The Comfort Zone Quest Continues

You might remember that I took up pottery a year or so ago, as one of several efforts to push myself out of my comfort zone.  A year later, pottery (specifically, wheel throwing) has become a part of my new, improved, and expanded comfort zone.  I love it and have done many additional classes.  In fact, I just started a new class, and while I hope to do some wheel throwing when a wheel is available (quite a few aspiring potters in this class, all of whom signed up earlier than I did, so the wheels are all taken, sigh), my focus is on learning hand building techniques.  Not so sure about this, honestly, but I am giving it a try.


The first class was nothing to write home about.  I mean, not disastrous or anything, but let's be clear...I enjoy getting my hands on the clay, but I am no artist.  I have decided to focus on simplicity, and next week I'm going to work on pinch pots, which are kind of the ultimate in clay simplicity.


I have also agreed to be on the play reading committee for the Ocala Civic Theatre, thanks to my friend, Joy, who invited me to join the group. (Ironically, our friendship was solidified by doing a few pottery classes together and even throwing a pottery party together wherein we raised some money for OCT and the Appleton Museum.)  Our second play reading committee meeting is coming up, and I've read six plays so far and have two more sitting on my bedside table waiting for me. I don't know if this qualifies as a challenge to my comfort zone.  I mean, I love to read, and I have loved theatre since being a part of WJ Stage and WST back in high school.  But I still think this qualifies.  I've lived in Ocala for more than 12 years, and other than watch a lot of plays at OCT, I have been my usual reticent self when it comes to getting involved. So, here's to baby steps, and a big thank you to Joy for being the catalyst!

Other recent excursions out of my comfort zone included spending a girls' weekend in Washington, DC with my best friends and attending our 30th high school reunion.  The best part of the weekend was visiting our old high school, finding a door wide open, and spending an hour or so wandering the hallways and remembering our teenage years spent there.  It was a hoot, to say the least.


Probably the furthest out of my comfort zone I've ventured involves my decision several months ago to start working out at Orange Theory Fitness.  I'm completely out of my element, but I'm getting great workouts, strengthening my core, losing a little weight, and shocking myself with what I am able to do.


So, that's about it, other than dabbling in a little meditation.

Why I'm Drawn to LOA...More Questions than Answers, and I Kinda Like That...

I become interested in the Law of Attraction about a year ago. It's a thing a friend of mine has written about, and honestly, if it was anyone but him, I'd probably have paid no attention whatsoever. But knowing James, stuff he's interested in is usually worthwhile in my book, so, I've been reading some of his books on the subject, and I find that aspects of LOA really appeal to me. Not because of what I can get in terms of monetary benefits or stuff, but in terms of better understanding my beliefs and thoughts about God and the universe. I'm also drawn to LOA because it gives me more questions than answers. Grappling IS life, as far as I'm concerned. There are no pat answers, and I don't trust people who tell me there are. There is only the continuing quest to understand and make sense out of things. Life and THE answers are both simpler and more complex than we think. Flip sides--same coin. LOA is full of these sorts of seeming contradictions, and I like that. I can relate.


One of the things I've been thinking about is how LOA jibes up with God and prayer.  I believe in God, and I go to church, and I pray, but I have always been skeptical of treating my faith like I'm trying to win the lottery. I believe in God because I see the beauty and the mystery in the world, the grandness and the simplicity, and I seek to understand, to contribute, to sustain, to share, to love, and to grow as a human trying to live in community with others.


I've always struggled with the concept of prayer. I have never like praying for stuff. It seems sort of wrong...greedy, selfish, missing the point. To me, prayer is more of a pathway for focusing your thoughts and then taking action.

By the same token, just praying, "Thy will be done," while understandable and appropriate at times, is a bit passive for my taste. I get that sometimes we're so desperate, tired, worn down, caught off guard, that we don't have words or fully formed thoughts. Sometimes all we have are groans of despair, images of joy, an overwhelming sense of thanks, the need for comfort. And that's fine, but most of the time, I prefer to pray with a purpose.


My favorite pastor share a couple of things with me about prayer that have stuck with me. One is a short formula or structure that I can fall back on when I just need a basic framework for my daily prayers: 1. praise, 2. forgiveness, 3. thanks, and 4. requests. I believe it's commonly referred to as the ACTS approach, which is an acrostic standing for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. I use this approach a lot, and I find it helpful. It's a little scary how much I like structure and process. I like to think of myself as more laid-back and easy-going, but I'm not so sure how true that is!


The other prayer thing my favorite pastor left me with is the memory of a wonderful sermon where he talked about prayer and encouraged us to "pray big." It gave me a lot of food for thought, and it's this concept of praying big that fits best with LOA for me. This notion that God and the universe are so big, but that every tiny part fits together and is important. It's overwhelming to think about, but we are connected to this awesomeness and to not embrace and accept that is a mistake. We can have an impact, and we will receive back that which we are willing to receive.


Obviously, I ponder prayer a lot. Ultimately, I think it can lead to an increase in faith, acceptance, well-being, engagement. And to being more in touch with what is real, what is important, and what is possible. Being more at peace with who we are and what we are called to do in this world.


Interestingly, this is kind of how LOA strikes me too. I learned about LOA at a time when I was feeling low and kind of disconnected from life and the world around me. I was deep in comfort mode and very much limiting my world to immediate family and friends. Purposely isolating myself, which for a time is probably exactly what I needed, but which for an extended period is probably not so healthy.


I have been able to use LOA as a means to rethink my beliefs and reconnect with the outside world. I've felt so empowered and energized. Formulating intentions, letting them go, and seeing them manifest. LOA makes sense in my worldview because it is focused on energy and connection. If you're putting out positive stuff, positive stuff will come back to you, and you have enhanced control, understanding, and well-being. When you're entrenched in negativity, the same is returned to you.


So much is within your own power and perception, your self-awareness. Do you know what you want? Are you motivated to accept it? Stay present, and recognize that you are totally in control of what you want for yourself. Now, let it go, trust, and have faith. It may come to you in unexpected ways and forms, but it will come.