Bursting Free of the Comfort Zone

We’ve all heard of the comfort zone. We all have one. We like to lean back in our soft chair and just take it easy – let life happen to us. We take the good, we take the bad, but we’re just floating along a lazy river, not steering the raft; not even caring which way it goes. Until it gets caught in the rocks. Then we ask ourselves: Is this all there is to life?

I want to scream it from the rooftops:

NO!

There is so much more to life. The problem is that pesky thing we call a comfort zone. It’s that circle of familiarity we live in. We are happy there…until we realize success eludes us. There’s a reason for that. We are too comfortable, If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that success is on the other side of comfort.

UH OH! That’s not what I wanted to hear. This was going to hurt. I know logically that it would be worth it, but taking that first step would be the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

Let me give you a fun example. In 2001 or 2002 I had the opportunity to travel to another continent. Two countries with a different culture from my own: Scotland and England. OK, the cultures weren’t drastically different, especially since I’m from Nova Scotia, which is New Scotland in Latin, where we have a lot of Scottish culture. Still, it was like a whole different world when I stepped off the plane.

I was completely out of my comfort zone. I didn’t know what to expect, and I almost wanted to go back home, it was so overwhelming. That’s what it’s like when you step out of that small space that is comfortable to you. You feel like you’re out of your element and you want to turn around and go home. Obviously I couldn’t leave because hotel rooms were booked, and the flight wasn’t for a couple weeks.

I told myself that no matter how uncomfortable I was, I was going to enjoy this trip of a lifetime. Who knew when or if I would ever be back? So I did, and it wasn’t so bad. Quite the opposite, actually. If you do it right, leaving your comfort zone leads to having the time of your life.

It reminds me of that first ride in a taxi after getting off the plane. I’ve ridden in taxis before but this time was different. This time, we would be riding on the left hand side of the road. After getting in, the driver took off and road through the city like he had a death wish. Numerous times I felt like we were going to crash into another car or a pedestrian but he expertly wove in and out. It was a wild ride that I’ll never forget, but that’s what it’s like when you do more than just sit at home where nothing happens. It’s a thrill ride, and one not to miss.

It also reminds me of a trek we had in the highlands of Scotland. I wanted to see Glenfinnan, on the shores of Loch Shiel. If it wasn’t for my suggestion, we probably wouldn’t have gone. Unfortunately the day we took the train was also a rainy day…of course, it rains often in Scotland so the odds were not in our favour. We got off the train and had to trek what seemed like kilometres from the station, in the rain, to find the Highlander monument. It was raining, we got a little wet, and we kept saying to ourselves, “It’s all a part of the adventure.” But despite that, we finally made it and we were treated to a beautiful sight that not many people get to see. The trek was worth it. We were in a foreign country, barely knew where we were going, yet we still made it. If we didn’t take the chance, we wouldn’t have seen something that will forever remain in my memory. Just like we said it was all a part of the adventure, anything you go through in your life is all a part of the process.

There are other times when I faced hard situations. Sometimes I shied away, tail between my legs…other times I burst through that barrier and shone. It is my hope you choose to push through, no matter how uncomfortable you are, because only then can you live your best life. I promise you, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

I was apprehensive about posting this article. I still spend some time in my comfort zone. Who am I to help people out of theirs? Then I realized that I was apprehensive about posting all my previous articles. I was apprehensive about starting a Facebook page. I am still apprehensive about publishing my own books and putting them out in the world. I am working on starting a business connected with this page, and it scares the heck out of me. Just posting my words for others to read is way out of my comfort zone, because I can never take it back. Those words will be out there forever. I over-edit everything. I spend several minutes editing the shortest text message, to the longest story. One day recently I realized that I couldn’t be a writer if I wasn’t willing to take a chance by putting my work out there. It wasn’t so bad. I get kind comments that I appreciate. I finally took the first step and I have more confidence to take that next step. And the next. If I can do it, then you can do it too. Take the smallest step, and you will get there too. Honestly, I’m inspired by people who take small steps to move forward and then end up in a much better place after several years of doing this.

Here are some action steps you can take to escape your own comfort zone.

1. Take a step. Any step. It doesn’t matter how small or large. Starting with small steps is especially helpful because if you keep taking those small steps then you will regain momentum. You will eventually achieve successively bigger things.
2. Set goals. If you have goals, then you will know what direction to go. You will know what steps to take.
3. Hang out with people who are moving forward in their own lives. Moving forward always involves getting out of your comfort zone. You often do what your friends do, they will be able to inspire you, be cheerleaders for you, and vice versa.
4. Do your best in everything that you pursue. If you do your best and continuously improve your best, then you know you will eventually succeed in whatever it is.
5. If you encounter a setback, just get back up again. I’m not going to sugar coat it. You need to realize we all fail on our way to success. The only way to succeed is to fail. It’s like falling off a bicycle. I’m sure if that’s happened to you, you didn’t give up cycling. Don’t give up your dreams because of one small setback.

Are there times when you have gone out of your comfort zone? Are there times when you should have but didn’t? I want to know your story! Tell me in the comments! As always, may your life be passionate!