Why Staying in Your Comfort Zone Is Not Good for You
For the initial decade of my career, I remained firmly entrenched within my comfort zone. I hesitated to embark on starting my own business, driven by fear and a perceived lack of knowledge. Additionally, the thought of potentially not being able to provide for my family fueled my apprehension.
These thoughts frequently occupied my mind and continue to resurface regularly. However, there’s a significant shift now—I’m confident that God is watching over me. I trust that He has a plan for me, and I firmly believe that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
For a long time, I remained within my comfort zone, reluctant to step out of it. Consequently, I settled for mediocre jobs with limited prospects for advancement. Towards the latter part of my tenure in the 9-to-5 world, I found employment with a fantastic company. They treated me exceptionally well. However, when a larger corporation acquired us, things began to change. Initially, the new company seemed promising, but it soon became evident that I was being reduced to a mere statistic rather than treated as a person. This realization compelled me to break free from my comfort zone and explore alternative business opportunities.
Little did I realize that my comfort zone was the very barrier holding me back. Once I dared to venture beyond its confines, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. I launched my own website, delved into blogging, and found inspiration to write devotionals. Every aspect of my life became a canvas for pushing boundaries.
Initially, stepping out of my comfort zone was daunting. However, after about three months of consistently challenging myself, it became my new normal. Now, if I have a day where I don’t push the limits, it feels as though I haven’t truly accomplished anything.
Here are a couple of tips that I’ve found to be incredibly helpful in breaking free from my comfort zone:
- Try something new each day, or revisit something you haven’t done in a while. It may seem unconventional, but committing to doing just one new thing daily can gradually propel you out of your comfort zone. The new activity could be as bold as reaching out to a mentor from a podcast you admire for advice, or as simple as trying a meal at a restaurant you’ve never visited. Whatever it is, challenge yourself to do it today and make a habit of incorporating something new into each day.
- Take a moment to seek guidance from God on where He wants you to be. While it may sound unconventional, this practice has been instrumental in my own journey. Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I ask God to direct me to where I need to be that day. This simple yet profound request provides me with the motivation and clarity to take the necessary steps. Often, it leads me to experiences that push me beyond my comfort zone. Additionally, starting the day with this practice allows me to prioritize my spiritual connection with the divine.
- Face your fears. head-on, starting right now. Don’t delay in seizing that opportunity, sending that email, or trying something new. For me, one of the most daunting tasks was reaching out to people I didn’t know via email. I couldn’t quite explain why hitting the send button felt so intimidating. So, I decided to confront this fear by sending out emails every day. I began with just one, then gradually increased the number each day. Before I knew it, I was sending emails to over 250 individuals. By taking small steps, I conquered my fear and pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.
- Set ambitious goals—ones that may seem insurmountable at first glance. Not only did I establish these lofty objectives, but I also shared them with others. When faced with skepticism or ridicule, I simply smiled and used it as motivation to turn my goals into reality. Whenever doubt crept in or the enormity of my goals felt overwhelming, I recalled those moments of laughter and used them to propel myself even further beyond my comfort zone. As a result, I achieved most of my goals by continually pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone.
- Trust your instincts and act on them immediately. For the longest time, I would experience the urge to make a phone call or send an email but would hesitate, thinking I could do it later. Then, while listening to a podcast, I heard the speaker emphasize the importance of acting on those impulses without delay. I took this advice to heart and began to act on my impulses right away. This step pushed me significantly out of my comfort zone. Often, I would feel the urge to reach out to someone I hadn’t connected with in years, and often, it led to positive outcomes.
- Prioritize self-care and make time for yourself. It’s crucial to focus on your own needs. There are countless ways to do this, such as investing in courses to expand your knowledge and skills or utilizing idle time, like driving or doing chores, to listen to podcasts. Whenever I’m behind the wheel or doing household tasks, you can be sure I have a podcast playing. Even when flying frequently, I turned that time into an opportunity to catch up on podcasts or indulge in reading. As I dedicated more time to self-care and personal growth, I noticed how rapidly I began to venture outside of my comfort zone.
- I understand that this is a lot of information to digest, and I realize that what worked for me may not necessarily work for everyone else. My sincere hope is that, as you read through this, you find at least one nugget of wisdom that resonates with you. If even just one thing inspires you to step out of your comfort zone, then it’s been entirely worthwhile for both of us—your time in reading this and mine in writing it.
Thank you for investing your time in reading this piece. If you found any value in it, I encourage you to share our blog with someone who might benefit from it as well.
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