comfort zones
The how and why of stepping out of your comfort zone to work towards the changes you desire.
What are comfort zones? It’s the place where we feel safe, where we know what to expect, where we have created habits, where we know the routines and where we know how to handle any stressful situations. We all have comfort zones.
Human nature is about survival & safety, and habits or routines help to ensure the safety. We like to know what to expect as much as possible because that keeps us feeling safe. So, it isn’t really a surprise that as adults, we tend to play it safe. And that’s ok if you are content with the way things are in your life. But if you are desiring change, then it’s time to take another look at your current situation and where you are willing to step out of your comfort zone to make the changes you desire.
Change is uncomfortable and daunting at times. When you are implementing changes, you are disrupting the current routine or habits that you have created. And that can be a not so pleasant feeling at first.
Do you remember the first day of high school? Walking into a new building full of hundreds more students than middle school and not knowing your way around the building? It was a big change, and it was probably somewhat terrifying.
Or do you remember your first job? I’ll share mine – it was at Taco Bell. I didn’t know how to use the cash register and they made me the cashier on my first day at the job. I was nervous for the first couple of hours (and gave back the wrong amount of change several times) until I figured out how to use it.
When we step out of our comfort zone, that’s where the growth and development happen. It’s where you learn about your inner strengths and abilities which were in you all along, just lying dormant because you weren’t tapping into them. The more often you step out and do things that make you a little uncomfortable, the more comfortable you will become with it. You become more comfortable with being uncomfortable because you’ve built confidence in knowing that you are capable of change and handling the discomfort that comes with it.
So here are some tips to help you start moving you out of your comfort zone.
The first step in stepping out of your comfort zone is to pay attention to the emotions and physical sensations attached to the thought of doing something different. Notice the feelings and sit with it for a few minutes. It’s important to acknowledge what you are feeling as you start working towards changing. The feelings will probably pop-up time and again so become familiar with it, including those physical feelings.
Next, start thinking about what your life would be like once the change happened – imagine the things you would be doing and how you would feel emotionally. I love visualizations so I would even suggest taking a few moments to close your eyes and visualize what your life would look like on a big movie screen.
The next step is to think about (and write down) WHY you want to make these changes. Your reasons for stepping out of your comfort zone are going to be important on your transformation journey which is why I suggest you write it down. There will be days that you might find it difficult to continue working towards that change you desire, and when those challenging moments arise, it’s important to remind yourself of your reasons for starting in the first place.
Lastly, ask yourself what small step I can take to work towards the change. What is one thing you can do today to step out of your comfort zone? When you deeply desire change and have started to visualize the life you want for yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone sounds a bit easier. And when you start focusing on your reasons, your WHYS, for making the changes, it will give you the motivation you need to continue taking those small steps out of your comfort zone and move you in the direction you desire.
