The 'Comfort Zone'

 


No one likes to be challenged out of their 'comfort zone'. You know - the place where you know you will succeed. Please note that I am not talking about real safety. There is a HUGE difference between challenging yourself to do something you are worried you will fail at, and putting yourself at risk of harm.

I am not a 'risk-taker' by any means. I hate roller-coasters. I despise scary movies. I don't speed through yellow lights hoping to pass through. At the same time, I'm not superstitious. I will take some risks if I think that they are reasonable. I will apply for positions that I am not sure I will get. I will try drawing something that I have never tried before. I will (cautiously!) try new yoga positions to test my balance.

At the same time, I very much dislike getting out of my comfort zone in certain situations. For example, I applied to a position a while ago, feeling nervous that I would not get it. I mean, how awful would it be if I did NOT get it? I would feel like a failure. Like I 'wasn't good enough'. How pathetic would it be to look others in the eye and KNOW that they did not choose me for the position?


But are these thoughts realistic? Would I really be a FAILURE if I did not the position? Would I be the first or last person to apply for a role and not get it? 

Part of stepping out of our comfort zones means noticing the stories we tell ourselves. What is your story about your comfort zone? What happens if you try and do not succeed? What do you tell yourself if you get nervous in front of a group when you present? What does it say about you if you lead a group but you don't all achieve your goals? What is the message you repeat to yourself if you try a project but don't get it right the first time?

You see, it's ourselves who define our comfort zones. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. Your comfort zone is comfortable...and that's all. It provides stability. But to grow, to test your limits, to know your potential...you have to step out of that comfort zone. Which is, obviously, uncomfortable. But it can be incredibly worth it.

Maybe you won't succeed. Maybe you will try, but you won't get the job. Or that person won't be interested in you. Or your coworkers won't agree with your ideas. 


But, at least you will have tried. You will have learned lessons about yourself, about others, about life, and about taking (safe) risks. You will have noticed that you are capable of trying new things. You are capable of taking risks, of accepting rejections and disappointments, and of growing all the while.

You are allowed to take risks, to step out of that comfort zone that you have created, to go beyond the limits you set yourself. You are allowed to dream, to make goals, and to try to achieve them. You are also allowed to be imperfect, to take steps back, and to regroup when things don't go as planned.

You are allowed to be human. Because if it doesn't challenge, you, it doesn't change you.




Popular posts from this blog

Starvation 'feels' good...?

I realize that you are probably staring at this title, mouth wide open, wondering how on earth I could write such a thing. How can feeling pain in your stomach possibly be enjoyable? Just stay with me...I'll explain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters - chemicals produced by thy hypothalamus and pituitary gland during exercise, excitement, pain, and more. They mimic opiates in that they have an analgesic effect. That is, they promote a feeling of 'goodness' or 'well-being'. When you go through a painful thing (ex. a cut), endorphins are released in order to prevent pain signals from being transmitted. So, you may feel a sense of 'power' that helps you get through the pain. So, why am I telling you about endorphins? Well, studies on anorexia have actually discovered that endorphins are released when not enough calories are being consumed. The body does this because it wants to protect itself - if your body is starving, it does not want you to die. So, the b
Read more

Lessons from infants: 'Taking it all in'

Image
Have you ever watched a baby look around the room, or jump their attention from one adult to another?Have you ever noticed how little infants, as they become more aware of their surroundings, take delight in staring at things around the room? Their eyes scan the room and 'take everything in'. If you observe these little ones, you will notice how interested they are in their surroundings.  When was the last time you stopped to notice what is around you? We often say 'stop to smell the flowers' or 'take in the sunshine'. But do you actually DO this?  Young children are learning about their environments; our eyes take in our surroundings and transmit these messages to the brain, where visual processing occurs. Without getting too complicated, it is quite a complex and interconnected process! The miracle of vision is truly a blessing we all have. Stop for a moment and take a look around you. What's there? Is your room organized? What colour are the walls? How is
Read more

Eating Disorder Awareness Week! (EDAW)

Image
This week is Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) . This is a week that pays special attention to increasing awareness about eating disorders: what they are, how they can be prevented and treated. and how to support others throughout their own journeys. Of course, raising awareness about ED should happen all year - but having a special week dedicated to the cause makes us more aware of the key issues. (P.S. Purple is the colour for Eating Disorder Awareness - so please try to wear purple or incorporate purple into your lives this week to show your support!) I have certain goals for EDAW. I hope that someone will hear of ED and know that it is a mental illness, and not a choice. That struggling with an eating disorder is a challenging, emotional, and painful experience - and not simply a quest to lose weight and be thin. I have hope that society will let go of false ideas that women and men need to be tall, thin, muscular, etc. in order to be strong and beautiful. That the media
Read more