“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
That is one of the quotes with a permanent home on my refrigerator door. I love having a regular reminder that I have a lot to gain when I confront that line.
You don’t have to dig deep to identify some of the many benefits that come from stepping into your dis-comfort zone.
- Personal growth
- Self-awareness
- Discovery of a new talent
- Increased confidence when things go well
- Increased resilience when they do not
- Excitement!
Think about your last 24 hours. Did you have any chances to choose discomfort? Did you step across the line?
Even if you never left your house, you likely had many opportunities, big and small, to test out that boundary.
With so many options, choosing the right ones is key. But please stop and think before you jump willy nilly into the next thing that causes you discomfort just because a fridge magnet told you to.
The following three steps can help you leap in the right direction so you can reap the most benefits.
Step 1. What is causing the discomfort?
- Is it out of sync with your core values and how you strive to live your life?
When you get that feeling that you are being asked to operate in opposition to your core values, what you are feeling is friction. Friction holds us back, causes discomfort, and does not disappear easily. It is a red flag that pushing beyond the discomfort will bring limited benefits. Even if you overcome the discomfort once, because it opposes your core values, you can be sure the friction will appear again.
- Does it call for skills that you do not currently possess?
This is a perfect opportunity for leveling up or learning something new. Doubt can create discomfort when you are not sure that you have what it takes to succeed. Yet once you take the time to learn a new skill or gain additional knowledge, your doubt will dissipate.
- Do you have underlying fears about that situation?
Fear can be a good indicator that you are on the right path. Excitement and fear both bring on a higher heart rate, peak awareness, and focus. You can harness that energy, set a new mindset, and take on the fear.
Step 2. Be strategic
Now that you know why you have discomfort, think carefully about which direction to go from here. Look to learn something new or take on your fears. Knowing what you expect to gain on the other side can spark the action.
You might be developing skills that you will need in the future, supporting a current project, or simply looking to shake things up and get out of a rut.
Motivate yourself to take that first step by getting clear on why you are taking on this new challenge.
Step 3. Reflect and recover
Whether you claim victory or chalk it up to a learning opportunity, you can gain even more with reflection. Notice the growth that you created. Take stock of the emotions that you felt at each stage. Congratulate yourself on doing what others may still be afraid to do.
And once you are back in your comfort zone, take a deep breath and recharge.
When you are ready, rinse and repeat.
Reflection
Where do you notice doubt, fears, or friction?
What might be one thing you can do to learn something new?
How do you recover best when back in your comfort zone?