A different perspective on the topic of comfort zone.
Let’s start by defining what comfort zone is. Quick google search defines comfort zone as “a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress”. If you reflect on that definition for a minute, you will quickly realize only an odd person would do such thing as step outside their comfort zone. Who doesn’t want to feel safe, at ease, or without stress? People live and struggle their whole lives to feel safe, at ease, and without stress. Who in their right state of mind would seek otherwise?? and a more interesting question is who decided what stepping outside a comfort zone looks like?
As someone who used to embrace the idea of stepping outside comfort zone, but not so much anymore, I hope to provoke some new perspective on the topic, so let’s get to it.
1- Are you inside or outside your comfort zone?
Food for thought; If you really feel stressed and chained leading a normal stereotypical corporate 9–5 life, and you feel alive and at peace quitting your job and starting your own business, would you consider that stepping outside or stepping inside your comfort zone?
People have already established a preconceived notion as to what is stepping outside a comfort zone whether it may be meeting new people, starting a business, or asking someone out. However, the reality may very likely be that you are already outside your comfort zone without realizing, and what you boast about stepping outside your comfort zone is merely you getting into what you are most comfortable with and at peace doing. You get to decide where you at and where you want to be and no one else.
2- What influences stepping in or out of your comfort zone?
I used to preach stepping outside one’s comfort zone until I got to talk to more people about it and listened to their concerns, and I have reconsidered my position as I learned something new. Self-help books and motivational videos usually challenge you with a question that goes like “Do you have what it takes to step outside your comfort zone?” and they often refer to self-discipline, consistency and all the productivity-oriented traits that are necessary to step outside comfort zone. It is used in a way to make a point that if you don’t have “what it takes”, then you basically lack the productivity-oriented personal traits. I now realize that this is just so far from actual truth.
In my opinion, I think there are three factors that influence our decision to either leave or stay in our comfort zone, and I will try my best to explain them down below.
- Motivation
By motivation, I don’t mean that inner fire and excitement you get to do something. By motivation, I mean a reason that is strong enough to help you step inside or outside your comfort zone. If you are someone who is comfortable and content in your comfort zone, you don’t really have to go out of your way to do something you are not comfortable with. Usually people step outside their comfort zone when they are not happy with where they are, and they have to seek discomfort for a period of time in search for comfort zone, which brings me to the next point. - Risk vs Reward Tolerance
Sometimes the risk outweighs the reward, and therefore there is no point in stepping outside your comfort zone, so the next time someone tells you to do something you know is wrong and tries to peer pressure you into doing it by citing “you need to get outside your comfort zone”, know that staying in your comfort zone is not cowardice, but rather useful foresight. However, if you are to do something beneficial for you like working out more, or reading more, then maybe inconveniently waking you an hour earlier everyday to do so is worth it. - Preparedness
One is so often overlooked when people decide to step “outside” their comfort zone. I feel nowadays people step outside of their comfort zone per society pressuring them to do so. However, very few people educate themselves about the challenges that lie ahead on such journey. A quick google search of “comfort zone diagram” will show you that right outside your comfort zone is not rainbows and sunshine, it is actually the “fear zone”, it is the zone where you feel a bit lost, out of rhythm and questioning why you are doing what you are doing. After the “fear zone”, you get into the “learning zone” which I personally think is equally messy, because things start to get significantly harder as you start doing more and more of that new thing, and you keep questioning whether it was worth it. Only after you have powered through the first two zones outside your comfort zone, do you get to “growth zone” where you get used to that new things and look to try other new things. An extremely important to make is that this applies to your professional life as well as your personal life. It applies to new good habits or new bad habits. Being prepared and understanding of how you can acquire a new habit that is outside your comfort zone can help you be more aware of when to stop if it is something harmful for you, and when to power through it when it is good for you.
Takeaways
- Reflect on whether you are already inside or outside your comfort zone and understand where you want to be.
- Don’t let others pressure you outside your comfort zone unless it is something for your own good. I would like to assume humans have an ability to decide what’s good for them even if they decide not to do it.
- Plan out what you want to do once you are out of your comfort zone before you step out. This can help maximize your survivability rate in the fear and learning zones that are waiting for you so you can ultimately reach the growth zone.
Let me know if you still think people should definitely step outside their comfort zone, I would love to hear your perspective!
