Where Life Truly Begins; The Proverbial Edge, The Door to Happiness, Success, and Accomplishment

That edge where they say life begins is rather elusive and difficult for many to find. It can also be the portal to true happiness, success and that fulfilling sense of accomplishment. If you are like me, you spent time wondering why some seem to find it and many others do not. I have finally found it and it is much closer than you think.

I spent many years looking for happiness, always looking under rocks, in the closets, down the road, and anywhere that might come to mind to look. It was actually a lot of wasted time.  Pining away for something that was impossible to find anywhere else than the one place closest to me that I had not looked, within myself!

I had often heard life was lived at the edge, and I always wondered at the edge of what. Did that mean I had to do extreme sports or jump out of airplanes? Does that mean you have to race your car and drive it at the red line?

See it is a very hard question to answer, because the answer is different for each and everyone one of us.

What really is this proverbial edge where they say life begins?

I have found that edge and wanted to share it with you all, so that you may find it as well. Something so simple and yet so hard to find for many of us.

I had gotten complacent in life. Doing the norm day in and day out and had slowly saw my happiness drift away. I had wanted to be happy, however, my actions were contrary to my desires, because I did not know where to start.

What I have experienced and discovered to share with you all is that proverbial edge; the doorway to happiness and sense of accomplishment is much closer than you think.

A great friend of mine summed it up simply today. Life is truly lived at the edge of your comfort zone.

The key to that door is very simple. It is to merely understand and recognize your own comfort zone. Once you are honest with yourself that you have been living there afraid to step out and expand it you can then begin to make decisions to change that.

Only you know yourself well enough to know where that is. You also have interests, things you have wanted to do that were just outside your comfort zone.  Start looking at those first. If it is something you need to learn about then find a book or an interest group to guide you. Even perhaps start to tackle some of those things that you would like to do that might scare you a little.

Simple steps for example that I took. I found some groups in my area to start meeting new people that I had things in common with.  They might have different backgrounds, come from different places, however, these are people that have helped me expand to become more who I am. New friends and supporters to accompany on my own quest.

I myself, love to talk, I can admit that, however, at the same time, I was shy to talk to most people, very self-conscious. By putting myself into those environments that forced me to talk to friendly people, it made it much easier.

To continue to push myself I joined Toastmasters International, an organization whose sole purpose is to help people get better at public speaking. Why would I want to go to that extreme? Well if you can get to where you are feeling even a little bit better about talking to crowds, then talking to only one person becomes a piece of cake.  Toastmasters also helps in organizing your thoughts and introducing new vocabulary.

Toastmasters and the Meet-up groups are not the only thing that I have done.  They were a big start though. With each passing day and new experience, it has returned to me excitement, confidence, and a desire to do more. I have discovered more of who I am, and my path that I am on each day becomes more clear. In addition, because of my confidence and increased happiness, I find myself having more conversations with people.  Opening up new friendships and opportunities.

You do not have to live on that edge, you do not need to have that constant state of fear and unsureness, just to visit it. The more often you visit it, the more your comfort zone will expand. You could easily find yourself in a couple of weeks looking back at the things you have accomplished feeling surprised and amazed that you did some of those things and at the same time looking ahead to newer things as well.

I believe that once you realize that feeling you get from accomplishing some of the little things you have been avoiding you will never go back.  However, if you do find yourself getting complacent and loosing that zest for life again, then the process is simple. Reevaluate where you are at and find some new things to try.

Most people are attracted to positive upbeat people. You will also notice more people wanting to start conversations with you or more open when if you choose to talk to them as well. These people will be able to sense of your overall emotional well being and will want to be in that presence. They subconsciously know you will have found a secret to life that they have not found yet. Even those people you already know will recognize a difference in you.

I share this with you now, so that you may too find your own path.  That edge where happiness begins is for you to walk on your own. What will you choose to do?

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