There’s a reason it’s called the comfort zone.
I know.
The problem is, nothing will change if you stay where you are. And, on the off chance that you’re completely, irrevocably, absolutely satisfied with your life, that’s fine. You can stop reading now.
I won’t blame you. I truly am happy to see you thrive and live your best life.
But you’re not satisfied, are you? You wouldn’t be reading anymore if you were. You’re not living your best life.
Something has to change for you to truly feel like you’re getting the most out of life. And yes, I know that’s a tough pill to swallow.
But you have to realise that you want something to change before you can start working on it.
So. Let’s go through this process together. You and I. Starting right now, we’re going to make a change for the better.
I promise.
I’m sure everyone reading this is familiar with the concept, but just in case you’re not, here’s a quick explanation.
There are three psychological states. The comfort zone, the optimal performance zone and the danger zone. (Hello there, Kenny Loggins)
In the first zone, you feel familiar and comfortable and you’re in control. Your performance is steady.
In the second zone, also known as the growth zone, you can push your boundaries. Your performance is in an equilibrium with your anxiety and stress levels.
In the third zone, your performance suffers greatly, thanks to strong feelings of anxiety and discomfort.
You need to aim for the optimal performance zone. Obviously.
But the thing is, when people first make an effort to push their boundaries and leave their comfort zone, they overcompensate.
They go too far and get right into the danger zone.
And then they end up never trying to do something different again.
You don’t want to end up like that.
Some people surpass themselves by travelling the world with anxiety. I don’t have much to say about anxiety, as I don’t have any first-hand experience. So I’ll let my friend Lauren from Never Ending Footsteps explain how she overcame anxiety by travelling.
When you’re trying to push your travel boundaries, it’s important to remember to take baby steps.
Otherwise, your leap of faith could turn to a leap in the dark. And that’s when you get dangerously close to the danger zone.
If you’re afraid of heights, jumping out of an airplane might give you the strength you need to conquer your fear. Or it might push you over the edge and make you never want to step foot into an airplane again.
In the end, you know yourself better than anyone else ever could. You need to make the consideration whether or not it’s worth it to face your fears head-on.
It might be simpler than that. You might not feel comfortable in a situation where you don’t know the language and you have to get around.
My point is, I can’t make the decision for you. You have to choose for yourself:
Now, let’s say that you want to be liberated. You want to break out of your boundaries and you want to leave the comfort zone.
Only, you have no idea how to do it.
Here’s an idea.
Travel.
Travel far and wide, immerse yourself in foreign cultures, eat unfamiliar food and see and experience everything the world has to offer.
After all, travelling changes your life.
Stop spending money on material things and start spending money on experiences.
Do yourself the favour of investing in stories that you can tell your grandchildren when you’re old and wrinkled.
Make them wish they turn out like you when they are old and wrinkled.
And if you’re already old and wrinkled …
Better late than never.
It’s not too late to change your life.
Take the leap. You never know what you will come across. Even if you don’t like travelling or your trip was a bust, at least you know now.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
So try to find yours.
When did you realise that you wanted to leave your comfort zone? How did you do it? Let me know in a comment!
Thanks for reading!
-S
PIN IT!
Photo credits:
Design by NXNW.
