Taking the Plunge
Jennifer Neville
Imagine for a second that you have been imprisoned. You've been stuck for enough time that you've developed an acceptance to this way of life, but one day you managed to finally escape. As you are being pursued, you come to a point where you reach a cliff, at the bottom of the cliff there is a water and a clear way out of your situation. If you choose not to jump, you will be recaptured and return to being confined to your previous way of life. Which option do you choose?
When thinking about these hypothetical situations it's so easy to make the clear choice, which would be jumping off the cliff, but really immerse yourself into this thought process and you will find majority of people in reality would choose not to take the plunge and the choices you make in your life are a direct reflection of this.
Put in this scenario, I know that upon reaching the cliff I would experience some serious hesitation. My fear of falling would most likely try to overpower my need to escape a life of confinement. Sometimes, it's easier to fall back into what you know and what's seems more comfortable than diving into the unknown.
Most of us are confronted with these decisions in everyday life and even when the choices aren't as dramatic we still choose to go with what is more comfortable, even if that means missing out on something that could truly bring you happiness.
I love this scenario because it really forces you to analyze the things that bring hindrance to your life. It is so imperative to identify these beliefs and know when you're acting out of fear vs. a need for growth. Most people don't take the jump because they aren't sure what awaits them after the jump, they just know that once they take it there is no way of returning to the previous way of life and that can be very frightening. It is so easy to get stuck in these cycles of hurt and disappointment, not because we "never learn" but because in a way these patterns bring us comfort. It's so much easier to deal with the pain of losing something when you weren't all in to begin with, rather then going all in and having a fear that you might lose it. We encounter these fears in all aspects of life. Whether it is your career, relationships, or finding ways to let go of thoughts and beliefs that don't serve us, and you can see them manifest into so many different forms of resistance.
Hating your 9-5 job but not leaving it, because you're afraid to fail, afraid to be uncomfortable or have a lack of stability. So, you endure because at least you feel secure.
Holding on to hurt from past relationships, not because you are still effected by it, but because that pain is way more comfortable and familiar than actually making an effort to put yourself out there and risk feeling that pain all over again.
We find so many ways to self-sabotage because its easy to make excuses when we never try than dealing with the disappointment of giving something you're all and not being successful, or being successful and then having to deal with all the responsibilities that come along with that.
Most of my growth in life has come from times where I have been completely out of my comfort zone. I've learned to find enjoyment in doing things that make me uncomfortable, and it is always interesting to see the fears that kick in and how we can allow them to take over. If you've ever read A Course in Miracles, it says that all that exists in the world is LOVE. Fear does not exist. It only exist in our minds as a projection of our egos. Fear is not real. It only seems real because we've allowed it to exist in our minds. Through out all these philosophical studies the ego has gotten a pretty villainous reputation, which is accurate if you let yourself be controlled by it, but you also have to understand it's true purpose and then learn how to work with it. Yes, the ego is terrified of change, it is programmed to help us survive so anytime we threaten it with something unfamiliar of course it's instincts will kick in. It's just learning how to identify a rational fear vs. an irrational one.
After my first year of college at USF, I was forced to make a very quick decision. I had my golf scholarship taken away, so I had planned on staying in school and getting a part-time job, but then an opportunity to go transfer to a school in NYC on a Full Scholarship presented itself and I was basically given a week to decide. Of course there were so many things to fear and I knew it was going to take a serious effort on my part to change my lifestyle in such short notice, so naturally I was leaning towards staying where I was. So many people advised me against going, but at some point I had such a strong pull that I knew I had to go and within two weeks we had packed my stuff up and moved there. This was one of the moments in my life where I think I felt the most fear, but looking back it was probably the best decision I had ever made. When I start feeling these irrational fears, I look back on moments like this and try to find comfort in knowing that, when you go all in, you never lose. You either win, or you grow. My transition was by know means easy, but by pushing through all those fears I grew as tremendously as a person.
I've learned that most of these experiences we go through in life that cause us to be uncomfortable or bring us heartbreak can be catalyst for major growth and opportunity in life if you just learn to push ahead instead of going back to what's comfortable. I wouldn't spare myself of any experience no matter how painful it was, because they also brought me moments of extreme joy.
I'd like to think that with my knowledge of all this, that after the moment of hesitation I would jump, because I've learned that the fall is easy, it's deciding to jump that is the hard part. Learning to let go of the resistance and anticipation of the consequences, and just doing. You have to learn how to say yes, instead of looking to make excuses for why you shouldn't, because then you deprive yourself of so many experiences that can bring you happiness and growth. It's all about unblocking these hindrances we set for ourselves and remembering that sometimes when we are so close to getting the things we want is when they seem the furthest away.
When thinking about these hypothetical situations it's so easy to make the clear choice, which would be jumping off the cliff, but really immerse yourself into this thought process and you will find majority of people in reality would choose not to take the plunge and the choices you make in your life are a direct reflection of this.
Put in this scenario, I know that upon reaching the cliff I would experience some serious hesitation. My fear of falling would most likely try to overpower my need to escape a life of confinement. Sometimes, it's easier to fall back into what you know and what's seems more comfortable than diving into the unknown.
Most of us are confronted with these decisions in everyday life and even when the choices aren't as dramatic we still choose to go with what is more comfortable, even if that means missing out on something that could truly bring you happiness.
I love this scenario because it really forces you to analyze the things that bring hindrance to your life. It is so imperative to identify these beliefs and know when you're acting out of fear vs. a need for growth. Most people don't take the jump because they aren't sure what awaits them after the jump, they just know that once they take it there is no way of returning to the previous way of life and that can be very frightening. It is so easy to get stuck in these cycles of hurt and disappointment, not because we "never learn" but because in a way these patterns bring us comfort. It's so much easier to deal with the pain of losing something when you weren't all in to begin with, rather then going all in and having a fear that you might lose it. We encounter these fears in all aspects of life. Whether it is your career, relationships, or finding ways to let go of thoughts and beliefs that don't serve us, and you can see them manifest into so many different forms of resistance.
Hating your 9-5 job but not leaving it, because you're afraid to fail, afraid to be uncomfortable or have a lack of stability. So, you endure because at least you feel secure.
Holding on to hurt from past relationships, not because you are still effected by it, but because that pain is way more comfortable and familiar than actually making an effort to put yourself out there and risk feeling that pain all over again.
We find so many ways to self-sabotage because its easy to make excuses when we never try than dealing with the disappointment of giving something you're all and not being successful, or being successful and then having to deal with all the responsibilities that come along with that.
Most of my growth in life has come from times where I have been completely out of my comfort zone. I've learned to find enjoyment in doing things that make me uncomfortable, and it is always interesting to see the fears that kick in and how we can allow them to take over. If you've ever read A Course in Miracles, it says that all that exists in the world is LOVE. Fear does not exist. It only exist in our minds as a projection of our egos. Fear is not real. It only seems real because we've allowed it to exist in our minds. Through out all these philosophical studies the ego has gotten a pretty villainous reputation, which is accurate if you let yourself be controlled by it, but you also have to understand it's true purpose and then learn how to work with it. Yes, the ego is terrified of change, it is programmed to help us survive so anytime we threaten it with something unfamiliar of course it's instincts will kick in. It's just learning how to identify a rational fear vs. an irrational one.
After my first year of college at USF, I was forced to make a very quick decision. I had my golf scholarship taken away, so I had planned on staying in school and getting a part-time job, but then an opportunity to go transfer to a school in NYC on a Full Scholarship presented itself and I was basically given a week to decide. Of course there were so many things to fear and I knew it was going to take a serious effort on my part to change my lifestyle in such short notice, so naturally I was leaning towards staying where I was. So many people advised me against going, but at some point I had such a strong pull that I knew I had to go and within two weeks we had packed my stuff up and moved there. This was one of the moments in my life where I think I felt the most fear, but looking back it was probably the best decision I had ever made. When I start feeling these irrational fears, I look back on moments like this and try to find comfort in knowing that, when you go all in, you never lose. You either win, or you grow. My transition was by know means easy, but by pushing through all those fears I grew as tremendously as a person.
I've learned that most of these experiences we go through in life that cause us to be uncomfortable or bring us heartbreak can be catalyst for major growth and opportunity in life if you just learn to push ahead instead of going back to what's comfortable. I wouldn't spare myself of any experience no matter how painful it was, because they also brought me moments of extreme joy.
I'd like to think that with my knowledge of all this, that after the moment of hesitation I would jump, because I've learned that the fall is easy, it's deciding to jump that is the hard part. Learning to let go of the resistance and anticipation of the consequences, and just doing. You have to learn how to say yes, instead of looking to make excuses for why you shouldn't, because then you deprive yourself of so many experiences that can bring you happiness and growth. It's all about unblocking these hindrances we set for ourselves and remembering that sometimes when we are so close to getting the things we want is when they seem the furthest away.
Jennifer says: Through out my life I have followed a path of spirituality. Believing that everything and everyone in life serves as a lesson which brings us closer to finding our true purpose, I try to reflect my own personal journey of growth into my writing, hoping to shed light for others on a mission of their own. Having travelled all over the country playing professional golf, I have met incredible people and gained invaluable experiences helping propel me towards my spiritual freedom. I'm always looking for my next adventure and my next clue leading me a little bit closer to finding my truth!