Outside of the “Comfort Zone”

I can’t recall when I embraced the idea of being aware of things within my ‘comfort zone’ and pursuing stuff that was outside? The two pics above were charts I kept in my collection and referenced often during the latter part of my military career. Using these charts as a tool has helped me in my personal and professional life. I have more to learn in this area and view these reminders as something to help me along the journey.

I recall being on a team where stretching one’s comfort zone was regularly promoted. The idea of making those things which were uncomfortable, comfortable, made sense when looking to add intensity, obstacles, and risk, especially in preparation for the chaos of the battlefield. I appreciate the leaders and teammates that fostered a culture of growth as I was coming up the ranks.

In preparation for this trip, I intentionally set out to place myself into an environment that would put me outside of my comfort zone. While I do speak Japanese, I consider it to be at the elementary to the junior high school level. That was the age when we moved to the U.S., so the phrases and words that I am more familiar with are in that age group. I can say the words with the proper accent and speed, which often result in compliments from the locals on my speaking ability.

While the familiarity of the language offers some comfort, there are still several variables that place me outside of my comfort zone. I choose to live in a neighborhood versus an area common with foreigners or tourists. I did consider getting a nice hotel room or the distinguished visitor’s quarters on the Army base on the other side of Tokyo. But that would have taken away from my experience.

The Air B and B I found is getting the job done and forcing me to ’embrace the suck’ as I envisioned. The pics below provide a snapshot of my living conditions. I have had offices bigger than my room. The room I had in Afghanistan was larger, and the shower stalls there were more spacious.

The first two nights of sleeping on the bed were painful. Not as bad as being in the kneeling position in the Dojo, but close. The padding was very thin on top of a plywood board. Japanese homes usually come without a dryer. It is common for people to air dry their clothes on a balcony. However, I have no balcony, so I dry my clothes in the closet. The stairway is an obstacle course in itself. The steps are not wide enough, so I have to climb up and down sideways. Carrying two suitcases was not fun.

While it may sound as if I am sniveling a bit, it was a quick reminder that it was “Game-On” and this was what I wanted. I have since put into practice something I was taught early in my military career. Always improve your foxhole and leave a place better than when you got there were lessons several sergeants instilled in us. I have added more suitable padding and a pillow to the bed unit. According to my fitness tracker, I am getting some quality sleep, and the pain in my joints is strictly from training and not the bed.

If the magic happens outside of the comfort zone, what are some of the ‘magic’ I have experienced or observed? I’m glad you asked. Being here, somewhat isolated, has allowed me to think quite a bit and appreciate the journey of life. I appreciate Mollie’s support and trust in encouraging me to pursue this course of action. She has been tremendous. I also am thankful for my parents for the foundation they gave me and their example of enjoying the simple things in life.

I have also thought quite a bit about my sons. They are pursuing their lives, one post-college, two in college, and one in the initial stages of his military career. I feel a connection with them as we pursue living life abundantly and with purpose. Not having my usual comfort items has afforded me to read, study, and think about matters I have placed on the back burner for some time.

I recall telling a friend before leaving the States that I wanted to be treated like a Private in the Dojo. I expected to be ‘that guy,’ responsible for cleaning the Dojo after training. Even with that mindset, I have had to be reminded (twice) to get the bucket and rags. This past week, I remembered to move with a sense of purpose after the formal bows ending the training session. I quickly went outside and filled the bucket with water and squeezed out the rags. I get to the Dojo before everyone and sweep the training floor and make sure all the equipment is ready to go. That has been an excellent lesson for me.

While I am indeed developing skills through Kendo and Iaido training, a lot of the ‘magic’ has been in the mental realm. And, in embracing that, I have been able to be purposeful on my off days to review training, apply mental skills tools, and annotate thoughts and observations in a journal. Additionally, training in the Dojo has seen a vast improvement. I have felt positive strides in executing techniques and have received comments from my Dojo mates. My practice consists of three group sessions and one private lesson during the week.

The Kancho pulled me aside this past week and feels I am ready to test for my first rank. He commented that I have the right spirit and am progressing quickly. I was pleased with that feedback. He feels I am ready to test by next weekend, but he left it up to me. I asked to be tested the weekend before departing back to the U.S. Testing for rank was not a goal of mine as I prepared for this trip. Honestly, the rank was the furthest thing from my mind.

I am excited for the opportunity to test soon. I feel it affords me another experience to apply the tools I have learned in my graduate studies. It will also place me outside of my ‘comfort zone’ which is what I came here to do. Much of what I have learned about my comfort level resides in my mental approach. In reality, that is where it begins.

I will close with this. As I walked to the Dojo from the train station on Wednesday night, the song “Let the Good Times Roll” by the Cars popped into my head. A couple of times during training, the song repeated and again, while I filled up the bucket and prepared the cleaning rags at the end of the night. I guessed the thought of the song led to me verbally saying the words which were caught by one of the students. “Good times?” he asked me? “Hai, sugoku tanoshii desu!” That translates to, “Yes, a lot of fun,” which is what I am having. Stretching outside of the comfort zone is not only where the magic occurs but where fun can be experienced.

Pat