Step Outside the Box

I am not one that ventures into new territory often, at least not always willingly. I love to try new things and gain new experiences. I also love to meet new people and find it easy to make friends. But I also am the person that recognizes an old acquaintance in Target and finds it easier to walk on by than to face the possible awkward moment of realizing they don't remember me.

Just in this past week, I've stepped out of my box and required myself to open my surroundings a bit. On Tuesday, I had my first meeting with a group of girls from the church we've been attending in Charlotte. When Jett and I first decided to sign up for a small group, my intention was to sign up for a couple's group--Jett is fabulous at enabling my need to have my hand held in new situations (although he may not know it!). He is social, outgoing, and just all around makes it easier for me to walk into a group full of new faces. But, due to his new erratic work schedule, my best-laid plans failed and I signed up for a 20-something women's group instead. I walked in Tuesday nervous to introduce myself to 10 new-to-me girls (what if I'm not good enough!?). Happily, I found myself leaving excited to come back this week and get to know these girls better. I think being in a group apart from my husband will make me lose the crutch and grow personally and spiritually.

Saturday, I went to a new running group. I don't run with others that I don't know (what if I'm not fast enough!?). After the intial evaluation run, I fell right in the middle of 2 groups--should I move down to the slower group or up to the faster? The friend I've joined with convinced me to try out the faster group. Although I was the slower one in the group, there was no need for me to get myself all worked up over it. I met some great people and felt proud of the accomplishment when the run was all said and done.

And as if psyching myself out over Satruday morning wasn't enough, I also had a phone interview for a nurse practitioner job on Saturday. While I don't often push myself to step out of my comfort zone, I also don't typically stress or let myself focus on getting too nervous about things. Except for interviews. I don't know exactly what it is about interviews. I actually think I interview well--but, I hate it! I don't like to try to sell myself, I don't know what to do with the awkward pauses, and I always leave feeling like they could just see the sweat pouring off of me. I go over and over what I could have done differently (what if I didn't say the right things?). Saturday I didn't let myself get all anxious about it, and just went with the flow. When it's over, it's just that much more experience I have to learn from.

So, all in all it's been a week full of growth and learning. What have you done lately to step out of your comfort zone?