How to Find Liberation Beyond Your Comfort Zone
In truth, it took me a while to sit down and write this piece.
Delving into the intricacies of such a complex topic – the idea of finding freedom in that space where discomfort meets possibility – can generate its own form of resistance.
And that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? Learning to recognize the difference between the leap that exhilarates you, inspires you to explore the world that’s within your grasp if you only reach for it – and the dive that glimmered with false promise but leaves you grasping for rough edges as you fight the free fall you’d never bargained for.
Trusting the process – and the growth that accompanies new experiences – can only triumph if we learn how to read our internal compass. And the more we tune in with our intuition, the stronger the connection.
Understanding Neuroplasticity and Our Ability to Adapt
Our brains were designed to learn from new experiences and adapt on a physiological level – a concept called neuroplasticity. Essentially, the brain can establish new neural pathways and connections, adaptions that can occur from both a structural and functional perspective.
The key to harnessing the power of neuroplasticity is understanding what type of learning serves as the catalyst – and how we can grow and expand as a result.
While learning new information is important for development, it’s the kind of learning that pushes us to step beyond our comfort zone – like learning a musical instrument or a new language – that results in the physiological changes associated with neuroplasticity.
Activities that encourage creative expression, such as practicing dance and creating art – which for many of us, might inherently nudge us beyond our comfort zone – also promote neuroplasticity.
Studies have shown that regular dance can strengthen neural connectivity between both sides of the brain and increase the volume of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a key role in memory, regulation of emotions, and spatial navigation.
Artistic expression can enhance the connectivity of the brain at rest, also known as the default mode network (DMN), which can support empathy, memory, attention, and introspection.
The impact?
We become more resilient, more adaptable, and more capable of creating change in our lives.
Unleashing Creative Expression to Nurture Our Intuition
Exploring a creative outlet – such as art, dance, music, or writing – focuses our attention and awareness on present moment sensation, essentially bringing us back into our bodies to deeply experience the present moment.
And when we’re fully present – not fixating on the past or worrying about the future – we create space to connect with our intuition through reflection and introspection. Channeling our creativity allows us to nurture our intuition further by following our instincts in a safe space, cultivating trust when it comes to our insights, perceptions, and feelings.
The result?
Learning to trust yourself amid the ebbs and flows of life fosters a healthy relationship with your intuition, empowering you to navigate any storm through the direction of your inner compass.
Finding Freedom in the Unknown
Perhaps the most liberating aspect of trusting your intuition is recognizing that you truly can handle whatever life brings you – the very definition of resilience and finding your inner strength.
And when the suffocating grip of fear loses its hold on the conduit for our creativity, we can experience even more abundance and open ourselves to the opportunities that exist all around us. Letting go of anxiety and fear of the unknown enables us to focus instead on the possibility of the present – a gateway to personal expansion.
Sometimes it’s the leap beyond our comfort zone that enables us to soar to new heights – but on occasion, it’s the dive that propels us to where we’re meant to be, despite the resistance along the way.
Because maybe the free fall is exactly what we were seeking all along.
Looking to put these principles into practice? Join me for a movement and breathwork experience on August 3 designed to strengthen your connection to your intuitive and move beyond your comfort zone.
To learn more about my new wellness community focused on empowering women to thrive both personally and professionally, check out Mindful Moves.