How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: 5 Steps To Take A Leap Of Faith And Create The Life You Desire
Urban myth has it that if you put a frog in a pot of boiling water it will instantly leap out. But if you put it in a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heat it, the frog will remain in the water until it boils to death. Allegedly, the frog is not able to detect the gradual increase in temperature until it’s too late.
This story is frequently used in economics, business, and marketing to point out that change must be introduced gradually if it is successful. It also illustrates an aspect of human psychology: we tend to slowly but steadily accept things that creep upon us, even when they take control of our lives. But one day, we wake up and find ourselves in boiling water.
Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a rut, doing the same thing day after day? If the answer is Yes, you may be living inside your comfort zone.
So, What Is A Comfort Zone?
A comfort zone is where we feel totally at ease, usually in a familiar setting or around people already close to us.
We don’t have to think about what is going on because everything falls into our everyday routines. It’s easy for us because there are no surprises, just things exactly how we know they will be.
Our comfort zone is where we go to “chill out” and relax. People will mostly enjoy their time in this place, but it should be noted that the further away you get from your comfort zone, the more uncomfortable things will become hence why people tend to spend so much time there.
The Venn diagram is a standard image to represent the intersection of comfort and discomfort. The problem begins when we start thinking that this area consists mainly of self-doubt with your Inner Critic lurking around, ready to make you question all your efforts so far!
The idea of growth is something that we all seek, but few dare to step out of their comfort zones. Yet every so often, blogs and articles appear telling us not only how dangerous it can be outside your safe zone… “This ____ (whatever) where the magic happens!”
But then others come along with such euphoria in their voice–telling you precisely what will happen if YOU take a chance on trying new things!
A simple web search provides countless websites advocating for daring individuals who are ready and willing—to grab those great rewards waiting just around the corner from wherever fate may lead them next.
Some people believe that the only way to grow is through the discomfort. I think this idea may be false, as we need some sense of comfort in our lives for a healthy and balanced life: friends with whom you share your troubles; time away from responsibilities so that it feels like a vacation rather than work (or school). While pushing yourself doesn’t mean giving up all aspects of what makes us feel safe or happy – which can be accomplished by constantly challenging ourselves on purpose–it does require making conscious decisions about where those boundaries lie.
I don’t believe in the idea of a comfort zone necessarily being wrong, and we should explore new things to make our lives uncomfortable for growth.
Have you seen anyone happy without being comfortable? I haven’t. But, many of the people who aren’t in a position to be successful yet are still quite content with their lives and perhaps even more so than those on top because they’re able to accept less from themselves while achieving success – which some may call suffering for the success if we’ve got our definition downright (and it’s mine). They sacrificed loved ones along with any sense of freedom; this is what leads them astray: desires that cannot ultimately sustain in seeking something better
This kind of success is possible for anyone, but only if they are willing to work hard. The world offers many paths and opportunities – what do you want?
The Magic of Being comfortable is that it makes everything seem possible.
As a Realist, I’ve learned that people are most productive when they don’t have to worry about anything else. When the comfort zone is there, you can focus on your work without having any distractions or worries in life!
You’ve seen this pyramid, haven’t you? It’s called “The Hierarchy of Needs” and was created by Abraham Maslow. The Abraham Maslow Pyramid is an ideological representation of human needs, categorized from lowest to highest levels.
When Abraham Maslow came along, he was one of the first psychologists to focus primarily on happiness. He studied the greatest minds of our generations, like Roosevelt, Einstein and was also the one to coin the phrase “Self-actualizing individual.”
And he wasn’t just talking about lofty desires like jumping into the abyss and looking for the magic. According to him, you need to self-actualize to live up to your full potential.
Musicians must make music; artists must paint; poets must write to be ultimately at peace with themselves. What human beings can be, they must be. They must be true to their nature.— Abraham Maslow
People have many different needs and motivations. One of the most basic is physical survival, which will motivate us to act in certain ways at first – as long as this need has been satisfied or taken care of (at least temporarily). Once that level is met, higher-order levels come up; mental health becomes important if you’re feeling depressed/anxious, etc. Social relationships become more valuable when they’re stable enough not to worry about losing them anymore.
The so-called “Magic Zone” is a myth. We should be taking the time to get outside our comfort zones and explore what’s beyond, but some people are too busy pushing forward in a hurry with only thoughts of fame or fortune on their minds–they don’t care how ugly things might become as long as they make it into ‘that’ zone!
What’s so magical about it? All you need is blood, sweat, and tears. It takes blood, sweat, and tears to become the best you can be.
Why Is Living In A Comfort Zone Bad?
The biggest problem with living within our comfort zones is that they stop us from growing as individuals. We fail because everything falls into familiar patterns—the result of all of our past experiences. This prevents us from learning about who we are or what we like (or don’t like) because nothing changes around us; nothing new comes into our lives, at least for long anyway …
A comfort zone is also known as a “rut.” Some people might feel like they are in a rut because their life is always the same. They wake up, go to work or school, return home, and repeat this process day after day. Nothing changes! There are only so many times we can do this before our minds start playing tricks on us. We feel trapped, unable to venture outside of the place where we know everything will be exactly how it has been for years on end. It’s no wonder that some of us may become more and more apathetic as time goes on—we don’t see any point in doing anything anymore.
Two Rules for Expanding Your Worldview
We all have a comfort zone. It’s that place we go when things seem too complex, scary, or even dull – where there are no challenges for us.
But what if I told you ,you were able to overcome your timid side and expand yourself by going outside of just dabbling into something new?
You could take on more responsibility in life without being afraid!
Imagine how much richer our experiences would be with this strategy behind them instead…
(1) Start small–start somewhere safe so as not risk embarrassment; then work up from here slowly but surely until tackling larger tasks become comfortable again.
(2 ) When faced with an uncomfortable situation, try saying “yes!” aloud three times
If you’re reading this, it means that our paths have crossed. You want to achieve great things in life, and I can tell by how your eyes light up when talking about what they want for themselves! And while achieving any goal comes with challenges – whether personal or professional- going after them head-on is not always easy, but at least now there are some tools available that will help us get started from day one if needed.
How to Expand your comfort zone?
According to John J. Ratey, M.D., author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, “living inside your comfort zone means that you’re not challenging yourself enough to grow new neural pathways in the brain.” As a result, people who live within their comfort zones are more likely to feel bored or frustrated with their lives than happy and fulfilled. If this sounds like you, it may be time to take baby steps outside your safety net by trying something new!
Challenge yourself by taking on one of these five simple suggestions today!
Go for a Walk! -When was the last time you went for a walk? Even if it’s just around your neighborhood, strolling down new streets or paths will force you to look at your surroundings with fresh eyes. You may also notice that walking engages your conscious mind so that you are more likely to be observant of things happening around you instead of rehashing yesterday’s events. As you walk, allow yourself time to think about what is truly important to you. Each day, take one step outside of your comfort zone by going on a short walk.
Learn Something New! If you have always wanted to learn how to do it, sign up for lessons today! This could be anything from cooking to painting, bird watching, to yoga. Learning something new has no limit and is an easy way to challenge yourself daily without causing too much stress. Just think of how amazing you will feel when you master your new skill!
Switch Things Up! Ditch the Old Routine!-Predictability is the enemy of every creative soul. If it seems like you go through the same routine day after day, take steps now to break free from your comfort zone. Add some variety to your meals by trying recipes that sound interesting but are outside of your usual repertoire. You could also volunteer at the animal shelter one Saturday morning per month or switch up activities with friends
A study published in the Journal of Aging and Health found that an hour-long walk decreased feelings of depression among seniors. A good rule of thumb: begin your walks around two miles, and work your way up from there! Make it more fun by listening to music or catching up on the latest news with a podcast.
Invite a Friend!-According to a study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology, people who have friends live longer and have less chance of getting sick than those who lack companionship. To boost your health, even more, exercise with a friend by going for a walk or playing a sport together. Not only will you be more likely to stick with your routine, but you’ll also have fun and create a stronger bond!
Treat Yourself…For Free!-A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that paying for an item decreases how much we enjoy it. If you need motivation at home, try taking a tip from Richard H. Thaler, author of Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics. Every time you complete a household chore, reward yourself with something free! Not everyone wants to clean for free, though, so feel welcome to swap your rewards out with something that works for you.
Take the Stairs! –Did you know taking the stairs could improve your workouts? Yale University researchers found that those who take the elevator save less energy than those who climb at least seven floors per day. If working out is too much of a chore, try taking the stairs once today – you’ll be surprised by how good it feels!
Even just two minutes per day provides an increase in happiness for those who are stuck with it. For most, however, this happens after about six weeks of consistent action. You won’t regret giving these tips a try!
You are not a failure. You’ve faced challenges before that have seemed impossible. Still, you made it through alive and intact with some degree of happiness left in your heart for yourself or others around the globe who needed an encouraging word from time to time because they were going through something; hard themselves! Don’t give up on these accomplishments just yet; there’s still plenty more good stuff waiting inside those walls, so keep pushing forward no matter what happens next—you may be surprised by how far anything can go when given enough effort over time (and sometimes even one small step at first is all we need).
Don’t let your comfort zone stop you from achieving the goals that are important to you. Make a plan and stick with it!