IF YOU’VE spent any amount of time browsing through YouTube, you might have come across one or two (or hundreds more) of those pep talk video clips by personalities or famous figures who have overcome great obstacles in life. They come from all sorts of backgrounds – sports, education, business, medicine, finance, engineering, science. While their stories differ, the theme they share is one of hard work, persistence, and grit.
Many shun these brief but intense video clips thinking that it’s all pomp and drama. But if you think about it, there’s something we could all learn and use in real life.
One recurring theme is that of the proverbial comfort zone
Most of us spend a lot of time in our comfort zone.
But what is it really?
Your comfort zone is a behavioral, psychological, and emotional state that feels familiar and safe to you. It could refer to a way of life, a set of habits, or a routine. In your comfort zone, levels of stress and anxiety are low.
Nothing is wrong with staying within the confines of your comfort zone. After all, in times like these, it’s what gives us a sense of stability and comfort. The problem begins when you get too cozy in it. When this happens, you stop taking risks to achieve goals. As a result of avoiding challenges, opportunities pass you by.
A great way to grow and reach your full potential is to step outside the familiar.
*Speaking in meetings or class;
*Speaking in public or making speeches;
*Traveling to new places;
*Using a new language;
*Starting a new business;
*Introducing yourself;
*Learning a new skill;
*Shifting careers;
*Taking advantage of new opportunities; and
*Making changes in your routine.
Or anything you want to achieve that feels a little too daunting at the moment.
Just the thought of speaking for some makes their heart race and palms sweat. But until you try (and try again), you’ll never know what you’re capable of. For all you know, you might end up enjoying it. You never know until you try.
If taking the first step feels overwhelming, here are a few tips to edge away from your comfort zone.
1. Get comfy with discomfort – Just because it’s difficult now doesn’t make you a dunce. An elite runner once said that in middle school, the gym coach would make her run around the huge field thrice before each class. A warm-up! By the end of it, she would be so out of breath, she was convinced that running wasn’t in her future. But as she stuck with it, she found herself getting stronger and stronger. Eventually, building the necessary mileage and stamina to qualify for big races. Nothing worth achieving was easy. If it were, everyone else would be doing it.
2. Build your skillset – One of the bigger reasons people stay within their comfort zones is the fear of inadequacy. Nobody wants to feel inadequate. But just because you don’t have the skill now doesn’t mean the end for you. A growth mindset says you don’t have it yet. Enroll in a course. Go online. Search the net for more information. Get a mentor. Apprentice for someone. Nowadays, there are few excuses not to learn something new.
3. Don’t overthink! – Stepping out of your comfort zone is not always a grandiose stride. Begin by exposing yourself to new environments that are just a little beyond what feels comfortable to you. Do it gently if you must! If you want to try a new career, say in infotech or customer service, a simple keyword search online will yield job opportunities and the skill set required to apply. Want to try weightlifting but intimidated with the gym? You don’t need to go all out Arnold with the heavy sets. Begin by knowing how each machine works. Start with lighter weights and progress from there.
Expanding your comfort zone gives you that extra confidence. Little acts of bravery in mindset daily will slowly and surely bring you to loftier goals in the near future./PN
