve had limiting assumptions and step it up a notch!
LikeLike
Great post! Thanks.
LikeLike
“Each time you step it up a notch you prove to those around you that they too can take heart and move forward.” A refreshing motivation that we do things not simply for ourselves or to prove better than others. Let’s let go of those fictitious models and as you say, “rise up and bring it!”
LikeLike