Exiting Your Zone

There is an interesting lesson in The Secret that is, surprisingly, not discussed in The Secret at all; yet it is so fundamental, so essential, that an entire DVD could focus on this lesson and nothing else. It’s about comfort zones.

As those of us who have seen The Secret know, Rhonda Byrne developed and articulated the teachings after – and only after – experiencing loss, suffering and dreadful disillusionment in her life. But there’s more to it than this; there is a deeper level of learning here that we can explore.

In order for Rhonda to even attempt to explore the teachings in The Secret, she had to exit her “zone.” She had to address, face, and in some ways go against the momentum and “groove” that was pushing her along at the time; in her case, the momentum towards deeper sadness and suffering.

It isn’t that Rhonda suddenly decided to “be positive” one day. It’s that she had the courage to explore something despite her sadness and her dread. She wasn’t trying to repress or suppress her sadness, or avoid it; she simply agreed to co-exist with it. She simply said, on some deep level of her being: okay sadness, you’re here, and I’m here, and I can’t really do anything about you being here – you’re simply here. But there is more to me than sadness, there is spaciousness – the space to explore something new – and there is courage, too. And I’m going to rely on this courage and move ahead, with you or without you.”

For many people, exiting their zone is extremely difficult – just as it must have been for Rhonda. Internal momentum can compel you to either: avoid what is going on inside you, or simply get crushed by it, piece by piece, until there is nothing left but a heavy, stifling depression. Neither avoidance nor allowing yourself to be crushed works.

What works is going deep into yourself and finding a space that is not a part of your zone – a part of you that, despite it all, regardless of how bad things have been or are right now, is untouched and unburdened by external “reality” – this core is the REAL you. It is your witness. It is your pure child – the one that you came into this life with; and the one that you’ve probably neglected for decades.

Find your inner space and from THERE exit your zone. If anger is your companion, courageously co-exist with it – witness it. If sadness if your companion, or greed, or jealousy, or fear – simply witness it from your deep inner space. And, like Rhonda, launch yourself with courage from that place to exit your zone.