How Big Is Your Life?

“I lead a small life, but a valuable one. Do I do it because I like it – or because I haven’t been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of what I read in a book – and I wonder, ‘Shouldn’t it be the other way round?’”

These are the words Meg Ryan sends to her online friend in the movie, “You’ve Got Mail”.
I recently watched this movie again and this time thoroughly enjoyed it. New and open-minded eyes see things differently!

The story of the movie continues in that Meg Ryan is forced out of business (a small, intimate bookshop) by a mighty empirical book chain-store.
Naturally, as she is being ousted out of her comfortable life she feels angry, bitter and resentful. This store, having been handed down from her mother, has been hers all her life!
As she starts to see the other side of the proverbial fence and understands what the chain store offers, she realises that change may indeed be necessary. People and the book market have progressed and with this her limited view of the world changes and she decides to close down.

The end of the movie finds a completely different Meg Ryan – one who is enjoying life for herself. She is writing a book and exploring new-found love in her arch-enemy. She’s open to unknown opportunity presented in unknown guises.

What she reads in books now reminds her of her life and not the other way round. Her happiness is found in her life, not solely in the pages of a book. She (literally) closed the doors on the known (her business) and opened them to the unknown where she found both personal freedom and love.

How often do you find (or even better, create) uncomfortable situations? Or do you fiercely avoid them?

To be uncomfortable is to grow. If you’re growing and exploring, you’ll find new things – perhaps even happiness and love.

How big a role do you play in your own life?
What are you actively creating in it?

I see so many people who have limited views of themselves and of their lives. They doggedly attach to standards and expectations which may keep them ‘boxed in’.

This even happens with people who are already walking down a personal-development (or career development) path. They may have found their purpose or their goal, and become so attached to this that they’re no longer able to let go and explore new opportunities around them. Some of which may be completely different to what they envisioned!

Life changes continually – how do you respond?
Allow yourself to step out of your self-imposed, protected comfort zone and see what lies on the other side. You may be surprised – and even better, surprise yourself!

As life is really about who you become during it, rather than what you achieve in it - give yourself permission to change.
Both internally and exte
ally.
This leads to a larger life – and a deeper expression of yourself.
And this in turn provides the freedom so often longed for.

“I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail. The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.”
(Author of ‘My Comfort Zone’)