when you read the words comfort zoneWhat comes to mind? We might think about the way people tell us to leave them; You might be wondering if you’re in one right now. A comfort zone may not be a place at all; It could be a feeling or a moment in time. It could even be a way of doing things that you feel comfortable with, a routine or rhythm. Every year around this time, the idea of comfort zones comes to mind. I reflect on my own, but I also think about the idea itself. Why is it so important that we get out of our comfort zone and why do we talk about it all the time?
As with many of the terms I talk about on this blog, I like to start with a definition. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a comfort zone is defined as:
“A situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not tested.”
When I think about how often I am in my comfort zone, I struggle to find a good answer. I may (if not likely) be in my comfort zone most of the time. It makes sense; People have their daily routines and it is important for me to find a rhythm in my daily life. For some people, the problem may not be that they are stuck in their comfort zone; it could be that they can’t even determine where it is.
Sometimes, we don’t know we are in our comfort zone unless we step out of it. And that elimination can be abrupt, quick and uncomfortable. But it is also where we can discover new things about ourselves, who we are and what helps us grow. It is that growth that can provide significant change in our lives, that can prompt us to take control and act.
As we begin the new year, it would be easy for me to write a post urging you to step out of your comfort zone. How it is important to get out of our comfort zone, why it is necessary to grow and why many of us don’t do it. But that type of publication leaves out a key aspect about comfort zones and about change in general. Creating change and stepping out of your comfort zone can happen to you, just as much as you can do it yourself. Encouraging someone to “step out of their comfort zone,” while helpful, puts the onus on the person to create change (which is difficult to do).
When it comes to comfort zones, we all have different challenges to face. What may seem impossible to one person is easy to another. But the thing is, if you’re looking to get out of your comfort zone, I encourage you to look for the opportunities that will inevitably come your way. Because the truth is that opportunities to get out of our comfort zone exist all around us; We just need to keep our eyes and hearts open for those moments.
What is your opinion on comfort zones? Do you think they help people grow or cause stress and create burdens? Why do you think it is so important that we break up with them? Let me know in the comments!
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