Today, we’re diving headfirst into the realm of discomfort, shaking off the shackles of the familiar, and asking ourselves, “How can I get out of my comfort zone?”
Now, I get it – the comfort zone is, well, comfortable. It’s a warm blanket you’ve had since forever; it’s cosy, it’s familiar, and it’s reliable. But… growth rarely happens in the comfort zone. So, if you’re feeling a nudge from the universe (or maybe just a little boredom), it might be time to venture beyond the safety net.
But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all guide or a sudden leap into the unknown. No, no. We’re all about strategic discomfort here – calculated risks, intentional growth, and maybe a few butterflies in the stomach. If you would like to do this in your own time, click here to read our coaching workbooks, which talk about the comfort zone at length, with interactive activities. It’s helped many people with personal growth, and it can help you too!
It’s time to embrace the discomfort, challenge the status quo, and discover what truly lies beyond the boundaries of the known.
Why should I be the one to help you?
I’m Sarah, a life coach with a passion for breaking out of comfort zones. Why? Because in my journey through divorce, the birth of my amazing child who was born disabled, and the whirlwind of running multiple businesses, I’ve become somewhat of a comfort zone escape artist. You won’t ever grow or learn if you stay static. Growth is uncomfortable, but essential. With my background in psychology, I know how important it is to grow, and in todays short blog, let’s look at why.
What is wrong with being in the comfort zone?
Being in a comfort zone is not inherently wrong. Being comfortable with life gives security, familiarity, and reduced stress. However, there are drawbacks to staying within your comfort zone all the time. You do need to break out of it sometimes to succeed before you have a period of rest.
Limited Growth: Comfort zones involve having familiar routines and activities. While this can be reassuring, it will also limit personal and professional growth. Stepping outside your comfort zone is necessary to learn new skills, gain new experiences, and discover your full potential.
Fear of Failure: People in their comfort zones avoid taking risks due to a fear of failure or the unknown. However, failure is a natural part of learning and growth. Stepping outside your comfort zone can help you confront and overcome these fears.
Stagnation: Remaining in a comfort zone leads to a feeling of stagnation. Without new challenges and experiences, life may become monotonous, and personal or professional development will plateau.
Missed Opportunities: Growth and success often come from seizing opportunities that lie outside one’s comfort zone. By staying within familiar boundaries, you are likely to miss out on valuable chances for advancement, learning, and personal fulfilment.
Reduced Adaptability: The world is constantly changing, and adaptability is a valuable trait. Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you adjust to new situations, learn to navigate change, and develop resilience.
It’s important to strike a balance. While it’s natural to have a comfort zone, actively challenging yourself and seeking out new experiences can contribute to a more fulfilling and dynamic life. The key is to find a balance that allows for both comfort and growth. This ensures that you continue to evolve and adapt to the changing circumstances around you.
Now what?
Getting out of your comfort zone starts with a mindset shift. You are already partway there because you have Googled ‘how can I get out of my comfort zone’ and landed on this blog! It’s about welcoming the unfamiliar and acknowledging that growth lies beyond the borders of what feels safe.
The concept of comfort zones is rooted in psychology and refers to a behavioural state where people feel at ease, in control, and experience low levels of stress and anxiety. Below are some psychological factors that contribute to the comfort zone. Understanding these helps you shift your mindset.
Safety and Security
The primary function of a comfort zone is to provide a sense of safety and security. Familiar environments and routines are perceived by the brain as less threatening, reducing the level of stress and anxiety.
Fear of the Unknown
People tend to be wary of the unknown or unfamiliar situations. Stepping outside of your comfort zone involves facing uncertainties and the possibility of failure, which can trigger fear and anxiety. Humans are creatures of habit. Routines and familiar patterns of behaviour create a sense of predictability and control.
Cognitive Bias
Cognitive biases, such as the status quo bias and loss aversion, contribute to the preference for the familiar. People may resist change because they perceive potential losses (even if the change could bring gains) and have a natural inclination to stick with what they know.
Self-Efficacy and Confidence
Stepping outside the comfort zone involves taking risks and confronting challenges. For people with lower self-esteem or confidence, this can be particularly daunting, leading them to stay within familiar boundaries where they feel more competent.
Social Influence
Social factors play a significant role in comfort zones. The influence of peer groups, societal expectations, and cultural norms can contribute to individuals maintaining certain behaviours and avoiding unfamiliar situations.
How do I get a growth mindset?
Cultivating a growth mindset means you need to adopt the belief that your abilities and intelligence have no fixed limits. People who don’t have a growth mindset think they have finite abilities, and they limit themselves because of that.
Embrace Challenges
See challenges as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as threats. Understand that facing challenges can enhance your abilities and lead to personal development.
Learn from Criticism
View feedback, even if it’s constructive criticism, as a valuable input for improvement. Instead of taking criticism personally, use it as a guide for future development.
Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results
Acknowledge and appreciate the effort you put into a task, regardless of the outcome.
Recognize that the process of learning and trying is just as important as achieving success.
Persist in the Face of Setbacks
Understand that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the learning process. Instead of giving up, view failures as opportunities to learn and improve.
Change Your Self-Talk
Pay attention to your inner dialogue and challenge negative thoughts. Replace fixed mindset statements (e.g., “I can’t do this”) with growth mindset affirmations (e.g., “I can’t do this yet, but I can learn”).
Cultivate Curiosity
Approach new tasks and challenges with a curious mindset. Ask questions, seek to understand, and explore different perspectives.
Develop a Love for Learning
Foster a passion for learning new things. Enjoy the process of acquiring knowledge and skills rather than focusing solely on end goals.
Set Goals
Don’t just set performance goals either, set goals that focus on the process and learning. Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps.
Surround Yourself with a Growth-Minded Environment
Associate with people who have a growth mindset. Seek out environments that encourage learning, development, and resilience.
Acknowledge and Learn from Successes
Reflect on your successes and understand the effort and strategies that led to them. Use successful experiences as a foundation for future growth.
Remember, cultivating a growth mindset is an ongoing process that requires conscious effort and self-reflection. By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you can develop a mindset that promotes continuous learning and resilience.
Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone.
Failure is part of having a growth mindset. We are all human, and we can’t win every race every time. Embracing failure as a natural part of your life journey is vital. Below, I have explained how failure contributes to a growth mindset:
Learning Opportunities: Failure provides valuable opportunities for learning. When you encounter challenges and setbacks, you have the chance to analyse what went wrong, understand the reasons behind the failure, and figure out how to improve in the future.
Resilience Building: Facing failure and overcoming it helps build resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep going in the face of adversity. Developing resilience is a crucial aspect of a growth mindset because it encourages you to keep going, seeing challenges as temporary obstacles.
Effort and Perseverance: A growth mindset emphasizes the importance of effort and perseverance in your achieving goals. Failure means you need to invest more effort and persist. This process of continued effort and perseverance fosters a belief that improvement is possible with dedication and hard work.
Embracing Challenges: People with a growth mindset tend to embrace challenges rather than avoiding them. Failure is seen as a natural outcome of taking on new and difficult tasks. The willingness to confront challenges head-on contributes to personal and intellectual growth.
Developing Adaptability: Failure can lead to the development of adaptability and flexibility. When things don’t go as planned, people with a growth mindset are more likely to adjust their strategies, seek alternative solutions, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Reducing Fear of Failure: Embracing failure reduces the fear associated with it. In a growth mindset, failure is not a reflection of your intelligence or abilities but as a stepping stone toward improvement.
Fostering a Positive Attitude: A growth mindset encourages a positive attitude toward learning and development. Instead of viewing failure as a final verdict on one’s capabilities, individuals with a growth mindset see it as a temporary setback and an opportunity to grow.
Contact Us
Breaking out of your comfort zone is a journey, not a destination. As someone who has weathered life’s storms and emerged stronger on the other side, I’m here to be your guide. Together, let’s redefine your limits, embrace the unknown, and carve out a path to a life that’s authentically yours. Ready to take the first step? Let’s do this! Click here to get in touch.