How dare I say those words out loud!? 
I want to talk about that comfy cozy comfort zone. But I especially want to talk about the benefits.
Check out this definition:
“The comfort zone is a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.” – Judith Bardwick
It can feel impossible to live the life you want, one that makes you happy and fulfills you. Whether it’s pushing yourself to the next level at work or taking up pottery, it can be difficult – or often impossible – to take the leap, even though it could lead to great things.
Developing the self-assurance necessary to pursue the life you want is not always easy. There are many ways to break free from mental blocks and try something new. And there are several ways to get started.
Some people try to self-coach by getting inspired by listening to a talk about how to unlock their potential and overcome the fears holding them back. Or read an article on simple steps to overcome unhelpful thought patterns and mental habits, with life-changing results.
However, I’ve found that this is where people get stuck. They watch videos and then forget the details within an hour of watching them. Or they’ve read all the self-help books and have no idea how to get themselves to do all of the self-helpy stuff.
The comfort of the zone is one of the main reasons they remain trapped.
One thing is certain: there isn’t much motivation for people to achieve new levels of success while they’re in their comfort zone. People go through their everyday lives without taking any chances, allowing their success to plateau.
It does take courage to step out of the comfort zone. I read the following recently, and it’s quite interesting:
“With each action, you take outside of your comfort zone, it expands. And once you master that new skill or action, it eventually becomes part of your comfort zone. … And the more tools and skills you have at your disposal, the easier it will be to achieve your goals.”
Don’t you think this is useful information? It reminds me of the adage “practice makes perfect.” People become more comfortable the more they do something or master a skill.
Which made me wonder, if we leave our comfort zones, what will we gain from it? I made a list, of course.
- Beyond the circle of your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, there is real life. Your real life is the sum of ALL of your experiences, not just what’s in your comfort zone.
- Challenging yourself to do something new pushes you into your personal pool of untapped tools and resources. Until you leave your comfort zone, do you know what you’re made of? or who you are?
- Taking risks, regardless of how they turn out, is a form of development. And even if you make mistakes the first time, those are valuable lessons to learn from. If you learn something from the experience, there is no such thing as “failure.” In case you didn’t know, “FAIL” stands for “First Attempt in Learning.”
- Don’t settle for mediocrity to avoid getting outside of your comfort zone; the cost is too high. Your challenges and risk experiences add up. You are learning and developing your portfolio of life skills and self-knowledge every time you try something new, and encourage yourself to be open to whatever experience occurs. As you do so, the scale of your comfort zone expands as well.
- Leaving your comfort zone ultimately helps you cope with change—and deal with change in a much better way. Change is at the core of life transitions. You advance to a new stage each time you transition. These life changes inevitably transform you.
Here’s a story of when I felt uncomfortable. I hired a life coach during my life coach training years ago. Helene is her name.
“What feeds your Soul?” was one of the first questions she asked me. Um…what??
I had no idea how to respond because 1. I needed a dictionary to even understand what she was asking. And 2. I had no idea what fed my soul.
After my 3rd session with her, I was finally able to respond to her question. But I had to leave my comfort zone in order to find it. To comprehend it. I had to dive deep into my thoughts to get an answer. It felt kind of icky. How come I didn’t know myself better than that?
I’m not sure how I reacted to her at the time, but today My answer is an astounding Connection. With a sprinkle of music. 
I realized I was on the right track to becoming a coach after having such an awesome experience with Helene. My comfort zone expanded greatly.
I enjoy encouraging women to embrace their individuality and step outside of their comfort zones. Because when you learn to move outside of your comfort zone, you let go of fear and unleash purpose, passion, and potential.
Being your BEST You.
XO,
Amy
