Outside the Comfort Zone

There is nothing wrong with being comfortable. We all need places, people and routines that make us feel safe. The problem begins when comfort becomes a reason to stop exploring what else might be possible. Outside the comfort zone is where many of the experiences that change our lives can begin. It is where we try something we have never tried before, meet people we would never normally meet, take a chance, learn a new skill or discover that something we feared wasn't as frightening as we imagined.

The difficulty is that our minds are very good at keeping us where we already feel safe. We think about everything that could go wrong. We imagine embarrassment, failure or disappointment. We tell ourselves that we aren't ready. So we wait. And while we are waiting to feel confident enough to begin, opportunities can pass us by.

Positive thinking isn't about pretending that stepping outside your comfort zone will always work. Sometimes you will try something and fail. Sometimes you will discover that an opportunity wasn't right for you. Sometimes you will make a mistake.

But you are not broken because something didn't work. Every experience gives you something. You may learn what you are capable of, discover a new interest, develop confidence or realise that the thing you feared was never as powerful as you imagined.

You don't have to make a huge change today. Start with one small step beyond what feels familiar. Ask the question you've been avoiding. Try something new. Make the call. Take the opportunity.

You don't discover what you are capable of by staying exactly where you are. Sometimes the first step outside your comfort zone is the first step towards discovering a very different version of your life.