Cliffs without Borders

Charting the Unknown

Nov 13, 2023

Do you often find yourself lost in thoughts about your dream future? Envisioning the life you yearn to live, the milestones you aim to reach, and the joy you hope to feel? If this resonates, you are in excellent company. As humans, we possess an extraordinary ability to envision a brighter future for ourselves. What's even more encouraging is our inherent capacity to actively shape this future. However, this process often demands that we embrace discomfort and vulnerability. Being vulnerable isn't just about openness, it's about taking a courageous step towards authenticity. It involves shedding layers of fear and doubt, allowing us to pursue our deepest desires with sincerity and passion, even at the risk of uncertainty, disappointment or failure. When we dare to be vulnerable, we unlock a more honest and fulfilling pathway to our goals.

For years, I thought of how my life might unfold if I bravely embraced my authentic self each day, chasing every dream and aspiration percolating within me, goals I believed I had the potential to realize. I often asked myself, what if I fearlessly ventured into unchartered territory for once? This curiosity and desire for self-actualization was the driver behind the creation of Cliffs without Borders—a place where courage meets vulnerability and where perseverance meets introspection through thoughtful reflection. My story, like many others you'll discover here, highlights the strength found in self-trust and the boldness required to welcome change. This community serves as a haven for nurturing emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Within this space, I'll be sharing my own journey of growth and transformation, a path embarked upon through taking a leap of faith.

I recently shared an Instagram post about an incredible opportunity I had this Summer to attend an intimate gathering hosted by my beautiful mindset coach at her stunning home in Malibu, California. Being in community with this mastermind of exceptional women was not only transformative, but inspiring beyond measure.

I had countless memorable experiences during my time in Malibu, however, I often reflect on when I both literally and figuratively drew a line in the sand at Tower 11 at Zuma Beach—leaving behind outdated narratives and negative thought patterns that I finally realized were never true, yet I firmly held onto. As part of our group exercise, we each wrote our limiting beliefs on rocks and released them into the ocean to represent renewal and new beginnings. The rock that I labeled "fear" was the most significant to me, and I ironically held onto that little rock in the palm of my hand a lot longer than I would have liked before releasing it into the ocean. I was almost afraid to let it go...I had used fear as an excuse to not pursue my dreams and aspirations in life for so long and I realized that I was leaving that all behind at that point in time. My brain quickly rationalized that if I am letting go of fear today, then what will become my go-to excuse now?

We stayed at the beach past sunset that evening and as I drove up the canyon to Calabasas where we were staying, I realized that the roads were quickly turning pitch black and the stunning cliffs that I had admired while cruising earlier in the day were without borders. I panicked. My contact lenses were irritating earlier in the afternoon, so I decided to take them out and I now had to navigate this incredibly windy road with limited eyesight and no sense of direction outside of my GPS. Although I was indeed fearful, I knew that I would safely land on the other side if I just took a deep breath, slowed down a bit, and trusted myself to safely navigate my way back home.

Navigating an uncharted path can be a literal and metaphorical journey. It involves trusting your intuition when in many instances the destination and outcome are uncertain. In the pursuit of our dreams, confronting discomfort is inescapable. Although painful at times, it's part of the journey. Yet, it's precisely during these difficult moments that we have an opportunity to demonstrate our resilience and willingness to push through anyway. Fear of failure is often described as one of the most pervasive forms of discomfort. It can become paralyzing to some degree, preventing us from taking that next step, if we allow it to. While our comfort zone is familiar, it is also limiting. Staying within what feels comfy not only means that we avoid discomfort, but it also means that we evade personal growth and progression. I can speak intimately on this topic as I operated in this space for far too long in both my personal and professional life. I allowed self-doubt to invade my thoughts, almost immobilizing me from taking a significant leap in my life — a leap for which I was ready, prepared and most importantly, capable of. Reflecting on the thought, “well, what if I do fail?”, I realized my concern extended far beyond just failing. My greatest fear was centered around what others would think of me if I failed and that thought was even more terrifying than the idea of failing in and of itself. This worry, intertwined with crippling perfectionism, created a cycle of debilitating thoughts that essentially kept me stuck.

I am still confronted with these challenges from time to time, however I want to offer you a perspective that may support you if you are hindered by this very same fear. The people that you are worried about disappointing, or those that you believe are judging you, might actually be admiring your courage for pursuing what's in your heart. Regardless of how big or small your endeavor may appear to you, there is someone out there who will find inspiration in your bravery, resolve, and vulnerability. Working through discomfort is never easy, however it builds confidence, cultivates discipline, and emboldens us to overcome any mental obstacles that may be in our way. When we embrace discomfort as an integral part of our journey, we discover that it is not a barrier but a key marker in reaching our next level of success. So, when faced with discomfort while on the pathway to actualizing your goals, remember that it is a sign of progress, an opportunity to grow, and a testimony to your commitment to achieving your most cherished aspirations.

Thank you for joining the Cliffs without Borders community.

I share this post with you on World Kindness Day, which just so happens to also be my birthday.