A little over a month ago, my primary business partner asked me to join him at a health retreat.

I didn't have to blink, I said YES! without even knowing who, what, where or how or even how much. Since making health a priority, I've come to trust the universe to bring me experiences that most serve me in my desire to be healthy. Besides, I trust my business partner and friend completely.

Well, as it turned out, the retreat center is called The Ashram. It's an amazing program that is frequented by many 'Type A' personalities from the Hollywood elite to corporate executives from around the world.

The Ashram is known as the smallest, roughest, toughest, leanest, meanest, sweetest health retreat on the planet. And you know what? IT IS.

I arrived open, willing and ready for whatever the week was to bring. Or so I thought… After all I was committed to being healthy, right? (Famous last words… ;-)

Even as the introductory briefing began, I knew I was engaged in something worthy of my fullest commitment as we were prepared for what the week held in store for us.

Every morning would begin with yoga, followed by a light meal (as in, “Really, is that all there is for breakfast?”). We would then hike for at least 5 hours after breakfast through the Santa Monica & Malibu Mountains of California.

After hiking until it hurt (literally), we would come back get treated to an hour massage just prior to jumping into the pool for water aerobics and volleyball. Each day also included weight training and isolation exercises. We would eat only whole foods with very few calories and our snacks would be light and alive. Yoga would then help us to complete each day just prior to dinner.

Needless to say, as he wrapped his introduction, I knew this was going to be much harder than perhaps anything I'd ever done physically. And it was to occur for 7 straight days! Whoa!!!

Right then, I had a choice to make. I could choose to see the week as a real opportunity to grow and expand or the suffering de jour. Because let's face it, we love suffering and misery as a rule; and this was as easy a thing to suffer as anything I'd heard in awhile.

I chose to make a commitment to myself to enjoy the heck out of it all. I chose this not merely for just the health benefits but also the opportunity to work my often inflexible adaptability muscle.

What's my adaptability muscle? It's my willingness to more consistently accept what is as WHAT IS rather than something other than what is. It's a muscle of extreme importance to me because the more willingly I use the muscle, the more I'm propelled further upon my path with ever increasing joy and ease.

I mean, I'd shown up for a nice leisurely “health vacation” and landed in an unwatched episode of survivor. Suffering would have been an easy choice, right? But I couldn't help smile deeply upon the extraordinary opportunity to get out of my comfort zone in every way possible&hellip: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

And I did just that.

I can't say there weren't moments when I was sure someone had it out for me or that I must have completely lost my mind or something. However, withinasthru my regular practice of deeper breathing, I was able to get back into my smile of gratitude, with greater flexibility and adaptability than I had ever before chosen to embody.

I am truly grateful to the staff of The Ashram for the incredible magic by which they teach withinasthru health and vitality as their chosen way of life. They are a committed team of professionals.

My choice to trust my business partner and friend was only expanded through the experience and our relationship continues to grow wider and deeper as a river flows each and every day.

Most importantly, I am grateful for having the awareness in the inevitable moment where it was time to make a choice between suffering and joy. Withinasthru my full heart commitment to stretch and flex my adaptability muscles I grew and became more. I got to make that choice as often as was necessary throughout the week to make the week a miraculous journey way (as in way, way, way) out of my comfort zone.

Now, I don't believe it takes such an extreme opportunity for you to realize the importance of getting out of your comfort zone to stretch and flex your adaptability muscles. But whatever it does take for you to do so, right now, do it. You'll be forever grateful you did.

Wasn't it Eleanor Roosevelt who reminded, “Do something that scares you every day.”?

Great advice. Do something every day that scares you out of your comfort zone so you develop the necessary adaptability to live a life more filled with passion and purpose. There are few gifts you'll ever give yourself that will help you more in creating a life filled with joy and ease.

In Gratitude & Ever-Expanding Adaptability,

sk