Initial Information
What? GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Why? Leaving your comfort zone allows you to have new experiences and to engage in activities that you haven't before, all while opening you up to meet new people. If you can try this, you are open to all sorts of possibilities you may not have thought possible.
5 REASONS TO LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
The comfort zone is a mental state that does not allow personal growth. It may be okay to be there for a while, but if you want to continue to grow and adjust to new situations, this is not a place to stay.
Although this comfort zone may seem nice (because it allows us to always follow the "automatic pilot" position), it is not sufficiently stimulating. Ultimately, staying there will make us feel empty.
Between you and me … what is it that keeps you anchored there? Surely you want to step up, be brave and take on the world. But you don't. You may be suffering, but do not move a finger because you are in your comfort zone. Who knows what could happen if you face the anxiety, abandon your past and fight for what you've always dreamed of? If you can push through, and out of, your comfort zone, you may find that an exciting and new world awaits you!
Want more reasons?
- You will become a stronger person. Once you step out of your comfort zone, despite being afraid, you may see that it was no big deal. Feeling insecure in the face of change is natural. That fear provides a warning that the road may not be easy. It becomes a problem when fear immobilizes you. The first step is to start recognizing what scares you is the uncertainty. It's important to approach it with a positive mentality. If you fall from time to time, you will grow as a person. As you continue to move forward, over time, you'll look back and be proud of yourself. Your personal development begins here. Identify what will motivate you and what you want to change. Take the first step toward that. Isn't it worth it?
- You will be more creative. Leaving the comfort zone stimulates creativity to meet new possibilities and break what is routine. A study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology (2012) showed that students who spent a semester outside their country had higher scores on two tests of creativity than those students who had stayed in their home country. On the other hand, another study found that the personality trait of "open to experience" (one of the big 5) is the best predictor of creative achievement. This personality trait is characteristic of individuals who tend to take risks. They challenge themselves or try new things constantly.
- It allows you to gain self-confidence. Leaving your comfort zone and taking steps to achieve your goals will have positive effects on your self-efficacy beliefs (or confidence). This concept was initially introduced by Albert Bandura, a psychologist who developed Social Learning Theory, which explains the regulation of motivation and human action. Therefore, as you push out of you comfort zone and test yourself, you will see how mastering certain skills will increase your confidence. A positive sense of self-efficacy is associated with positive thoughts and aspirations, less stress and anxiety. Nothing bad about that!
- It will help you continue your personal development. When we are young, we are more likely to take risks. As we get older, we begin to fear failure. How do we push though this learned helplessness and paralysis (do you know the "analysis paralysis"?)? This fear takes a serious emotional toll on us unless we change the way we think. In his book Auto-Renew, the writer John Gardner says: "We paid a heavy price for our failures and this is a major obstacle to our growth. This causes our personality to not develop and does not allow the exploration and experimentation (of our world). There is no learning without some difficulty. If you want to keep growing, you must overcome the fear of failure. "
- You will meet new people and live new rewarding experiences. Leaving your comfort zone allows you to have new experiences and to engage in activities that you haven't before, all while opening you up to meet new people. If you can try this, you are open to all sorts of possibilities you may not have thought possible.
How? In 1908, an experiment performed by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson found an interesting relationship between performance and anxiety. They discovered that mice were more motivated to complete a maze when given mild electrical shocks. However, the mice hid in fear once the shocks became too strong. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, an optimal level of pressure or anxiety increases performance, but only up to a point. Too much pressure has the opposite effect, causing someone to panic. Trying to jump too far outside your comfort zone can have the same effect. Doing activities that increase your anxiety too much can have you scurrying even further back into your comfort zone. The best way to leave your comfort zone is to gradually expand it and find your optimal level of "good stress." Increased performance is just one of the many reasons stepping out of your comfort zone is important. It also helps you find out your true potential, reach your goals, and live a more fulfilling life.
Here are five ways to get out of your comfort zone:
- Do one thing you've always wanted to
- Take on a fitness challenge
- Change up your routine
- Expand your professional skillset
- Choose a fear, and face it
- Travel somewhere new