3 Essential Reasons To Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Many of us probably enjoy that nice warm cosy feeling when we live within our comfort zone. However, the welcoming security of all those familiar faces, usual surroundings and repetitive daily routines are unlikely to give us the essential motivation to break out, grow and better our lives.
Now you may believe this is a blissful way of living, which is entirely understandable.
But deep down, we all know it can be a false sense of security in today's uncertain and often chaotic world. For example, what may seem like a safe, steady career you may enjoy (or endure) today could be gone within a couple of months following a snap of your bosses' fingertips!
So have you ever asked yourself: "Is this it - is this the best my life's going to get?"
It's too easy to get caught up in life's usual day-to-day routines and familiarity. But that constant ticking of an urge to try and better yourself never lays down to sleep. Instead, it serves as an important reminder at the start of each day, each hour, and each waking minute.
So if that's the case, you will have to push yourself out of that nice everyday comfortable feeling and get into the growth zone. This means facing a few anxious truths along the way, whether you want to do it for work, health or relationships.
Read on to discover why getting used to those "butterflies in the stomach" feelings is essential for your future growth and development and what you can do to push yourself towards better things.
What Is The Comfort Zone?
It is basically a state of mind. So if we don't experience any challenges or changes, and everything in life is so familiar, we experience no pressure and feel safe and secure.
Now that's okay, but in the long term, you can end up feeling "stuck in a rut." You may even begin to think that life is passing you by as you constantly settle for second best.
Suppose you want to achieve better things in life. For example, a better career or relationship, starting a new hobby or getting fit by joining a gym; whatever you want to change will require moving into your growth zone.
And that will feel uncomfortable, to begin with, so you may start experiencing the "butterflies in the stomach" feeling mentioned earlier. That's a good thing!
Because as you grow in confidence by pushing and stretching yourself, your comfort zone increases too, which makes you mentally stronger.
How Do You Know You Are In A Comfort Zone?
You'll know if you continue to feel secure and unchallenged. Or on the other hand, you may lack ambition and fear trying something new.
You may even feel ashamed or embarrassed for letting many of life's opportunities that come your way pass you by.
If you have ever sensed that you want to achieve more in life but always fail to take the required action, then deep down, you know you can't bring yourself out of that cosy state of mind.
Continuing this way of thinking will prevent you from trying or starting anything new. And that could hold you back from reaching your true potential.
Why Is It So Hard To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone?
Moving into the growth zone creates uneasy, sometimes anxious feelings and emotions. Many people would sooner avoid such experiences for a safer, calmer way of life.
It's the primitive human fight-or-flight response. The adrenalin dump that often accompanies a threatening or challenging situation.
However, today we as human beings no longer face hungry sabre-toothed tigers! And yes, there are indigenous tribes living with nature deep in the uncertain and probably challenging forests in parts of this world.
But, for the rest of us, this primitive response will not benefit our personal growth and self-development. Instead, the overly cautious frame of mind this past-due-date response creates could hold us back from achieving our life's dreams, hopes and aspirations.
Three Positive Reasons To Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone
1. You will become more self-confident
Once you get through the inevitable initial anxious moments, there's an immense heady rush of a sense of achievement when you try something new with a positive frame of mind. You will feel much more confident witnessing your self-esteem expand like a giant balloon.
It doesn't matter what it is you're trying for the first time. It could be the thrill of parachute jumping, learning to play a musical instrument that you have always wanted, or simply joining a gym to get in shape.
Feeling good about yourself is an inspiring motivator. Finally, you will think, believe and say to yourself: "If I can achieve this, then I can achieve anything!"
And that's a good thing. Remember, your life is shaped by your dominant thoughts.
2. You will develop mental strength
Every time you step out of your comfort zone, you will build a little bit more mental strength. As a result, you'll excel in everything you do as your confidence grows now you have changed your way of thinking. You are now gaining a more "can do" positive outlook on life.
Mental strength is essential if you want to succeed in anything. So just like training your muscles to make your body strong and healthy, developing mental strength builds and keeps your mind healthy too.
3. You will learn to accept your mistakes
Many people worry too much about making mistakes and what others may think of them. That is undoubtedly an inferiority complex. Making mistakes is a natural thing – it's part of growing and learning.
Looking at mistakes as little lessons to learn from is a more positive way of thinking and far more beneficial to achieving success in anything you do.
There is not one successful person throughout history who has ever achieved greatness without making mistakes. Instead, successful people use mistakes as a learning curve or a stepping stone, taking them closer to achieving their goals.
How To Move Into Your Growth Zone
The first thing to do is to know who you really are. You've got to completely know yourself from within.
What are your strengths and qualities? What are you good at, and what do you enjoy doing?
Getting into your growth zone takes small baby steps. If you try to stretch yourself too far, you'll likely end up in the "panic zone", leaving you feeling stressed and anxious.
Entirely detrimental to what you want to achieve.
Should this happen, you're likely to retreat and hibernate back into your cosy comfort zone and be less inclined to try anything new.
For example, let's say you are an introvert but want to build a wider circle of friends and enjoy a more exciting mixed social life. The reality is it's unlikely you'll become the extroverted party magnet everyone wants to be around by next Saturday night!
But you can take small steps to build social skills and confidence, allowing you opportunities to interact with new people daily.
So what if you're not the party animal. As long as you take small actions while staying focused, you will consistently draw new people into your life as your confidence grows.
Whatever your goals and aspirations may be, taking small steps, one at a time, will give you the most incredible opportunity to thrive in your growth zone.
Here are a few ideas to break out of your comfort zone and get into your growth zone:
Pick one thing that you're fearful of and face it
Learn a new skill that will benefit you in the near future
Join a fitness class or a gym where you will meet new people
Volunteer to help your local community a few hours a week.
Today's Takeaway
Stepping out of your comfort zone is challenging at first. It can induce feelings of fear and anxiety. It takes faith and determination. But belief and steely determination will make things better in your life – no matter what you want to change.
The benefits of facing the challenge are more self-confidence, mental strength and realising that mistakes are all part of the learning curve.
At the end of the day, your happiness is crucial to your life. Do you want to be stuck in a soul-destroying job, an unfulfilling relationship or mediocre life for the rest of your days?
Change things for the better from today. Learn to love the "butterfly feeling" in your stomach and break out of your comfort zone!
