If you spend your life in your comfort zone, how much can you really grow? Are you actually comfortable, or are you simply scared to try something new? The first step is often the hardest one to make, but there are things you can do to make it a little easier.
I used to worry a lot about what could go wrong, and it was enough to keep me firmly in my comfort zone. The thing is, I quickly realised that great things rarely happen there. Getting out of your comfort zone is rarely easy, but how will you feel if you never get to do the things you’ve always wanted?
1. Figure out ‘what’ and why’
If you really want to do something, you’ve got to give yourself a good enough reason to deal with the difficult situations you may have to go through. Start with one thing that makes you uncomfortable. Figure out exactly what you want to do, how to do it and why you want it. Give yourself an end goal to focus on.
2. Make changes to your daily routine
Disrupt your every day routine to do new things. Do you watch tv in the evenings? Why not skip it and learn a new skill instead? Why not change up your lunch break and meet some new people? Think about some of the things you can do help you towards your “uncomfortable” goal and slowly try to introduce them.
3. Challenge the beliefs that hold you back
Why are you scared to do the thing? When you really break things down, you’ll find the limiting beliefs that stop you going for the things you want. Perhaps you’re worried that things might go wrong, or what other people might think of you. Identify these beliefs and then find ways to challenge them. Okay, that one thing might not work, but it doesn’t detract from all the things that go right. And someone might not like what you do but, if it makes you happy, who cares?
4. Get used to being uncomfortable
By getting out of your comfort zone, you’ll actually start to expand it. The more you do things that make you uncomfortable, the more you’ll get used to them and they’ll start to phase you less. If you’re uncomfortable being around large groups of people, spend a little time with them on a regular basis. Push yourself a little further each time and eventually, you’ll realise it’s not such a big deal anymore.
5. Spend time with people who make you ‘better’
If you really want to grow, surrounding yourself with the right kind of people is a huge step in the right direction. Some people will support your growth and help to propel you in the right direction, whereas others will judge and cause you to hold onto your limiting beliefs. Choose the ones who make you better.
This might seem like a scary thing to do, but getting out of your comfort zone can improve your life in so many ways. There are lots of other things you can do to help you on your way, but focusing on a few to begin with will help prevent a feeling of overwhelm. Take it slow at first and before you know it, you’ll be comfortable in a whole load of situations you never saw yourself in before.