"Step out of your comfort zone." Once you are outside this bubble, life's magic begins to happen. This is where opportunities lay await for yours to take. The question is would you dare to step outside of it?
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| "person-jumps-on-road" by Luke Barky is licensed under CC0 |
What Is Comfort Zone?
According to Wikipedia, comfort zone is a psychological state in which things feel familiar to a person and they are at ease and (perceive they are) in control of their environment, experiencing low levels of anxiety and stress.
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| Comfort Zone |
In simple terms, you tend to stick to routines that you are familiar with. This is because we humans are creatures of habit.
Is the Comfort Zone Inherently Bad?
The answer is it really depends on the situation.
You, or rather your brain, love routines. This is to conserve energy so that you can tackle more important issues and/or decisions in life.
Have you experienced a drinking spree that you were so drunk but were still able to go home? That, my friend, is the power of routine working.
However, according to huffpost The comfort zone is just as nasty for your brain. Feed it the same data over and over because it's safe and routine, and your brain neurons literally stop noticing it.
The prime example of today's society is misinformation and fake news. We are bombarded with these noises every day. Unfortunately, some individuals believe in such information.
Take, for example, the flat-earth believers. Despite the mounting evidence since ancient times that proves the earth is a sphere, some still insist on this idea.
What's Stopping Your from Leaving Your Comfort Zone?
You Will Be Alone
Aside from being a creature of habit, we humans are social creatures. We love to be within a group. We love to have a sense of belonging.
Getting out of your comfort zone will likely result in you being alone. You will be even ridiculed for going that way.
They will say you were wrong and they were right. It will become a "You vs Them" battle.
You Will Fail Several Times
This is because you are doing things you are not used to doing. Obviously, you will experience setbacks during your first several runs.
This is a normal flow of life. Just let it happen.
If you can get it on your first try, then you might be a genius. If not, then you have a valuable lesson learned and experience gained.
You Are Afraid of the Unknown
Venturing into the unknown is always scary, but that didn't stop the pioneers to dream.
One great example is when man first went to the moon. The project was mired with setbacks and failures, even to the point that it took several lives.
If you want to go local, then ShoeMart (SM) is also a good example.
The first SM was built in North EDSA. It opened in November 1985, and we all know from history that this was a turbulent time for the Philippines.
If these pioneers had been afraid of the unknown, then the moon was just a dream. And SM will not be the biggest mall chain here in the Philippines.
 How to Leave Your Comfort Zone and Enter Your ‘Growth Zone’ |
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
Train Your Mind and Body to Get Used in the Uncomfortable
Introduce a new set of activities in your daily routine.
Some examples:
- Try to do chores like washing the dishes or brushing your teeth using your non-dominant hand.
- Use another route when going to work or home.
- If you are used to riding a cab, try to commute via bus or jeep.
Aim for Progress, Not Perfection
Make sure to do your baby steps.
Always take small steps until you are comfortable to do bigger strides.
For example, if you want to invest in stocks or cryptocurrency. Don't just drop your life's savings and expect to be a millionaire by tomorrow.
Invest first to test the waters and get comfortable with both winning and losing. After that, you can increase your capacity.
Learn the Basics Enough to Get You Started
The very first step is often the most difficult one. This is the very reason why you study and do your research to make sure you are ready.
The sad part is you sometimes don't get past this stage. You feel that you are not ready yet, that your knowledge and skills are not yet enough. Due to this preconceived fear, you are stuck in a loop.
Learn enough just to get you started. Once you start the engine, you can learn other things as you go along.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help
There are around seven billion people in the world, and the chances are big that there are individuals who are walking the same or similar path as yours. And are successful.
Connect with like-minded individuals. Don't be afraid to ask for advice. They will be very happy to help.
Closing Thoughts
Simply put, being outside your comfort zone is always uncomfortable. But this feeling of awkwardness will only last a moment at best compared to the reward of great happiness and life satisfaction.
As Karen Salmansohn said, "The best things in life are often waiting for you at the exit ramp of your comfort zone."
What you should do today
How did you step out of your comfort zone? Share your tips and perspective in the comments below.
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