Stretch your Mind.

Robin Sharma once said “If people aren’t laughing at your dreams, your dreams aren’t big enough.” In as much as I am in concurrence with his line of thought, I have some reservations owing to the fact that I am more inclined towards the option of building in silence. However, since thoughts become things, one ought to err on the side of caution and occasionally let the universe in on our plans. Even if it means letting one’s guard down over a drink or two with a close ally. Nothing is cast in stone and the same goes with our beliefs. Stretching your mind entails challenging your core beliefs, calling yourself to a meeting to engage in mental gymnastics among other things.

As the year draws to a close, it is time to take stock of the year that was. At the dawn of the year, I was thrown into the deep end and had to adapt. The work day began like any other. A training plan was in the works and I knew my role was negligible or so I thought. I acted as an observer would but little did I know what my colleague had up her sleeves. Her parting shot at the end of the day sent a shiver down my spine. Her words shall forever be etched in my memory. “Are you ready with your presentation for tomorrow’s training?”

My head went into a spin. I kept my cool but deep down inside, I scrambled to put two and two together. No sooner did I reach home than I opened the laptop to create slides. In as much as she said anything goes, I had to put my best foot forward and was spoilt for choice. A little past midnight is when I clicked send and hit the shut off button.

What I thought would be an easy evening flipped into a busy one. The next day presentation went well. I was surprised that I had the confidence of a bird committing itself to the air. As I take stock, I have nine such engagements and counting under my belt. Growth definitely occurs outside the comfort zone. Any experience is with no doubt better than none whatsoever. Therefore, I am grateful beyond measure for the opportunity to serve and have unconditionally set aside any grudge initially held for being thrown into the deepest end of the sea where the sharks reside.

Louis Pasteur once said “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Couldn’t agree more with this statement. The same sentiment was drilled deep down into our psyche in High School by the Principal who ran a tight ship. To date his voice still echoes in my mind as he said those words. In as much as my friend did not attend the same school, a little bird must have whispered in his ears the same sentiment.

One bright, sunny morning, I was taken aback when out of the blues, he laid his plans for the year on the table. The thing that caught my attention was his intention to travel outside the country. He barely travelled and mostly operated within a short radius from his birth place year in, year out. I had known him for decades hence this felt out of place. Treated his sentiments as a passing cloud but I was in for a rude shock.

Within no time, he secured a passport. Even though the plans were sketchy at best, this was a bold move. He neither had the funds nor destination in mind. However, his willingness to step outside the comfort zone baffled me. The stars seemed to be aligned in his favor. No sooner had he secured the passport than a door of opportunity swung right open. The organization he worked for had secured two slots for an international conference. Aside from him and the big honcho, none of his colleagues had travel documents. Not even the natural fit who turned out to be all talk and no show. Were he not ready, chance would not have favored him.

There is an African proverb that states “You cannot convince a monkey that honey is sweeter than a banana.” An attempt to dissuade someone stuck in his ways to change course will fall flat. A gentleman who spent multiple decades abroad relocated back home. Shortly thereafter, he got a new phone line. He bought credit at the store and was under the misguided notion that credit can only be purchased at the same store where the line was bought.

Day in, day out he travelled to the store to purchase credit even when it was least convenient to do so. Little did he know that the same can be purchased from the comfort of your home with the click of a button. Consultation or a slight stretch of mind would have saved him the trouble. At times engaging in mental gymnastics and questioning why things are done a certain way works wonders. Otherwise, one can easily perish for lack of knowledge or in this case get worn out.

In conclusion, as the new year beckons, we can simplify the new year resolution process and endeavor to operate outside the comfort zone. As long as the intended course of action is within the confines of the law. We can learn a new skill or sharpen an existing one with the sole aim of getting better. We can travel the globe and see distant shores of land and we can alter our train of thought every now and then. As Melanie Rawn said “Nothing is written in stone, child. Even if it were, the stones can be shattered.”