Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

When have you taken an opportunity to step—or even float—outside your comfort zone?

In November, I took my “retirement” trip to New Zealand. My friend and I went on a 14-day adventure trip with 16 other people. Most of these people were young adults from England, Scotland, and Canada. They were a fun group and we made long-lasting friendships.

One of the adventures took me way outside my comfort zone. In 2005, I had a near-drowning experience on a whitewater rafting adventure, so being in water makes me a bit nervous. We signed up for black water rafting. I was unsure what it was, but it was time to overcome this fear of water. Black water rafting occurs inside a cave; we were going to look for glowworms. This adventure consisted of putting on a wetsuit (my first trigger) and carrying an inner tube with us as we waded through the water.

There were times that we had to sit in our inner tubes where the water was deeper. Actually, we had to put our bum in the inner tube and jump off a waterfall backward (huge trigger). THIS took me out of my comfort zone. The first time I jumped was from two feet and very scary. The coldness took my breath away and I’m in the water flailing about while my mates caught me before I floated away. In my mind, I’m thinking, why did I sign up for this—pay for—this torture?

We came to the last waterfall to jump off and this one was about 8 feet high. The guide said there was a way around it. It was my turn, I was contemplating the chicken’s way out when one of the young girls said, “Cindy—YOLO.” 

I said, “What’s that?”

She said, “You only live once.”

She was right, so, I stepped up, turned around, held tight to my inner tube, and fell backward. It was cold! I couldn’t breathe, gasping for air as I floated right into the inner tubes of the three guys on our trip. They held on to my inner tube and helped guide me where I needed to be. With the help and support of my newfound friends, I went outside my comfort zone despite all the triggers that occurred. I had fun—scary fun—but fun.

Becoming the Lead Instructor for EMS has definitely taken me outside my comfort zone.

I was grieving the passing of a dear friend and colleague, as well as accepting a role that I felt unprepared to perform. Yet, Janna’s work—the work of Energy Medicine Specialists—is so important, I felt I must go outside my comfort zone and accept this new role.

The past several months have been a blur. Yet, I see the grassroots movement to help carry this EMS work forward. You see, while I may have the title of Lead Instructor, there is a whole team behind this. A team that has struggled with their own personal grief while determinedly carrying on this work of keeping EMS alive and growing.

First, Jeff Benson, Janna’s husband and owner of EMS. He has provided me with so much support and guidance. Then, there is Shelly Francis who has supported Janna and her work as a thought partner and communications support person for years. Michelle Caggiano, with her team of virtual assistants. Lee Hutchison has been in the background helping with the final development of Energy Therapy 2B. I could not do this work without their listening ears and the confidence-boosting support of so many others within the EMS program, the students, and my own personal friends and family. I very much appreciate all who have helped during this transition.

This reflection has made me realize to STEP OUT of my comfort zone, the support will be there.

What helps you step out of your own comfort zone?

You’re Invited to Our February Networking Call

Please know we are here at Energy Medicine Specialists to energetically support you as you step into the new energy of 2023, in developing your energy medicine practice, or in your personal well-being as a practitioner.

Our next community support meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 21st at 6 pm MT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET. 

Healing Through the Vagus Nerve:
Safety is the Treatment
presented by Kristi Joy
& Bonnie Thompson

Kristi and Bonnie have been teaching about Energy Medicine and Polyvagal Theory together since 2019. An embodied sense of safety is a key element in the healing process, and Kristi and Bonnie will be sharing ideas about how to consciously cultivate safety for ourselves and our clients. They'll also talk about how they came to bring Energy Medicine and Polyvagal Theory together and the impact it's had on their own lives and healing practices.

Kristi Joy, HTCP/I is an Energy Medicine Practitioner and Instructor with over 20 years of experience in the healing arts and meditation. She has a private energy healing and teaching practice specializing in helping kids, teens, and adults with regulating the nervous system and having healthier energetic boundaries.

Bonnie Thompson, HTCP, CECP/CBCP, has been an Energy Medicine practitioner and educator since 2006. She is always exploring the leading edge of knowledge on health and wellness in order to improve the well-being of her clients, her family, and herself. She specializes in supporting clients of all ages with managing stress states and working with emotional energy.

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the meeting. We will also send you a reminder link on the day of the event.

Consider this a monthly self-care, support, and networking call! You are part of the Energy Medicine Specialists community!

Cindy Parsons, RN, BSN, MS-HCA, SEM

Peace and Joy,
Cindy Parsons, RN, BSN, MS-HCA, SEM
Lead Instructor and Mentor
(Read more about Cindy here).