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Thinking Outside of Your Box

Boxes. We all have at least one. Normally we aren’t aware that we have a box that surrounds us every minute of the day but it is there. What is this box? It is formed from our preconceived notions of what we will and won’t do in the world. Our personal box is composed of thoughts and actions with which we are comfortable as well as the ones that give us night sweats. Our box is generally our comfort zone.

We become aware of this personal box when we are asked to step outside of it and try something new. Most of us dig in our heels and say, “Nope, not going to happen today”. I recently had the opportunity to step out of my box in a big way. It came on a trip to Asia for my honeymoon.

Asia wasn’t my first choice for a honeymoon. It wasn’t even on my top 10 or 20 list but my soon to be husband really wanted to go. I thought to myself, “Why not?” while anxiety mounted inside. Yet I knew that I needed to Live Big and experience life. So I put my money where my mouth is and soon we had purchased two tickets to see Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong. For months, I worried about this trip. What would I eat for example? (Answer: Peanut Butter) I am deathly allergic to fish and fish is staple in Asia. What about Bird Flu? The anxiety list could get large in a hurry, yet I am a firm believer in attitude. I could have a great trip or a miserable trip. It would be up to me. What did I discover?

  • That people in Japan had no idea what to do with Peanut Butter. They don’t eat peanut butter sandwiches in Japan.
  • The Great Wall of China is amazing and I can’t wait to stand on it again.
  • People in Asia suffer hardship on a day-to-day basis and do not have the luxuries that we take for granted in life — like clean water.
  • People are people all around the world. Young women in their twenties talk about dating as young women in America do. We are the same. We are not that different as people no matter in what country we find ourselves living.
  • The trip pushed me harder than I had been pushed in a long time and it was fantastic to feel that alive again, just like a child. I had forgotten what a great feeling learning and experiencing on a minute-to-minute basis felt like.
  • That I loved Asia and look forward to traveling there again, as soon as I am able.

You don’t have to take a big trip to step out of your box. This is something that I brought home with me from Asia — the desire to continue to strive and grow. What isn’t positive in my life? What did I say “no” to before because it seemed too much of a threat or the learning curve appeared to be too high? I challenge you to look at your life and try one thing that is outside of your box, your comfort zone. It could be a new thought, trying a new product, or learning a new concept. Remember that when you step out of your box:

  • Fear is bigger and scarier than reality
  • If you don’t step out of the box you may not appreciate fully the world you live in and what you already have
  • You actually might surprise yourself and discover something new that enriches your life
  • It gives you a chance to meet new people and do new things and that can make you feel alive and young again.
  • You grow internally which only increases the vitality of your day-to-day life.

My trip changed my life forever. I will never look at “boxes” the same again. In the past, my personal box made me feel like I was safe. Now I realize it was confining not to step outside my comfort zone. I hope you experience the same sense of freedom and wonder when you risk leaving your box!