Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 4
BENEFITS OF GETTING OUT OF THE ZONE 6
YOUR SELF-AWARENESS WILL INCREASE 7
YOU’LL LEARN NEW SKILLSETS 8
CHANGE WILL COME EASIER 9
YOU’LL BE MORE CREATIVE 9
THE CHALLENGES OF STEPPING OUT 10
IT FEELS SCARY 10
AFRAID OF FAILURE 10
FEEL LIKE A FRAUD 11
FEAR OF WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK 11
MORALITY QUESTIONS 12
WHAT’S AT RISK—STAYING IN COMFORT 14
NEVER FIGURING OUT WHO YOU ARE 14
MISS OUT ON LIFE 15
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED 15
YOUR GOALS BECOME REGULATED TO “SOMEDAY” 16
WAYS TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE 17
GATHER INFORMATION 18
DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY THAT TAKES YOU A LITTLE OUT OF THE ZONE 18
MAKE A PLAN 18
MAKE YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE 19
TAKE BABY STEPS 19
STAY FOCUSED, STAY POSITIVE 19
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF 20
FIND A MENTOR 20
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS 21
SAY YES TO SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO DO 22
TAKE A CLASS 22
JOIN A NEW COMMUNITY 22
PICK A FEAR, ANY FEAR 23
BE GRATEFUL 23
REACH OUT TO THAT PERSON THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND LET THEM KNOW 23
CONCLUSION 25
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Benefits of Getting Out of the Zone
At the turn of the 20th century, two psychologists determined that “a state of relative comfort created a steady level of performance.” In other words, once we reach a comfort zone, we expend as much energy as we need to remain static in that zone.
When change is forced upon us by events out of our control, then we change our efforts to fit the new “normal.” If the comfort zone is threatened or altered, we may have to worker harder to maintain it through rising costs and then adjust to the new reality. If things become easier, then the temptation is to lessen our efforts as it’s easier to maintain the status quo.
That’s why it’s a “comfort zone” – it requires no extra effort to maintain. Notice, however, that the new normal becomes the new comfort zone. Growth and progress come just outside of the comfort zone, in a state referred to as “optimal anxiety.”
Optimal anxiety isn’t a new idea. If you’ve accomplished something great, or been able to reach a goal, you’ve been there already. It’s found where you’ve pushed yourself to meet that goal.
Bear in mind that pushing too hard or being pushed too hard will create a pushback response, and performance takes a dramatic downturn. In this case, it can also reinforce the idea that challenging yourself is a bad idea. You can even convince yourself that you’re unable to succeed. We naturally want to return to our comfort zone.
This means that leaving the comfort zone isn’t easy. However, with practice and continued success, challenging ourselves can become addictive in the way athletes become “addicted” to working out and pushing themselves physically.
Even though pushing out of your comfort zone is uncomfortable and challenging, there are many benefits to sticking to it. Here’s a list of benefits you can look forward to once you are committed to moving towards your fullest potential.
Your self-awareness will increase
“Every entrepreneur knows how agonizingly difficult it is to make the decision to give it your all, knowing that failure is inevitable; the successful ones know that the only way to get back up is through learning from that failure.” Fabrizio Moreira, Ecuadorian political dissident, and businessman.
The difference between “failing” and “learning” is whether you get up and try again or not.
You won’t recognize yourself
Seriously. If you set out to prove you can write a novel and you do, you will forever see yourself as someone who has written a book. If you set your goal to make Vice President of the company, and you do, you will see yourself as a “go-getter” who can and has climbed the corporate ladder.
Getting out of your comfort zone means you have to reassess who you are and how you see yourself. It creates confidence and self-assurance. You might even be surprised how much you like the new you.
Others will see you differently too
You’re going to be the go-getter at the office everyone talks about and envies. You’re going to be the example to others who don’t leave their comfort zones.
Have you ever wondered how someone got to where they are in life or in work? That’s going to be you, and that new perspective will change the way others see you, probably forever.
You’ll learn new skillsets
When you take a step out of your comfort zone, you’ll get the opportunity to develop new skills and abilities. This is one of the things that makes life exciting instead of boring.
Your productivity will increase
Comfort is the best, fastest and most sure way to kill productivity. How many times have you described your current job as a “rut”? If you’re only making the barest minimum effort to maintain, you’re not producing near what you could be doing.
Leaving the comfort zone hones your focus and concentration. Taking a risk can be scary, but it’s also exciting. Once you take that first step, you’ll notice you look forward to learning new skills and attacking different tasks. Life is no longer ordinary. Learning new things will improve your focus and concentration so that you are more productive and on-task.
You’ll get further than you ever believed possible
Once you step outside of the comfort zone, you’ll push yourself harder, focus better and achieve more than you ever thought possible. Remember that failing is okay, it’s part of learning. You might find that each trial, each learning experience is a milestone getting you closer and closer to your goal. You might even discover that you can go past your goal and achieve even more than you ever dreamed of.
Change will come easier
Getting out of your comfort zone means that you’ll be better equipped for change. You’ll become more resilient. So, when unexpected changes come, or your plans don’t go exactly as you’d hoped, it will be easier to bounce back.
You’ll be more creative
There’s really no reason to be creative when you’re resting in the comfort zone. But branching out will help you to see things from new perspectives. Those new perspectives along with the new challenges you’ll take on will inspire you to get more creative in your problemsolving. It will help you think outside of the box.
Don’t misunderstand, a comfort zone is not a “bad” thing, nor is it intrinsically good. It simply is. It’s a natural state toward which we all gravitate, becoming enamored with the concept of comfort and security. Comfort zones are for resting, for taking stock, for assessing all we have accomplished and created and have done. They are necessary. They are also addictive, and occasionally hard to break out of.
When the comfort zone is a place we refuse to leave altogether, that’s when it becomes problematic. Going to bed is a necessary thing for rest but staying in bed all day leads to depression and irritability.
Let the comfort zone give you rest and peace, but when it’s time to move on, move on. The benefits will be worth the challenges.
The Challenges of Stepping Out
We’ve established that stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t easy. The very thought of it might send shivers down your spine. Why? What’s so terrifying about trying something new?
It might help to reason out why it’s so frightening. The more you understand about the process, the easier it is to handle.
Here are some very common challenges for stepping out of your comfort zone and spreading your wings.
It feels scary
“…courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela.
It’s normal to be afraid, don’t fight it, don’t chide yourself for a reluctance to step outside of your comfort zone. It’s also okay to be scared. Taking risks does feel scary.
People want to stay where they are. They want to be safe and protected and know what’s expected of them. It fights against the instinct to leave that and challenge yourself to go on to greater things.
To overcome some fear, you may want to consider taking smaller steps out of your comfort zone until your confidence grows. And often, just keeping in mind that everyone feels scared when they first step out of their comfort zone can relieve your anxiety.
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