I usually know immediately when I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I get a pit in the bottom of my stomach and my body temperature starts to rise. When the anxiety hits its peak, I sometimes can’t get out of the bathroom, or worse, can’t move at all. Experience has taught me that a few common situations tend to trigger these feelings without fail. But more importantly, I have also learned that if I am willing to push through these difficult feelings and step out of my comfort zone, that good results can and often will follow.
t doesn’t take long for most people to figure out where their comfort zone begins and ends. After some light experimentation in their youth, they find themselves avoiding any activities that makes them even a little bit uncomfortable, and generally stick to their established social circles. And once people find their comfort zone, they tend to never leave.
All of this anxiety and fear of the unknown, leads to a life where many people avoid public speaking, rarely strike up conversations with strangers, and generally accept life as it comes. But this level of apathy comes at a large price. In this great big world in which we live, there is such a wide variety of experiences that you will miss out on if you never step outside of your personal bubble. In fact, your chances of really moving the needle are extremely limited.
It took me well into my thirties to realize the importance of continuing to improve myself. Our most precious resource is our time, and how we choose to invest that time will go a long way to determining the level of success that we can attain. If we are content to collect a paycheck and spend our evenings sitting back and watching television, then there is nothing wrong with that per se. However, you need to understand that there are others out there who are spending that time improving themselves and learning new skills. If you want to compete with those people, you will need to push yourself harder than they do.
This all starts by having the guts to step out from the shadows and take the first step. In your chosen area of business, don’t be afraid to set lofty goals for yourself. If there is a certain role or a technology that interests you, start to lay the groundwork that can propel you forward. Read books, listen to podcasts, and most importantly– start talking to people. Talk to your friends and family, your peers, and even to the key players in your industry. To put yourself out there like that will no doubt be pushing you against the edges of your comfort zone, but remember, this is where the magic happens.
Have you ever heard about the therapy technique where doctors try to help people with their phobias by exposing them to a tiny fragment of their fear, and then gradually increasing exposure? This approach, called desensitization therapy, is often used on people with irrational fears of heights, the dark, or animals. The good news for all of us is that we can use this same method to help push ourselves out of our comfort zone.
If we have a fear of public speaking, for example. You can sign up to speak in front of just a handful of people at a local meet-up. Sure it will be scary, but do your prep work ahead of time, and practice in front of your friends and family. You’ll do great. Once you get that initial speaking engagement in the books, perhaps you’d be ready to take another step and present a side session at an industry conference. One step a time.
Perhaps you aren’t happy in your job, but the very idea of going through the interview process fills you with fear and dread. This is totally normal, and thankfully it is a problem that can be fixed. I believe it’s a good idea to always keep your resume up to date and even to go through the interview process once every two to three years, even if you ARE happy in your current job. The more you practice your interview skills, the more polished your presentation and delivery will be, and less nervous you will come across. If you’ve been through the process a couple of times, you will be more ready when the dream opportunity really does present itself.
I am a believer in the power of “YES”. Life will present you with many different opportunities, and you should try to say “YES” to as many of them as possible. Even if you don’t think you will enjoy something, you won’t know for certain until you truly give it a try. If you’ve never had sushi, isn’t it about time that you see what all the fuss is about? If a friend invited you to join him in a run or a bike race in a few months and you have never tried anything like that, perhaps you should consider it to see what your friend is so passionate about.
If an idea makes you uncomfortable and filled with worry, then you should be even MORE WILLING to give it a try. It is far better in life to regret things that we’ve done than to regret things that we haven’t done. Take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone. It is, without a doubt, where the magic happens!
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