Pushing out of your comfort zones, getting out of your depth, might just be the best thing for you to evolve creatively, mentally, physically and more. This is the time of year when New Year's resolutions are put to the test, and they either triumph or fail spectacularly over the next few weeks. Many, many people no longer even bother, but I say what the hell, go for it, at least try. Trying to change one's own behaviour is singularly the most difficult thing a person can try to do, as we human beings are such habitual creatures and are able to use our reasoning minds to justify just about any decision we make. We are masters of delusion and illusion, but we are also able to break through those barriers to create wonderful masterpieces of artwork, of living life well, perpetuating creativity to its full potential.

When I'm working and I'm feeling safe, comfortable, secure, then for the most part I am not doing my best work. Only when I'm trying something new, or pushing myself to explore something deeper, not running over the same material again and again does something remarkable happen.  That something is either a wonderful achievement or a brilliant failure, but either way it wasn't boring. When I wrote my first book and had it published (a medieval fantasy called Falconwing, now out of print but may be coming back in the near future) I simply gave it my all. I had been working on it since I was fifteen years old, and it was only published in my 30's.  I then tried my hand at non-fiction with Zen Druidry, and then began a triplet of introductory books for the Moon Books Pagan Portals Series, with The Awen Alone: Walking the Path of the Solitary Druid  still an Amazon No.1 Bestseller in the category of Druidism well after a year from its release date in 2014. 

I enjoyed dance, and one day thought I'd give belly dancing a go. I had a talent for it, and after five years decided to try my hand at teaching it and coming up with my own dance company. I didn't know anything about having a business, but I gave it a go with all that I had. It turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done, and I have met some of the most wonderful people who have become lifelong friends.

The same with Druid College: never had I taught more than one or two students at a time. But when the offer came from my colleague in the States to broaden the teachings and bring Druid College to the UK, I thought about it and realised that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Not only would it be yet another great lesson in starting something from scratch, but I had learned from life experience that the best way to learn more about a subject and to fall in love with it all over again was to teach it. Stepping into the great unknown, Druid College was born, and now I have thirteen brilliant students who I'll meet up with again next weekend for our next session.

Take leaps of faith in life. Who knows what will happen? When I was 19 years old, I moved 3,000 miles away across Canada to live with my friends in Vancouver. This has set in motion a string of events that has led me to where I am today. That would never have happened had I stayed close to home. I had no idea what I was doing, what it would entail, but I gave it a go. Similarly when I moved to the UK in 1998, I thought at least I would try it, rather than let the opportunity pass me by.

There is, of course, always the risk that you fall into the trap of ever-seeking new thrills and not being happy with what you have. But this can be worked with, for you can have the comfort of loving friends and family, a stable home life, and still push the envelope in creativity, or run a marathon, or try your hand a new skill.  You can be happy and be creative. It doesn't have to be grand life-altering risks that you take, but rather something that broadens your horizons, enabling you to have a different perspective on life. When we change our viewpoint from the singular to the plural, the possibilities are endless and we are inspired, charged-up by life around us, full of enthusiasm (and frustration), courage (and fear), fulfilment (and failure). But at least we were inspired.

That inspiration is at the heart of Druidry. Druids quest the awen, the sacred inspiration that lies in deep relationship to the world around us. When those threads of connection are humming with inspiration, we can follow the flow to wherever it takes us, doing things that take us to the limits and beyond.  We are free.