3 Simple Steps to Get Outside of your Comfort Zone
Updated: Jan 27, 2018
"What are some small things you can do to make yourself just uncomfortable enough to grow? What can you get out of doing these things?”
“Get outside of your comfort zone,” is a phrase that we all hear often. What does that really mean, and why is it a worthwhile endeavor to begin with? Unquestionably easier said than done, there are a few ingredients that make stepping outside of one’s comfort zone palatable.
First, let’s start with why. Pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone, allows you to discover what you are capable of. Think back to a time when you were uncomfortable when you tried something new, and now it is second nature. You expanded your comfort zone by pushing your limits. The other side of comfortable is where you find the most rewarding sense of accomplishment.
Almost anything in your life that is worthwhile requires desire, determination and the courage to overcome challenges. At some point these challenges will be uncomfortable, mentally, physically, financially or emotionally. Let’s take the challenge of changing jobs as an example. Let’s assume that you’ve identified your dream job (desire), you feel stuck in your existing job, but taking the plunge feels overwhelming. Thoughts of rejection, failure and vulnerability are weaving through the back of your mind. This is where getting uncomfortable comes into play, and determination and courage become necessary.
Three simple steps will take you just outside of your comfort zone, allowing you to step into your learning zone, and to accomplish what you may not have thought possible.
1. The first step is to take action. Do something. Start somewhere. In the example of changing jobs, you could start by updating your resume. You could search LinkedIn for connections that know about the company. There are endless options, but the idea is to take small, incremental steps that lead you to your desired outcome.
2. The second step is to remove distractions. Begin to assess the trade-offs that will be required. Perhaps in lieu of 45 minutes on social media or watching Netflix, you spend that time researching the company, or improving a skill that you would need for that job. Think through the things that you can give up. What are the ‘nice to haves’ in your life that you could eliminate in order to spend additional time working towards your goal?
3. The third step is to ask for help. Reach out to someone who may be more knowledgeable than you. Find someone who may be able to offer insight, offer words of encouragement or open a door to a new opportunity. Put yourself out there and ask for guidance. 9 times out of 10, people are happy to help and honored that you asked.
Our tendency is to get stuck in the monotony of our lives and eliminate discomfort. See what you are capable of when you embrace the other side of comfortable.