Skip to main content

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone and Free Yourself from a Self-Imposed Prison

 Perhaps you’ve developed a habit of remaining in your comfort zone. It’s easy to do. Yet, you’ve also lately wanted to try some new things and meet some new friends. Rest assured that your life will become much more interesting when you decide to leave your safe zone behind you.

 Ponder these points about breaking out of your comfort zone: 

1.     Remaining in your comfort zone for too long robs you of growing. When you stretch yourself a bit, you’ll find yourself reaching out as a tree toward the sun.

·       If you get too comfortable and rarely try to do anything new, how will you grow?

2.     Making one change in your routine can open you up to new experiences. For example, if you usually go to the health club to jog on the treadmill and lift free weights, try a spinning or aerobics class one morning a week instead.

3.     In order to grow, you’re required to put forth effort. Stepping away from what you’re used to brings more work for you. When you first learn something new, you’re required to spend time on the new activity, reading and thinking about it. Then, you’ll likely practice it.

4.     Join a group. Committing to attending something weekly or monthly consistently may be a giant step out of your comfort zone. There are several virtual groups available these days as well.

 

·       You have no idea what being in the group would entail. Yet, you’ll experience a lot of benefits by getting involved. If you can’t find one, create one!

5.     Pair something comfortable with something new. For example, ask your good friend, Jay, whom you’ve spent a lot of time with, to accompany you to a three-session digital photography class. You’ve yet to take a photography class, and it might be nice to have Jay beside you, learning about how to take great pictures.

 

·       Another example is that you’ve known your neighbor, Sara, a piano teacher, for ten years. You’d love to learn how to play the piano. So, you tell Sara you’d like to take six piano lessons to see how you like it.

·       You’ll feel less awkward because you already know Sara, and it would be convenient for you to go next door or have Sara come to your place.

In all the above examples, you can do it virtually. Times have changed, and you may need to get creative, but it is all doable. Getting out of your comfort zone might just be expanding your virtual experience.

 

6.     Moving out of your comfort zone equals adventure. Do you have an adventurous spirit? If you can consider yourself a “life explorer” of sorts, you can trudge ahead into the great unknown with gusto.

 

·       Think of life as a giant adventure complete with mini-adventures along your journey.

7.     Accept that vacating your comfort zone will be awkward at first yet fun. Being exposed to new hobbies and subjects will be a bit daunting. Remind yourself that you’ve navigated many rough waters on your life journey and that you’ve made it through each of them.

8.     Make a decision to get out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, personal growth is a conscious choice. If you want to expand your horizons intellectually and personally, deciding you’ll do it by a certain date is an effective way to go.

·       To illustrate, vow to yourself that you’ll start a new class by April 10, 2021. Then, follow through and feel great about it.

9.     Remind yourself of times when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What did you think about it at the time? How did you cope with it then? What did you learn from the new experience?

 

Breaking out of your comfort zone will be exhilarating. You’ll likely experience moments of feeling unsure or confused. However, the farther away you are from your safe zone, the braver and more adventurous you become. Carving out the good life for yourself and your family will be sweeter when you leave your comfort zone behind you.

 

Like my posts? Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram under Recovery Enthusiast. I also have a podcast on Anchor and Spotify under Motivations 4U. And if you really can’t get enough of me, you can check out my courses on recoveryenthusiast.com

 

As always, stay blessed and live your life Enthusiastically!!

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Baby Shark Can Teach You About Success

 What makes Baby Shark so catchy? It’s a children’s song and a top 40 hit that appeals to kids and adults around the world. It has spawned dozens of variations and its own line of toys. It’s been viewed more than one and a half billion times on YouTube.   By now, you’ve probably seen the video regardless of whether you have any small children at home. Maybe you’ve even danced along as the family of sharks goes hunting and cheered for the happy ending where everyone winds up safe.   There’s plenty of unpredictable magic behind any internet sensation. However, you can tap into some of the ingredients that make these little sharks such a success and apply them to your recovery, starting with these 3 basic principles.   The Value of Simplicity The song is only 1 or 2 minutes long, and most of the lyrics consist of repeating the sound DO . Free up your time, save money, and reduce stress by getting down to basics. There is a lot of meaning to the old saying,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Celebrate Summer Mindfully

  6 Mindful Ways to Celebrate Summer If you are looking to create or experience rituals for summer solstice, there are several ways you can start celebrating this time of year. Consider the following six practices you can make a daily/weekly routine this summer. 1. Meditate with the Rising Sun Begin your day early, seated in the direction of the rising sun. Close your eyes and feel the expanding light against your skin and closed eyes. Cultivate gratitude for the sun and close your practice by reflecting on the gifts it brings. 2. Intention Setting Another practice is to set intentions – either for the day or for the year ahead. Many see the summer as a time ripe for new beginnings, so this could be a prime time to get clear on what you’d like to focus on in the year ahead. Write down your intentions in a journal. 3. Gratitude Journaling Another written practice to consider is gratitude journaling. Reflect on what this time of year means to you. What gifts does it bri...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Streamline Your Daily Schedule and Increase Efficiency

 Do you usually feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do? Sometimes it seems like the laundry or the dishes will just have to wait until later. I know for me, when I let things accumulate, I get overwhelmed, and then I either don't do anything at all, or I look for a distraction, usually food or shopping. The thing still doesn't get done, and it's a perpetual cycle.    That's why   as hard as it is, we must do things when we need to. Otherwise, they don't get done at all. Or we find ourselves having to do them when we truly don’t have the time for them. Then, inevitably, something else has to be put off.   This scenario also applies to work. When a project has a deadline, it’s important to devote all of your undivided attention to it, or it won't get completed. Time management is a critical aspect of every job – from planning to executing.   Your schedule needs to be structured to support efficienc...
Post a Comment
Read more