Matthew and I were having an interesting conversation while
riding in the car one day. He asked me how work was going, and I could tell it wasn’t one of
those conversation filler type questions. He was legitimately wanting to have a
real conversation about it. I’m pretty sure he knew what he was wanting to say
to me before he ever started the conversation. We got in a deep discussion
about work related topics. While we were talking he looked at me and said, “you
need to become a lobster!” To which my response was…”WHAT?!” I thought he had
lost it!
He started explaining that he had heard a presenter at a
conference tell a story about a lobster. Lobsters (as you well know) have a
hard exoskeleton shell. As the lobster grows, it must molt and get rid of its
shell. If the lobster never gets rid of its old shell, the lobster will never
grow any bigger. When the lobster has shed itself of its shell, it is
completely vulnerable to other creatures who might be looking for an easy meal.
Over time the lobster grows in size, and eventually forms a new shell.
(A quick Google search shows this is not a new story, but it was new to me!)
Then he looks at me and says, “maybe it’s time for you to be
vulnerable.”
Y’all…that statement hit me like a train.
I am guilty of staying within my comfort zone. But the
problem is, the comfort zone can become a stagnant place. I looked it up, and
some synonyms for stagnant are “inactive,” “lethargic,” “depressed,” “dead.”
None of those are positives!!! There is no power in those words….except for the
power to bring you down!
If we never get out of our comfort zone, and get rid of the
fear of making ourselves vulnerable, how will we ever grow? I’m not content
with being who I am today in 10 years! I need to be constantly pushing myself
to grow whether that be professionally, spiritually, emotionally, or
personally. However, that might mean facing something that will end up making
me vulnerable. It might mean doing something I don’t know everything
about. You know what, that’s okay! There are always people around to help you,
support you, and build you up!
So…are you a lobster stuck inside your shell? Have you
wanted to make a career change? Get a different job? Start your own business?
Finally start working out? Go back to college? Learn a language? Take an art
class?
I’m sure if we really examined ourselves we have something
we’ve held back on doing out of…well fear. I know I am guilty of it, and I have
started the process of changing it.
Go be a lobster! 😀
