We spend a lot of our life living within our comfort zone. We’re creatures of habit and we like to avoid anything that causes us pain, poses a potential risk, or makes us uncomfortable. We even have sayings about the virtue of staying solidly within our comfort zone like “why fix it if it isn’t broken”.
But… what if there are amazing things, experiences, and people out there, just outside our comfort zone that we’re missing out on?
But …what if it isn’t nearly as scary to step out of our comfort zone as we thought?
But … what if we’re missing out by staying safe and comfy?
As human beings we’re designed for personal growth and change. We adapt, survive, and make the best of it. Think about how far we’ve come as a society in the last 200 years. Our lives are barely recognizable. We can change. We can grow. And we most certainly can step out of our comfort zone. Is it scary? Sometimes painful? Of course. Growth always is. But it’s also well worth it.
Most of us a scared to try new stuff. Yet, anytime we make ourselves step out of or at least stretch our comfort zone a little, we feel great afterwards. This ebook is about helping you get out of it a little more often. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and into the realm of possibility.
We start by taking a closer look at our comfort zone, how we create it, and why it is holding us back. Then we look at the realm of possibility and how it can help us step out of or at least stretch our comfort zone. Last but not least we’ll wrap things up with a lengthy chapter full of actionable tips and ideas to help you step out of your comfort zone and embrace this realm of possibility.
Ready to dive in and see where this journey will take you? Let’s take the first step and start by taking a closer look at our comfort zones. As you read through this guide, I want you to keep an open mind and also start to pay attention to your own comfort zone and when it limits you. Become aware and then decide when it’s time to step out of the box and embrace what’s possible.
What’s Your Comfort Zone?
Let’s start by defining what the comfort zone is so we’re on the same page as we discuss this abstract concept in a little more detail throughout this chapter. The comfort zone is a place or situation where we feel safe. It doesn’t cause us stress or anxiety to do what we’re doing. In other words, it’s where we live without getting uncomfortable, stretching, or growing pains. It’s a place where we feel confident and we know just about all there is to know about it. We in full control or at least we feel that way.
The first step towards stepping out of our comfort zone is realizing it’s there and figuring out what the boundaries of our particular zone are.
Going forward, I would like you to start to pay attention to what you do because:
- That’s how I’ve always done it.
- It’s comfortable and what I’m used to.
- It’s how it’s done.
Those are good indications that you’re working within your comfort zone.
Just as important are the things you don’t do or decline. Ask yourself why you’re saying no to a person or opportunity. Is it because it’s not a good fit, or is it because it makes you uncomfortable or you are scared of it?
Start paying attention to your comfort zone and define it for yourself.
Why Do We Create Comfort Zones?
We create comfort zones out of necessity. They help us get into routines and limit stress. The end result is a relative increase of productivity and a feeling of safety and stability. In other words, comfort zones are a good thing. We just don’t want to lock ourselves in them. Think of your comfort zone like your house. It’s your safe place. It’s where you sleep and it’s where you spend a good chunk of your time. But imagine how boring life would be if you spent all of it inside your home? What if you never ventured out and had fun and new experiences? Life would be quite boring and you’d be missing out on a lot, wouldn’t you?
Comfort zones are there for a reason. They are important. We wouldn’t want to be homeless and live on the street. It would be incredibly stressful. We need a safe place where we can relax and avoid feeling stressed and anxious. What we don’t want to do is to lock ourselves in that zone and throw away the key.
Comfort Zones Limit You
Here’s the problem with living only within your comfort zone. Not only is it boring but you’re potentially missing out on fun new stuff and it severely limits you in what you can do. Being stuck with what you can do and where you feel safe, keeps you from reaching your full potential.
We have to get uncomfortable ad sometimes we have to get hurt to grow as human beings. There are plenty of times when you’ve stepped out of your own comfort zone.
- You had to do it when you started school.
- You had to do it each time you started a new job.
- You had to do it when you started a new relationship.
- You had to do it when you moved across the country.
- You had to do it when you got married and had kids
All major life changes require us to step out of our comfort zone. And that’s a good thing. You’re not the same person you were as a pre-schooler. You’re not the same person you were as a college student. You’re not the same person you were 10 years ago. But if you are getting a little too comfortable with where you’re at, or a little too scared to try something new and take risks, you may be the same person you were last year, or a couple of years ago.
Don’t limit your own personal growth and the possibilities of having a fun, exciting, and fulfilling life because you’re stuck and afraid of change. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about being scared. The trick is to go out there and do it anyway. That’s when the real magic happens. That’s when your life starts to change, you start to change, and your feeling of self-worth and self-confidence skyrockets. That change wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful if it wasn’t so hard to bring it about.
The Edges Or Outer Limits Of Your Comfort Zone Make Up The Realm Of Possibility
Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t easy. But there’s good news. You don’t have to go way out of it to benefit from it. Making it to the edges of your comfort zone and stretching it just a bit or stepping out just over the edges or outer limits is all it takes. I like to call this area the “Realm of Possibility”. It’s the area of “what if I took just one more step”, of doing a little something that scares you, of taking baby steps that will eventually add up to big change.
We’ll dive a little deeper into what this realm of possibility is and how you can use it to step out of your comfort zone. For now, just imagine it as a grey area or transition piece between doing what you’re comfortable with and what you know well and doing something completely new and scary.
Here’s a good example. Let’s say you’re comfortable at your current job and you know how to do every single aspect of it very well. It’s a steady pay check that brings a lot of financial security and peace of mind. Eventually though, you would like to be in business for yourself and become your own boss. You want to launch a freelancer career and work from home, but right now that’s way out of your comfort zone. Start by doing a little work on the side. Get your first client and work in the evenings and on the weekends. Start to get comfortable freelancing and start building your client base and your income. Eventually taking the leap to quit your job and freelance full-time won’t be as scary because you’ve slowly but surely started to expand your comfort zone into the realm of possibility.
Or what if you’re tired of being overweight and out of shape. You want to work out but the thought of going to the gym scares you to death. Start by doing some workouts at home, or even going for a daily walk. Find a workout buddy, so that when you’re ready to check out a local gym, you don’t have to do it alone. Find a personal trainer to go with you and create a workout program for you. Research local gyms and find one that makes you feel more comfortable. If you’re a woman, you may feel more comfortable and welcome in a women’s only gym for example. Do what it takes to inch your way closer to the day when you will step into a gym and start working out.
I could continue on and on with these examples. We don’t have to completely jump out of our comfort zone and into something completely different and scary. It’s an option, but it’s not a necessity. We can bring about a lot of meaningful change and create some wonderful possibilities for ourselves by expanding on and stepping out of the edge of our comfort zone. With that said, let’s take a closer look at this “realm of possibility” and how we can start to tap into it.
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