Many people deny it, and you probably do too, but deep down inside we all know that we have a certain zone of comfort that we’re not willing to step out of. We acquire our comfort zone almost from the moment we are born. How we are raised, the school we go to, the friends we make, the food we eat, and so many other small little factors contribute to the building of our comfort zone.
As we settle into this zone, we get comfortable, become happy, and go day by day in our little bubbles. However, we aren’t really living. We’re not experiencing anything new. This is because everything that is happening within our bubble are things we can predict or things we’ve already experienced. To truly live, we have to step out of this bubble, break it, even. Anything new and exciting lies beyond our zone of comfort. Anything liberating and wonderful depends on our destroying our happy sphere, and everything we need to have a memorable lifetime depends on our taking a chance beyond what we know.
Often, people would rather not leave their comfort zones because they are afraid of what lies beyond. They don’t know what to expect, and because they can’t plan for what they don’t know, they freak out. The first step to getting up and starting to live is to face all your fears dead on. Look it in the eye and declare that it can’t prevent you from living. Stand at the edge of your bubble and give it a big pop, then jump out into your unknown fears. Trust me, it’s never ever that bad.
Here are some suggestions for things you can do to start living and get out of your comfort zone:
1. Do something you’ve always told yourself you’d never do. Whether it be trying a new food, going skydiving, bungee jumping, cave exploring, an African safari… whatever it is you were always telling yourself is crazy and stupid, and you’d never do it. Go out and do it! Document it. Savor it, and be glad that you did it. Many times what you’re afraid of doing is something many others are also afraid of doing. In going out and doing it, you become one of the elite few who now stand out and have really experienced life!
2. Go on a long trip with a friend. Take a good friend and explore a foreign land you know nothing about. It will be the trip and experience of a lifetime. One that you will never forget! It’s a great way to step out of your comfort zone, and it also teaches you about other people and what their comfort zones are. Going with a friend makes it less frightening, and gives you a bit of comfort along the way.
3. Learning a new skill is another way to step out of your comfort zone. Trying out a new language or taking up knife throwing can be something really unique, and can change your life by opening up unexpected and new experiences. When you choose to do something so out of the ordinary, the things that end up happening are likely to be things you would never have seen, heard, or experienced otherwise. So no matter what it is, it’s well worth your time and effort.
Remember, tell yourself it’s going to be great. Keep assuring yourself that and repeat it like a mantra even if you don’t believe it. All the things you do will prove your mantra to be correct anyway!