When I was training as a Life Coach, I decided that if I was going to invite my clients to step outside of their comfort zone, I needed to do so myself as well, I had to walk the talk, so to say. 

I wanted to find something that would need considerable effort on my behalf.

My fitness was at an all-time low, I had gained a size or so, and the idea of hiking up a mountain filled me with absolute dread. So, I set myself the challenge to hike one of New Zealand's Great Walks within 12 months. 

On a girls' weekend away I told my best friend of my crazy idea and luckily she decided she would help me train, so together we set off on the first uphill path we could find there and then, on what was supposed to be our city-shopping-girly-time away: the short but steep Bridal Path in Christchurch. Even though it is a very short walk, we stopped every few meters, panting and sweating, while others jogged past us. It took us longer than the average time indicated on the sign, my legs hurt for two days afterwards, and there was part of me ready to chuck the whole idea in, there and then! And then I reminded myself: change can be challenging- at first. 

Encouraging each other, we persevered. Withing a few months of one or two walks a month of increasing difficulty, we were amazed at how easily we could reach new heights-literally- and how much stronger our bodies felt, and how the post-walk muscle pains disappeared altogether.

And oh the joy of new horizons at every step! Oh the satisfaction of having climbed right to the top, simply by putting one foot in front of the other! Oh the rejuvenating feeling of being immersed in the colours, shapes, textures, smells and sounds of our beautiful landscapes! The initial energy invested, returned to us tenfold. And now we can't wait to walk the Kepler Track in March! 

Taking one step at a time is of course applicable to all areas of our lives: it is amazing what we can achieve by taking tiny steps in a chosen direction!

When we stand at the foot of the mountain, the sheer size of the mountain towering above us often feels overwhelming and dizzying; similarly, when we stand in front of a task or challenge in life, the fear of failing, fear of "not being good enough" can make us freeze and prevent us from taking even the smallest of steps in the right direction, just in case we can't follow through. 

Fear and habit have a way of whispering in our ear to make us stay where we are, they like to keep us sitting tight in our comfort zones, where we know everything, and feel at ease even when the comfort zone is far from perfect. It is fear (be it of the unnknown, be it lack of trust in our own abilities, be it fear of being judged by others, or fear of letting others down, etc.) that stops us from daring new things, which could in turn lead to wonderful adventures, new skills, deep connections, or even discovering our true calling. In neurological terms, habits, repetitive thoughts and actions, action/reaction patterns etc, create strong neuroathways in our brain: imagine these pathways to be like a well-trooden, neatly-mown path, easy to walk down. Hence why habits are so easy to keep up.  When you try something new, it's a bit like creating a new path nearby, in an area covered in shrubs and weeds: initially it will require some effort to create, but the path will be smoother each time you walk down it. 

So I encourage you to challenge yourselves this week, to do something new, or something just ever so slightly out of your comfort zone, to allow new energy to flow into your lives.

You don't need to climb a mountain to feel the benefits: It could be as simple as parking your car further away from work and walking the two blocks while noticing all the surroundings in detail, or striking up a conversation with a stranger from a different cultural background, or volunteering your time for a good cause, trying a new recipe, taking a dance class, or even just getting wet and muddy while jumping in puddles with the kids.

While the first steps may feel unnatural and maybe even a tad uncomfortable, you'll be surprised at how alive and excited you'll feel when you discover new abilities, and create new neuropathways in your brain, one step at a time.