Perhaps you’ve developed a habit of remaining in your comfort zone. It’s easy to do. Yet, you’ve also lately wanted to try some new things and meet some new friends. Rest assured that your life will become much more interesting when you decide to leave your safe zone behind you.
Ponder these points about breaking out of your comfort zone:
1. Remaining in your comfort zone for too long robs you of growing. When you stretch yourself a bit, you’ll find yourself reaching out as a tree toward the sun.
* If you get too comfortable and rarely try to do anything new, how will you grow?
2. Making one change in your routine can open you up to new experiences. For example, if you usually go to the health club to jog on the treadmill and lift free weights, try a spinning or aerobics class one morning a week instead.
3. In order to grow, you’re required to put forth effort. Stepping away from what you’re used to brings more work for you. When you first learn something new, you’re required to spend time on the new activity, reading and thinking about it. Then, you’ll likely practice it.
4. Join a group. Committing to attending something weekly or monthly consistently may be a giant step out of your comfort zone.
* You have no idea what being in the group would entail. Yet, you’ll experience a lot of benefits by getting involved.
5. Pair something comfortable with something new. For example, ask your good friend, Jay, whom you’ve spent a lot of time with, to accompany you to a three-session digital photography class. You’ve yet to take a photography class and it might be nice to have Jay beside you, learning about how to take great pictures.
* Another example is that you’ve known your neighbor, Sara, a piano teacher, for ten years. You’d love to learn how to play the piano. So, you tell Sara you’d like to take six piano lessons to see how you like it.
* You’ll feel less awkward because you already know Sara and it would be convenient for you to go next door or have Sara come to your place.
6. Moving out of your comfort zone equals adventure. Do you have an adventurous spirit? If you can consider yourself a “life explorer” of sorts, you can trudge ahead into the great unknown with gusto.
* Think of life as a giant adventure complete with mini-adventures along your journey.
7. Accept that vacating your comfort zone will be awkward at first, yet fun. Being exposed to new hobbies and subjects will be a bit daunting. Remind yourself that you’ve navigated many rough waters on your life journey and that you’ve made it through each of them.
8. Make a decision to get out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, personal growth is a conscious choice. If you want to expand your horizons intellectually and personally, deciding you’ll do it by a certain date is an effective way to go.
* To illustrate, vow to yourself that you’ll start a new class by April 10, 2015. Then, follow through and feel great about it.
9. Remind yourself of times when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What did you think about it at the time? How did you cope with it then? What did you learn from the new experience?
Breaking out of your comfort zone will be exhilarating. You’ll likely experience moments of feeling unsure or confused. However, the farther away you are from your safe zone, the braver and more adventurous you become. Carving out the good life for yourself and your family will be sweeter when you leave your comfort zone behind you.