Most people have self-imposed limitations. Like the elephant tied to a pole with the flimsiest of ropes, they have long since given up the hope of breaking free. Their favorite words are, “I can’t.”

The trouble with self-imposed limitations is that most people don’t even realize that they have them. The negative thoughts have become part of the belief system. And nothing changes unless the beliefs do.

The quickest way to change beliefs is to do something every day that’s out of your comfort zone. Years ago, while at “Yes, I Can!” camp, we had to eat with our opposite hand. This simple exercise was vivid example of how comfort rules our lives.

That’s why, with all due respect to more dramatic addictions — like alcohol and food — comfort is the worst addiction, because it kills so slowly. An entire life can go by before you realize that you never really reached for anything.

Do something today that expands your comfort zone.  Meanwhile, here are some quotes about rising above the ordinary.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” — Ambrose Redmoon

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.  May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” — Edward Abbey

“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.  It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.” — Margaret Thatcher

“No amount of security is worth the suffering of a life chained to a routine that has killed your dreams.” — Unknown

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” — Dolly Parton

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Mike Tully speaks to sports, business and educational groups. He also works with coaches, athletes and teams to make their practice time more productive and efficient. He and Gary Pritchard are co-authors of “Ten Things Great Coaches Know.” To see Coach Tully and Coach Pritchard discuss “Seven Ways to Prepare for Adversity,” click here.