60 thoughts on “Feeling the fear and not doing it anyway.”
No! I only have to prove things to myself and challenge myself daily to be reminded I do count. Walking on glass would only have proven something to the others and I don’t need approval. It’s taken many years to realize I do love myself and I like me.
I don’t think I would’ve done it. The sensible part of me thinks cuts on the feet, blood, fainting from the sight of blood and embarrassing myself by doing so. But… I have done plenty of things in the past 6 months that I NEVER thought I’d do, so maybe if it came down to it, just maybe I’d try.
I definitely wouldn’t have done it preggers though. I took a gazillion precautions whilst pregnant!
I am super keen to hear more about these personal development type books and classes though. I am in serious need of some direction at the moment.
Those activities are to show you that you can do things you didn’t think possible. You don’t necessarily need to do it if you already understand that. Do I think I could jump out of a plane strapped to a Shute if necessary? Yes. Do I need to risk my life prove that to myself? No I don’t. Would I be scared? Damn Skippy! But I know I could and that’s enough for me. You especially have nothing to prove as a pregnant woman. You made the right decision because it was the right one for you (and your baby).
I wouldn’t have walked on broken glass in a million years, pregnant or not, but then I have no patience for self-help books and classes. I find them self-serving and false, but that’s just me.
My niece recently did a fire wlak and I know it was empowering for her. I think I would have waited to see the feet of those who walked first on the glass 🙂 I’m interested – did they get cut feet?
No one cut their feet, others have – but it was only minor. It was when they were trying to rush through – instead of being present and aware.
My niece’s challenge was different in that she signed up for it and was given training so that she was mentally well prepared in the run up to the event. It’s quite another thing to put people on the spot. Also being the the UK I’m wondering about health and safty and risk assessments which basically stop people doing all sort of things far less risky than walking on glass!
“I was really comfortable with my decision”…That’s all you need to answer your own question. The glass walking was just an exercise to help people realize they can overcome their fears to reach their goals, but choosing not to do it and then dealing with the insecurities that followed was overcoming another type of fear, isn’t it? People questioned your decision, made you feel insecure about it (perhaps revealing some insecurities about why they decided to do it?) and you questioned yourself. But I think you made the decision that was right for you and that’s another important factor in living a fulfilling life on your own terms, which is really what they were getting at all along, right?
To be honest I wouldn’t have done it either! I think of all the things that can happen like slicing your foot open. What if someone else had sliced their foot and they bled all over the glass? What about bloodborne pathogens? I wouldn’t want to walk on it even if the blood had been cleaned up. It isn’t that I live my life in the confort zone, I just choose not to put my future at risk. I can achieve my goals without walking on glass. Those are just my thoughts.
I think there’s a difference between *physical harm* (walking on broken glass) and *outside your comfort zone* (say, bungee jumping, which is terrifying but has fourteen billion safety precautions built in). I also believe it’s very “to each her own”. It’s more the rush of, “I’ve just done this thing I did NOT think I could do!” Walking on broken glass is awfully narrow and specific. I own the boundaries of my comfort zone, I don’t think I’d be okay with letting someone else define them with their empty shards.
I would have, it would be safe otherwise they wouldnt let people do it so the only thing holding me back would have been the fear.. and may be the trust issue lol But never do anything that other people want you to do, if you walk on the glass, let it be on your term!
I Love the “idea” of it! Every time you “feel” stuck you can “picture” yourself walking over the glass to get to where you want to be! But no I would not have actually done it either! The thought is good enough for me! Thank-you so much for sharing!
I think that mental picture of walking over the glass would be brilliant to reflect on. x
I wouldn’t have done it pregnant either Chantelle. I’d like to think I would do it otherwise, but it would take some serious thought! 🙂
You’re an over-thinker…. Just like me. *sigh*
Oh yes, I can pull apart the most simple of situations and read into them. Such a talent we have!
You know what? I’m actually pretty proud of you for making a decision and sticking with it, despite what would have been some pretty full-on peer pressure. You’re pregnant, you made a considered, well-thought out decision and stuck with it. I mean – if you ever really feel you really need to walk on broken glass, I’m sure it can be arranged, can’t it?
We do the best we can at the time with the information we have at the time. Sometimes everyone else is doing it, sometimes people think we’re mad, but we we do it anyway, and sometimes people wonder why you aren’t doing what they are all doing.
I wouldn’t be sweating the small stuff (it’s small stuff in the big scheme of things) 🙂
Nope! I’m a big fan of no one pushing you into anything you don’t want to do! What’s wrong with the comfort zone? I love the comfort zone!! But I do love all of that personal development stuff, too. I went through a phase (before kids) as well. I remember Louise Hay fondly. Great post! 🙂
I love my times being in the comfort zone, but my greatest joy has come from the times I’ve pushed myself out of it and experienced something new and almost uncomfortable {riding in helicopters, traveling overseas without loved ones, speaking in public}.
It definitely made me think.
32 weeks pregnant, no I wouldn’t have walked across the glass. But who knows, in some other situation, I’d probably have said no, too.
I’ve faced a similar moment this week. An invite to an important meeting with someone very powerful, over a topic which is very close to my heart. I panicked when I received the email – what if I screw it up? Rather than live with the fear, I could just say no and stay safe and do nothing. After freaking out for a while, I said yes because I couldn’t stand the thought of living with regret.
That said, you strike me as someone who jumps at opportunities and knows their own strengths – I don’t think you need broken glass walking to prove that to yourself.
I do push myself, like you, at times to go beyond my comfort zone. Sometimes it takes a lot of pushing and struggling to get myself there, but that feeling afterwards is so good.
I hope you enjoy that meeting, and that while it might be uncomfortable… it’s pretty darn amazing. x
I’m not a huge fan of doing things just because other people say you should. Who’s to say that the organisers of this event really knew that this was the best way to step out of your comfort zone? And the fact that you mentioned your fluttering unborn child means the safety of you (and your unborn babe) are far more important than proving to this mob that you could cut up your feet on some (hopefuly sterilized) alcohol bottles. I personally put broken-glass-walking-upon into the category of things I never want to try.
No I don’t think I would! But I faced that challenge – to question my comfort zone – after the death of my only niece! Losing her & the grief, depression & great sense of loss that followed made me question my whole life! She was my only siblings only child & I can’t have children, we had a special bond – the death of my niece felt like the death of the future! Of our family! The death of any hope for a future! But somehow 2 years on the clouds are parting and I can see a future and hope and a very different life for me!!!
Everybody finds their glass in a different way to be able to ask the questions, face their fears and see all the positive life changing moments- maybe for now that is all you need – to question your comfort zone!
Monique your words are the truest I think I have ever heard /read …we all need to find our glass. When the time is right and we want to deal with our comfort zone, then it’s time to walk the glass …so to speak.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your niece, I have two very special young nieces and know the love you feel.
No , no and no I would not have walked the glass, but then I would also not have been at the meeting in the first place 🙂 Be comfortable with your choice!
I think that…not walking on broken glass makes you fearless. You were the most courageous there to deny something you didn’t need to do. Think about how all others bowed their heads looking at that glass and shaking while they were walking on it. In the end you probably walked “by” the glass, this means there will ALWAYS be a different way to solve a problem.
I wouldn’t have!
I’m a personal development fan, but I don’t think I would have walked on the glass, pregnant or not. What would YOU have gained from doing it, Chantelle? You can find the things that you NEED to challenge yourself with, without doing what everyone else in the room does. I think you showed true courage, standing true to your own decision in the face of a group doing something else.
Good question, what would I have gained from doing it?
I’m gonna have to ponder that a little longer. Thank you. x
No way! Life throws enough broken glass at us to test us without us deliberately risking, life, limb and infection!
you know I would have probably have purely because everyone else did….stupid but its true to which I may or may not have regretted it.. congrats on making a decision and sticking to it..
I didn’t do it in a self help happy clappy kind of way… I did it because I knew it was physically viable. I’d seen two people do it before me and I’d googled it in the past. It was a factual thing for me. I knew if I walked slowly, stuck to the middle and allowed my feet to settle in the glass then science would prevent me from hurting myself.
I love how sure you were that you weren’t going to do it. I was watching your face and there was never a flicker of doubt. You just went ‘This is not something I need to do.’ Same as Lorraine. I didn’t see a struggle at all. I don’t think for one minute that means you live in your comfort zone. I think it means you can read what’s necessary in your life and you choose what’s important to you. This wasn’t. Simple as that.
x
Thanks Smags. You rock. xx
Ok I may get caned for this but COME ON!! BROKEN GLASS?? What on earth does that prove? it takes one person to step wrong and get a little cut, bleed on the glass and all of you are walking on it! You have changed and achieved so much in your life in the last couple of years it amazes me how brave and strong you are! You could probably teach them a thing or two! YOU know already it was smart NOT to do it! Life’s short, too bloody short to be walking on glass for goodness sake!! Sorry sweetie, but the Mum in me is thinking if you HAD, I may just have driven up the coast and kicked your butt! Hope nobody is offended by my comment, but come on, BROKEN GLASS???
Ha ha ha. Man, I ADORE you! Thank you. x
Maybe this point has already been made, but you were comfortable with your decision until others challenged you over it. They haven’t walked that mile in your shoes, you needn’t feel guilty about their opinions, as other people have already said, you are quite capable of facing your fears and doing things when you want to and that is the point, when you want to or need to – not just to make some course provider feel good about themselves.
I think it takes more courage and strength to say no to something that everyone else is doing. Standing up for yourself and sticking to your gut in a room full of the pressure to “do it” would be stepping out of your comfort zone in a different but no less important way. Well done you
Yay!
What Lana said!
Life presents each one of us with many paths. The path to walk over the glass was short, and it really wasn’t a learning experience, you learned what you came for before you were asked to walk over the glass. It takes insight to say no when everyone else says yes. You know who you are and what you are about if can stay true to your decisions.
No, but, I’m scared of heights, and on holiday with my hubby once we got lost on a walk. We had to cross a river in a gorge. We found a bridge but the bridge was broken. It had no sides, and bits missing from the edges. He said it would be OK, if we just ran across, one at a time. He took my bag and ran across. I was terrified, I couldn’t run across, so I tried crawling. Half way across I switched to belly-crawling. At no point did he laugh. He just cheered me on. And when I was over he told me he’d not been sure the bridge would hold. I felt great to have achieved it. And really happy to be with him. But I would never choose to do it again!
Oh, that’s symbolic for a strong relationship. What a wonderful support he is/was. I love when Hubby gets us through things and doesn’t let on just how bad they really were.
Sometimes I just need someone to tell me it will be OK, and then we can laugh about how ‘not’ OK it really was.
It’s a bit of a ‘well if every one else was going to jump off a cliff – would you?’ dilemma. I like this post because it touches on the potential side effects of the positive thinking movement (though the event you were at sounds extreme and unprofessional). Louise Hay (love her) teaches us the power is within you, which is fab and all but sometimes when we have moments of ‘normal’, when walking on broken glass seems ridiculous no matter how much we want to face our fears – then the weight of self doubt can seem unbearable. I think you did break out of your comfort zone and that was to say no to the old you and being true to who you are today.
I have been reading everyone’s posts about walking on the glass an while I am very impressed by it all … I can confidently say I wouldn’t have done it. And I wouldn’t have had a problem with not doing it.
Feel the fear and not do it anyway? I love that!
Oh also … What Lana said 🙂
You could think about it in terms of the exercise itself being the life changing experience not the decision as to whether you walked on glass or didn’t walk on glass. The exercise HAS altered your life. As a result of being involved in the exercise, you have set about questioning your boundaries, your comfort zone, your decision making processes and what makes you tick. You posed the question for the rest of us and we have all asked ourselves would we do it or wouldn’t we. So our lives and our perspectives are altered also as a result. You didn’t walk on the glass and that was your choice, those that did would have done it for a whole range of reasons, adrenalin factor, not wanting to be the odd person out, competitiveness, belief that this would change their life in a big way, hope that this would change their life in some way etc, etc. I think your life changes every day dependant on the decisions you make and the pathways you choose. Walking on the glass wasn’t a major life decision nor do I think the act itself be very life changing. Having a baby is. I think women step out of their comfort zones all of the time. Walk on glass? Pfft! Try walking on Lego pieces and matchbox cars while balancing the housework, children, a meaningful relationship, a home, a social life, a full time job, and a healthy weight!!!
Applause!
Yes, I second that applause. What a brilliant, powerful comment. Thanks Marg. x
Abso-blooming-lutely. Hoorah hoorah. Applause to you. You have managed to put into words what a hell of a lot of women are thinking out there, right now!! I wish a lot more people could read your words Marg!!
It took courage not to do it. I wouldn’t of either.i like my comfort zone. Once in a while I will leave it and do something crazy, for me, but I like returning to the zone.
Definitely would not of walked on the glass! Good decision in my book.
I wouldn’t have done it either… I think we challenge ourselves each and every day when we wake each morning to raise our kids. We don’t need to walk on glass to empower ourselves… I look at my kids and know I am empowered because I am raising two children who are healthy, kind, caring and beautiful little human beings. Love Melissa xoxo
So proud of you, you marched to a different drummer! Love all these comments!
“You marched to a different drummer!”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I wouldn’t have done it either! I think you had more substance and more courage within yourself to say ‘no’ I don’t have to do that. You didn’t feel the need to follow the crowd, to be a sheep. That says more about your personality and growth as a person that just doing it because everyone else did. Walking on glass does not relate to your life. Every day we make choices that put us out of our comfort zone and it may just be the simplest choice in your day. As long as you recognise them and learn from them, then thats what life is all about!
No. I have once skipped a practical examination for P.E (it was table tennis) knowing that I would get a failing grade. I couldn’t play. I suck at it so why bother? Although I have to admit that my paranoia and pessimism usually gets to me, if I know the consequence to something I don’t do it. Sometimes that fear keeps me grounded and motivates me to be good. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t taken a risk in my life, usually not taking the “right choice” is already a “risk” and already a big decision. I have made choices that made fail, that made me regret, that made me succeed and that changed my life. My life is this because of all those choices. I feel okay and comfortable even when others believe the contrary.
I’m an adrenaline junky with a high pain tolerance and I would not have walked on the glass because I’m not stupid!
Gah! I wouldn’t have walked on the glass because it’s a dumb thing to do. Just because a bunch of people tell you walking on glass will free your soul, or whatever, doesn’t actually mean they’re right. Questioning what’s in front of you and whether it’s right for you is a good decision. Walking on glass? What the?
The question always is ‘why????’ and the answer in this case is ‘definitely not’. I’ve never seen the point of doing something for the sake of saying I’d done it. x
Amen Sista!!
No I don’t think so. I think you step outside your comfort zones just having this blog. I wrote about this recently on the blog where I decided not to sky dive. I just don’t think its something I need to do to prove I am fearless. I think sometimes we feel we need to prove our fearlessness by doing things like walking on glass when really we have opportunities every day to show this and it is often in the simple things, like making a phone call or writing a revealing post, or talking to a crowd of people. I truly believe these small things are what have pushed me out of my comfort zones far more than walking on the glass ever would. It made me see my fears were bigger in my mind than they really were but I don’t think its going to push me to new heights.
No! I only have to prove things to myself and challenge myself daily to be reminded I do count. Walking on glass would only have proven something to the others and I don’t need approval. It’s taken many years to realize I do love myself and I like me.
I don’t think I would’ve done it. The sensible part of me thinks cuts on the feet, blood, fainting from the sight of blood and embarrassing myself by doing so. But… I have done plenty of things in the past 6 months that I NEVER thought I’d do, so maybe if it came down to it, just maybe I’d try.
I definitely wouldn’t have done it preggers though. I took a gazillion precautions whilst pregnant!
I am super keen to hear more about these personal development type books and classes though. I am in serious need of some direction at the moment.
Those activities are to show you that you can do things you didn’t think possible. You don’t necessarily need to do it if you already understand that. Do I think I could jump out of a plane strapped to a Shute if necessary? Yes. Do I need to risk my life prove that to myself? No I don’t. Would I be scared? Damn Skippy! But I know I could and that’s enough for me. You especially have nothing to prove as a pregnant woman. You made the right decision because it was the right one for you (and your baby).
I wouldn’t have walked on broken glass in a million years, pregnant or not, but then I have no patience for self-help books and classes. I find them self-serving and false, but that’s just me.
My niece recently did a fire wlak and I know it was empowering for her. I think I would have waited to see the feet of those who walked first on the glass 🙂 I’m interested – did they get cut feet?
No one cut their feet, others have – but it was only minor. It was when they were trying to rush through – instead of being present and aware.
My niece’s challenge was different in that she signed up for it and was given training so that she was mentally well prepared in the run up to the event. It’s quite another thing to put people on the spot. Also being the the UK I’m wondering about health and safty and risk assessments which basically stop people doing all sort of things far less risky than walking on glass!
“I was really comfortable with my decision”…That’s all you need to answer your own question. The glass walking was just an exercise to help people realize they can overcome their fears to reach their goals, but choosing not to do it and then dealing with the insecurities that followed was overcoming another type of fear, isn’t it? People questioned your decision, made you feel insecure about it (perhaps revealing some insecurities about why they decided to do it?) and you questioned yourself. But I think you made the decision that was right for you and that’s another important factor in living a fulfilling life on your own terms, which is really what they were getting at all along, right?
To be honest I wouldn’t have done it either! I think of all the things that can happen like slicing your foot open. What if someone else had sliced their foot and they bled all over the glass? What about bloodborne pathogens? I wouldn’t want to walk on it even if the blood had been cleaned up. It isn’t that I live my life in the confort zone, I just choose not to put my future at risk. I can achieve my goals without walking on glass. Those are just my thoughts.
I think there’s a difference between *physical harm* (walking on broken glass) and *outside your comfort zone* (say, bungee jumping, which is terrifying but has fourteen billion safety precautions built in). I also believe it’s very “to each her own”. It’s more the rush of, “I’ve just done this thing I did NOT think I could do!” Walking on broken glass is awfully narrow and specific. I own the boundaries of my comfort zone, I don’t think I’d be okay with letting someone else define them with their empty shards.
I would have, it would be safe otherwise they wouldnt let people do it so the only thing holding me back would have been the fear.. and may be the trust issue lol But never do anything that other people want you to do, if you walk on the glass, let it be on your term!
I Love the “idea” of it! Every time you “feel” stuck you can “picture” yourself walking over the glass to get to where you want to be! But no I would not have actually done it either! The thought is good enough for me! Thank-you so much for sharing!
I think that mental picture of walking over the glass would be brilliant to reflect on. x
I wouldn’t have done it pregnant either Chantelle. I’d like to think I would do it otherwise, but it would take some serious thought! 🙂
You’re an over-thinker…. Just like me. *sigh*
Oh yes, I can pull apart the most simple of situations and read into them. Such a talent we have!
You know what? I’m actually pretty proud of you for making a decision and sticking with it, despite what would have been some pretty full-on peer pressure. You’re pregnant, you made a considered, well-thought out decision and stuck with it. I mean – if you ever really feel you really need to walk on broken glass, I’m sure it can be arranged, can’t it?
We do the best we can at the time with the information we have at the time. Sometimes everyone else is doing it, sometimes people think we’re mad, but we we do it anyway, and sometimes people wonder why you aren’t doing what they are all doing.
I wouldn’t be sweating the small stuff (it’s small stuff in the big scheme of things) 🙂
Nope! I’m a big fan of no one pushing you into anything you don’t want to do! What’s wrong with the comfort zone? I love the comfort zone!! But I do love all of that personal development stuff, too. I went through a phase (before kids) as well. I remember Louise Hay fondly. Great post! 🙂
I love my times being in the comfort zone, but my greatest joy has come from the times I’ve pushed myself out of it and experienced something new and almost uncomfortable {riding in helicopters, traveling overseas without loved ones, speaking in public}.
It definitely made me think.
32 weeks pregnant, no I wouldn’t have walked across the glass. But who knows, in some other situation, I’d probably have said no, too.
I’ve faced a similar moment this week. An invite to an important meeting with someone very powerful, over a topic which is very close to my heart. I panicked when I received the email – what if I screw it up? Rather than live with the fear, I could just say no and stay safe and do nothing. After freaking out for a while, I said yes because I couldn’t stand the thought of living with regret.
That said, you strike me as someone who jumps at opportunities and knows their own strengths – I don’t think you need broken glass walking to prove that to yourself.
I do push myself, like you, at times to go beyond my comfort zone. Sometimes it takes a lot of pushing and struggling to get myself there, but that feeling afterwards is so good.
I hope you enjoy that meeting, and that while it might be uncomfortable… it’s pretty darn amazing. x
I’m not a huge fan of doing things just because other people say you should. Who’s to say that the organisers of this event really knew that this was the best way to step out of your comfort zone? And the fact that you mentioned your fluttering unborn child means the safety of you (and your unborn babe) are far more important than proving to this mob that you could cut up your feet on some (hopefuly sterilized) alcohol bottles. I personally put broken-glass-walking-upon into the category of things I never want to try.
No I don’t think I would! But I faced that challenge – to question my comfort zone – after the death of my only niece! Losing her & the grief, depression & great sense of loss that followed made me question my whole life! She was my only siblings only child & I can’t have children, we had a special bond – the death of my niece felt like the death of the future! Of our family! The death of any hope for a future! But somehow 2 years on the clouds are parting and I can see a future and hope and a very different life for me!!!
Everybody finds their glass in a different way to be able to ask the questions, face their fears and see all the positive life changing moments- maybe for now that is all you need – to question your comfort zone!
Monique your words are the truest I think I have ever heard /read …we all need to find our glass. When the time is right and we want to deal with our comfort zone, then it’s time to walk the glass …so to speak.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your niece, I have two very special young nieces and know the love you feel.
No , no and no I would not have walked the glass, but then I would also not have been at the meeting in the first place 🙂 Be comfortable with your choice!
I think that…not walking on broken glass makes you fearless. You were the most courageous there to deny something you didn’t need to do. Think about how all others bowed their heads looking at that glass and shaking while they were walking on it. In the end you probably walked “by” the glass, this means there will ALWAYS be a different way to solve a problem.
I wouldn’t have!
I’m a personal development fan, but I don’t think I would have walked on the glass, pregnant or not. What would YOU have gained from doing it, Chantelle? You can find the things that you NEED to challenge yourself with, without doing what everyone else in the room does. I think you showed true courage, standing true to your own decision in the face of a group doing something else.
Good question, what would I have gained from doing it?
I’m gonna have to ponder that a little longer. Thank you. x
No way! Life throws enough broken glass at us to test us without us deliberately risking, life, limb and infection!
you know I would have probably have purely because everyone else did….stupid but its true to which I may or may not have regretted it.. congrats on making a decision and sticking to it..
I didn’t do it in a self help happy clappy kind of way… I did it because I knew it was physically viable. I’d seen two people do it before me and I’d googled it in the past. It was a factual thing for me. I knew if I walked slowly, stuck to the middle and allowed my feet to settle in the glass then science would prevent me from hurting myself.
I love how sure you were that you weren’t going to do it. I was watching your face and there was never a flicker of doubt. You just went ‘This is not something I need to do.’ Same as Lorraine. I didn’t see a struggle at all. I don’t think for one minute that means you live in your comfort zone. I think it means you can read what’s necessary in your life and you choose what’s important to you. This wasn’t. Simple as that.
x
Thanks Smags. You rock. xx
Ok I may get caned for this but COME ON!! BROKEN GLASS?? What on earth does that prove? it takes one person to step wrong and get a little cut, bleed on the glass and all of you are walking on it! You have changed and achieved so much in your life in the last couple of years it amazes me how brave and strong you are! You could probably teach them a thing or two! YOU know already it was smart NOT to do it! Life’s short, too bloody short to be walking on glass for goodness sake!! Sorry sweetie, but the Mum in me is thinking if you HAD, I may just have driven up the coast and kicked your butt! Hope nobody is offended by my comment, but come on, BROKEN GLASS???
Ha ha ha. Man, I ADORE you! Thank you. x
Maybe this point has already been made, but you were comfortable with your decision until others challenged you over it. They haven’t walked that mile in your shoes, you needn’t feel guilty about their opinions, as other people have already said, you are quite capable of facing your fears and doing things when you want to and that is the point, when you want to or need to – not just to make some course provider feel good about themselves.
I think it takes more courage and strength to say no to something that everyone else is doing. Standing up for yourself and sticking to your gut in a room full of the pressure to “do it” would be stepping out of your comfort zone in a different but no less important way. Well done you
Yay!
What Lana said!
Life presents each one of us with many paths. The path to walk over the glass was short, and it really wasn’t a learning experience, you learned what you came for before you were asked to walk over the glass. It takes insight to say no when everyone else says yes. You know who you are and what you are about if can stay true to your decisions.
No, but, I’m scared of heights, and on holiday with my hubby once we got lost on a walk. We had to cross a river in a gorge. We found a bridge but the bridge was broken. It had no sides, and bits missing from the edges. He said it would be OK, if we just ran across, one at a time. He took my bag and ran across. I was terrified, I couldn’t run across, so I tried crawling. Half way across I switched to belly-crawling. At no point did he laugh. He just cheered me on. And when I was over he told me he’d not been sure the bridge would hold. I felt great to have achieved it. And really happy to be with him. But I would never choose to do it again!
Oh, that’s symbolic for a strong relationship. What a wonderful support he is/was. I love when Hubby gets us through things and doesn’t let on just how bad they really were.
Sometimes I just need someone to tell me it will be OK, and then we can laugh about how ‘not’ OK it really was.
It’s a bit of a ‘well if every one else was going to jump off a cliff – would you?’ dilemma. I like this post because it touches on the potential side effects of the positive thinking movement (though the event you were at sounds extreme and unprofessional). Louise Hay (love her) teaches us the power is within you, which is fab and all but sometimes when we have moments of ‘normal’, when walking on broken glass seems ridiculous no matter how much we want to face our fears – then the weight of self doubt can seem unbearable. I think you did break out of your comfort zone and that was to say no to the old you and being true to who you are today.
I have been reading everyone’s posts about walking on the glass an while I am very impressed by it all … I can confidently say I wouldn’t have done it. And I wouldn’t have had a problem with not doing it.
Feel the fear and not do it anyway? I love that!
Oh also … What Lana said 🙂
You could think about it in terms of the exercise itself being the life changing experience not the decision as to whether you walked on glass or didn’t walk on glass. The exercise HAS altered your life. As a result of being involved in the exercise, you have set about questioning your boundaries, your comfort zone, your decision making processes and what makes you tick. You posed the question for the rest of us and we have all asked ourselves would we do it or wouldn’t we. So our lives and our perspectives are altered also as a result. You didn’t walk on the glass and that was your choice, those that did would have done it for a whole range of reasons, adrenalin factor, not wanting to be the odd person out, competitiveness, belief that this would change their life in a big way, hope that this would change their life in some way etc, etc. I think your life changes every day dependant on the decisions you make and the pathways you choose. Walking on the glass wasn’t a major life decision nor do I think the act itself be very life changing. Having a baby is. I think women step out of their comfort zones all of the time. Walk on glass? Pfft! Try walking on Lego pieces and matchbox cars while balancing the housework, children, a meaningful relationship, a home, a social life, a full time job, and a healthy weight!!!
Applause!
Yes, I second that applause. What a brilliant, powerful comment. Thanks Marg. x
Abso-blooming-lutely. Hoorah hoorah. Applause to you. You have managed to put into words what a hell of a lot of women are thinking out there, right now!! I wish a lot more people could read your words Marg!!
It took courage not to do it. I wouldn’t of either.i like my comfort zone. Once in a while I will leave it and do something crazy, for me, but I like returning to the zone.
Definitely would not of walked on the glass! Good decision in my book.
I wouldn’t have done it either… I think we challenge ourselves each and every day when we wake each morning to raise our kids. We don’t need to walk on glass to empower ourselves… I look at my kids and know I am empowered because I am raising two children who are healthy, kind, caring and beautiful little human beings. Love Melissa xoxo
So proud of you, you marched to a different drummer! Love all these comments!
“You marched to a different drummer!”
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I wouldn’t have done it either! I think you had more substance and more courage within yourself to say ‘no’ I don’t have to do that. You didn’t feel the need to follow the crowd, to be a sheep. That says more about your personality and growth as a person that just doing it because everyone else did. Walking on glass does not relate to your life. Every day we make choices that put us out of our comfort zone and it may just be the simplest choice in your day. As long as you recognise them and learn from them, then thats what life is all about!
No. I have once skipped a practical examination for P.E (it was table tennis) knowing that I would get a failing grade. I couldn’t play. I suck at it so why bother? Although I have to admit that my paranoia and pessimism usually gets to me, if I know the consequence to something I don’t do it. Sometimes that fear keeps me grounded and motivates me to be good. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t taken a risk in my life, usually not taking the “right choice” is already a “risk” and already a big decision. I have made choices that made fail, that made me regret, that made me succeed and that changed my life. My life is this because of all those choices. I feel okay and comfortable even when others believe the contrary.
I’m an adrenaline junky with a high pain tolerance and I would not have walked on the glass because I’m not stupid!
Gah! I wouldn’t have walked on the glass because it’s a dumb thing to do. Just because a bunch of people tell you walking on glass will free your soul, or whatever, doesn’t actually mean they’re right. Questioning what’s in front of you and whether it’s right for you is a good decision. Walking on glass? What the?
The question always is ‘why????’ and the answer in this case is ‘definitely not’. I’ve never seen the point of doing something for the sake of saying I’d done it. x
Amen Sista!!
No I don’t think so. I think you step outside your comfort zones just having this blog. I wrote about this recently on the blog where I decided not to sky dive. I just don’t think its something I need to do to prove I am fearless. I think sometimes we feel we need to prove our fearlessness by doing things like walking on glass when really we have opportunities every day to show this and it is often in the simple things, like making a phone call or writing a revealing post, or talking to a crowd of people. I truly believe these small things are what have pushed me out of my comfort zones far more than walking on the glass ever would. It made me see my fears were bigger in my mind than they really were but I don’t think its going to push me to new heights.