Are you living within your comfort zone? Do you know how the day will unfold for you?
If you plan a vacation is it always to the same place because it’s…comfortable and easy?
Your comfort zone is where your day to day activities and behaviors fit into a predictable routine. By having this routine it helps to minimize stress and risk from your life. Yes the benefits of staying safely in your comfort zone are obvious: regular happiness, low anxiety, and reduced stress.
But what are you missing?
You might feel safe right now. But at the same time you’re missing out on any excitement or adventure in your life. (tweet this!)
It’s like you’re lying under the duvet covers on a cold wintry morning. It’s warm, snuggly and cosy under the covers. And it feels so good.
The actual idea of stepping outside the warmth of the duvet is too painful to even fathom. It’s freezing cold outside, you can almost see your breath.
But do you ever wonder what else is out there? What’s outside the duvet covers?
If I had stayed within my comfort zone, all snug as a bug in a rug I would have never moved outside of Nebraska, where the majority of my family still reside.
Because I allowed myself to get outside my comfort zone I have lived in France, NYC, Boston, Montreal, CA and now New Zealand.
And I would have NEVER taken the leap and started my own business if I had stayed in my comfort zone. I would still be wishing and dreaming of working for myself.
When and if you are finally willing to step outside your comfort zone you are going to gain so much. (tweet this!)
Here are just a few things you will gain:
1. You’ll be more productive. I don’t know about you but I love being productive.
When you are stuck in your comfort zone it kills productivity. (tweet this!)
There are usually no deadlines or a sense of urgency when you are in your comfort zone. Often times, you do what is expected and you do it in the easiest way possible.
You lose your drive and ambition to learn new things and do more with your life. <Is this sounding familiar?>
Have you ever had a job where you pretended to be “busy” in the hopes of avoiding taking on new projects and yes staying snuggly warm in your comfort zone?
I know it’s so easy to want to just stay put but you’re holding yourself back in doing this.
If you can push yourself outside your comfort zone you will start to accomplish more and work smarter not harder. (tweet this!)
2. The more you can test your comfort zone, the easier it gets to deal with new and unexpected changes that will occur. In today’s economy people are being pushed outside their comfort zone daily with losing their jobs. Choosing to leave and dip our toes outside our comfort zone is hard enough, but it’s happening daily whether we like it or not. So, why not expand your horizons, and test the waters.
So what can you do? The best solution is to start by taking risks in a controlled fashion. Start to challenge yourself to do things you wouldn’t normally do.
If you can learn to start living outside your comfort zone on your own terms you’ll be better prepared for life changes and challenges that will ultimately force you out of it anyways.
3. It will get easier to push outside your boundaries in the future. Once you start stepping out of your comfort zone, it actually gets easier and easier over time. In the following NYT article it explains that as you step out of your comfort zone, you’ll become accustomed to that state of optimal anxiety that is right for you.
Remember your comfort zone isn’t the same as mine. “Productive discomfort,” as they call it in the article, becomes more normal to you, and you’re willing to push farther before your performance falls off.
The more you challenge yourself the more your comfort zone adjusts. What was once difficult and scary becomes easier the more you do it. And in many instances it can become fun too.
To sum up, remember that getting outside your comfort zone can be a good thing, as long as you don’t push it too far.
It’s important to remember there’s a difference between pushing yourself and experiencing a bit of “controlled anxiety” and the very real anxiety that many people struggle with every day. I don’t want people who are terrified of flying to all of a sudden book a flight.
Always remember that everyone’s comfort zone is different. What may ultimately excite you and expand your horizons may very possibly paralyze and freak someone else out.
Stepping outside your comfort zone from time to time can bring out your best (tweet this!), but too much can be a bad thing too.
In my next article, I am going to share with you several different things you can do and start to get out of your comfort zone.
Side note: as we were driving back from visiting family up North I was writing this blog post. And my son Seb said mum, it’s 12:12. I told him I’d look up the meaning and tell him what the angel numbers meant.
How apropos is this description based on today’s blog.
“Angel Number 1212 is a powerful sign that you are to step out of your comfort zone and take new directions and/or begin new projects and ventures that you have been wanting to do for a long time now. Angel Number 1212 encourages us to release our fears and apprehensions and get on with pursuing our passions and purpose.” Joanne Sacred Scribes
So if that isn’t a sign I don’t know what is. 😉
If you are interested in learning more about how to overcome your fears around starting your business or taking your business to the next level, sign up for a Business Breakthrough call today.
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