Finding The Courage to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
The more uncomfortable you are, the better.
We were born with the fight-or-flight response. It is supposed to protect us and keep us safe. But sometimes, we rely on it too much and just prefer to be comfortable and stay in our comfort zone. The flight response kicks in, and we just cozy up.
Our comfort zone feels amazing, all warm and cuddly. Leaving this comfort takes willpower and a change of mindset. But when you don’t leave it, think of all the missed opportunities.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a comfort zone as “the level at which one functions with ease and familiarity.”
The familiarity of it all makes it so hard to leave. You feel safe.
We are ingrained with this fight or flight response which is an automatic response to anything perceived as stressful or frightening.
When we feel that creeping discomfort in our chest, we get this strong urge to avoid it. I feel like I’m sitting and bathing in this feeling every day.
And I know I need to muster up a bucketful of courage to face this discomfort every day.
In the words of Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha, “Bad habits are like comfort zones; easier to get into, but harder to get out of.”
And it’s hard.
I forget about the opportunity to grow, learn, and develop myself in ways I should.
Every day there is fear on some level. The fear of failing to succeed. The fear of not achieving my goals.
It takes courage, and that level of courage varies with each passing day.
Staying in a comfort zone means I don’t have to face my fears or deal with unpredictability. I can be safe within my bubble.
But I love growth. I love to challenge myself and try new things.
I remember when I first scheduled my first solo vacation. I was a bit nervous and reluctant about taking a vacation alone because it was something new. It was something I’d never done before.
My trip was to Paris, France. When I thought about it, it wasn’t a huge stretch. My French language skills are intermediate, and I can read French well.
I also traveled alone for business or a conference.
But a vacation alone was different. It means no shared experience with a significant other or friend.
Paris did not disappoint. It was beautiful and amazing, and I’ve taken more solo vacations since then.
Stepping outside your comfort zone will help you find your true potential.
Need help getting out of your comfort zone?
One of the best ways to get out of your comfort zone is to expand it gradually. Take a small step to expand the parameters of your comfort.
Sometimes it could be about changing your mindset. When I considered taking a solo vacation to Paris, I already had some experience I could lean on. I can speak French, and I’ve traveled alone for business.
Here are a few ideas to get out of your comfort zone:
· Is there something you always wanted to do?
· Is there a fitness challenge you want to try?
· Did you want to change something in your routine?
· Is there a fear you want to overcome?
· Did you want to travel somewhere?
· Did you want to learn a new professional skill?
· Did you want to try a new sport?
Pick One Thing You’ve Always Wanted to Do
A bucket list is a great way to note down all the things you would like to do but haven’t done yet.
It is a fun way to check off our experiences. Even better, there are communities where you can create lists, set your challenge, and then start achieving your goals.
I’ve personally used the Day Zero Project for my bucket lists. You can get ideas from other people’s lists. There are even some existing lists you can use for inspiration. You can keep your list of items private or share them.
Day Zero Project is free, but you can upgrade your membership for additional features.
You don’t need to create a bucket list. You can always pick one thing you always wanted to do and then challenge yourself to do it.
You could do a fitness challenge. There are so many out there for you to choose from.
One of my favorite fitness challenges is the 30-day yoga challenge done by Yoga with Kassandra.
You can find programs to build yourself up to run 5 km, or you can build yourself up to take that hike you’ve always wanted to do.
You can also set SMART goals to help you to keep yourself accountable. You can read more about them in my post “How To Create a Plan to Empower Yourself and Achieve Your Goals.”
Change Your Routine
When I challenged myself to run 5 km, I had two small kids at home under the age of 5. If I was going to do a running program, I needed to do it before my kids were up and my ex left for work.
I first started my running program at 5:30 AM. I soon realized that I could run at 6 AM. The change in my routine was perfect. I could get my run at the start of the day. If I had done it any other time, I probably would not have succeeded.
Upskill Yourself
Learning a new skill will push you out of your comfort zone. It could be a skill related to work or something of personal interest.
I always wanted to take a photography course. It is still on my bucket list.
For now, I tend to do courses that upskill me professionally.
I’m hoping to take a course to improve my writing skills soon.
Choose a Fear and Conquer It
I’m not too crazy about heights, so I don’t expect to do any skydiving, ever. And I’m okay with that.
Public speaking was something I always wanted to improve on. I went to Toastmasters, and I had to do group presentations as part of my Undergraduate degree.
My nerves still kick in occasionally, but as with anything, you get better the more you practice.
Travel or Visit Something New
It doesn’t have to be an exotic vacation. It could be as simple as visiting a new park or a part of your city you’ve never seen.
It’s all about trying something different, expanding your horizons.
Instead of hiding out in your home, explore a bit.
Recently in the news, I read about a father and son who wanted to ride every bus route in the city. What a great idea! Riding every bus route will give you a complete view and new experience if you’ve never explored your city.
Each week I set targets for myself to achieve. And each week, I acknowledge what is going well, what is not, and what I need to do to achieve my goal. I’m tough on myself, and I must remind myself to be kinder and gentler.
The level of success and goals I want to achieve takes time. The progress I wanted to see in three months hasn’t happened.
But each day, I stay focused.
I reflect on why. Did I underestimate the effort that I needed to take hit the target? Should I have broken down the task into smaller and more manageable chunks?
What could you have done better?
Pat yourself on the back and celebrate the targets you hit, even the small ones.
Don’t beat yourself up for the ones you missed.
Track your progress. There are so many tools available to help you. It could be a spreadsheet, Notion, or a project management tool like Asana.
Draw inspiration from anywhere. The other day I watched a news clip of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Wallace. Arnold said he works out for 30 minutes daily to maintain what he has. Wait, what? Just 30 minutes? I can do that.
If your targets are fitness related or to hit your solopreneur goals, you can do it. It is achievable through determination, passion, and consistent and persistent action daily.
Final Thoughts
Don’t compare yourself to others. Every one of us has a different journey with different challenges.
Comparing yourself will most likely bring you down and make you question why you haven’t hit your goal yet.
Perhaps the person you are comparing yourself with has been on their journey for years, and you have only been on yours for four months.
Remember that before you start tearing yourself down.
What happens when you step out of your comfort zone? You feel more confident and resilient, and you’ve just broadened widened that comfort zone.
