Enrich your life when you step out of the comfort zone. Tackling a new skill or taking an adventure that scares you a little helps you grow and makes you happier.
Most of us have a desire to be comfortable and play it safe. Trying something new can seem scary and not worth the effort. However, full enjoyment and fulfillment comes in those moments we step out of the comfort zone.
Think back to the most meaningful, amazing moments of your life. When you examine them you will find that they had you stepping out of your comfort zone. Trying something new and unfamiliar brings extra excitement and emotion to the event. These highs leave us with a greater sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that simply doing the same thing every day.
Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be a death-defying adventure. It could be something as simple as traveling to a new place. One example is taking a photography challenge where you have to photograph 100 strangers, getting their name and a little bit about each one of them. For those of us who are not gregarious extroverts this is a huge step out of the comfort zone.
Often, the things that are scariest bring the greatest rewards. That being said, it may be easier to start with things that are closer to your comfort zone. As you gain a bit more confidence in yourself branch out into greater leaps.
Some ideas for getting out of your comfort zone are listed below. The size of the steps may be the same or different for you. These are just to give you an idea of in how to stretch yourself.
Small steps out of the comfort zone:
- Call a friend or relative you’ve lost contact with.Sign up for a blog challenge that stretches you.
- Speak in front of a group about a subject you are passionate about.
- Learn a new skill.
- Get up in the middle of the night to see a meteor show or hike to an amazing spot.
- Volunteer. If you’ve never worked with your hands volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and start to learn about building while helping others.
Medium sized steps out of the comfort zone:
- Travel on your own for vacation.
- Take a class in something you don’t think you have any talent for.
- Take a whitewater rafting trip.
- Write a book.
- Learn how to swim, if this is a skill you don’t have it can seem very daunting.
- Attend an event where you don’t know anyone. Don’t just be a wallflower either, talk to at least 5 people.
- Be the first to say, I love you.
- Quit your full-time, safe, job to start your dream job.
Huge steps out of the comfort zone:
- Fly in a very small plane piloted by a crazy friend.
- Hike the grand canyon.
- Visit a country where few of the residents speak english.
- Backcountry camping in Yellowstone, with the bears.
- Call up experts in your industry and ask for an interview or endorsement.
When you try new things and stretch your limits you will find they aren’t where you thought they were. You are capable of so much more than you ever believed.
What is the next step out of the comfort zone you will take? Share your plans with us in the comments below.
(Photo credit: Beyond Normal via Shutterstock)
I love this article because even though stepping out of your comfort zone can be terrifying, it’s those experiences that really build confidence. Plus, I’ve found that the more you step out of your comfort zone, the easier it becomes to to so and the more you want to do it!
Great tips Allison. So true that it gets easier which is why we progress from the small steps to the larger ones as well.
I don’t do it as often as I should, but I love it when I do!
I love it, getting out of the comfort zone is so rewarding.
What’s that popular quote? Something like, “Everything you want is outside your comfort zone.” I love your article and it’s so true. Often we’re so afraid to step out and we can let that fear hold us back. However, if we actually take the step and do the thing, it’s never as bad as we thought it would be . . . and it does bring huge rewards, growth, joy and happiness.
So true Leanne. We often spend so much time thinking of the thing we want and building it up into a difficult, scary task. When we actually get around to doing it we find it to be simple and not scary at all.
I live outside my comfort zone, love the topic!
Awesome post! Yes – I am always looking for ways to step out of my comfort zone. Thanks for the reminder!
Great post. If an idea or project doesn’t scare us at least a little bit, it’s probably not worth doing.
Love your suggestions! For me, speaking in front of a group about a subject I’m passionate about would be a “huge step” but one I’m willing to take. Not sure about the bears though (and I live in BC, Canada where there’s lots!) I find stepping outside my comfort zone (with my biz and community) is a balancing act where I must be driven by an inner desire or urge, not by other people who have expectations for me (to be a leader, example, mentor etc) When I grow from this place, it is fun, otherwise I find the whole process can be stressful.
I found when I was in total control, such as losing weight, I told others to make me accountable and it helped. For my business, I tried to use the same concept, but felt more expectation when I wasn’t able to directly influence the output. For me, the latter was more stressful whereas the former was more difficult from a discipline perspective.
Love the ideas here. They’ve made me realise just how much I actually step out of my comfort zone in small and medium ways. Now to start working more on the big ones! Woohoo.
Let’s see, Lori … by the time I was 30 I had worked as an aerial photographer in the Amazon, trekked across Peru, lived in a thatched roof hut on an island off the coast of Cancun, and was getting an MBA without first getting an undergrad degree. Strangely enough, it’s not the “big risks” that trip me up … but rather some insignificant ones that surprise even me. Hmmm … ;-)