Why are people afraid to step out of their comfort zone?

There are times in people’s lives where they need to make various leaps to be able to move forward, to grow and to be better than what they were. But they felt like these steps forward were frightening even if they were necessary.

Most people even felt awkward and creepy about it! Leaving our comfort zone is sometime personally terrifying! I would know I was one of those people. Were you or are you now?

Familiarity keeps you safe and oftentimes stuck and stagnant. Most people are quite content to sail through life impervious to their potential. They would rather not take risks in the event life does not emerge as they hope for. I was one of those people for 40 years until we picked up and moved from NY to AZ.

Boom, I was thrown out of my comfort zone and I had to make thing work for my family and myself. We had to make new friends, find new doctors, new businesses for my husband and myself and all without any support in AZ.

Well, guess what? We did it and 12 years later we are still going strong. One big thing for me was getting out of my comfort zone and into the world of public speaking. That is one thing that always freaked me out big time! My heart would race and my palms would sweat. I forced myself out and now feel comfortable talking to anyone, anywhere about any topic. YES! It can be done!

What is keeping you in your comfort zone? Is it fear? Is it uneasiness? Let me tell you that once you are out it is very liberating and freeing!

Fear of the Unknown

People usually fall into a place where they stagnate called “Comfort Zone” and avoid undertaking anything new. Most people do not like the unusual.

Why? Because fear, uncertainty and the unknown take over in their minds. In trying new things, people are afraid of their actual beliefs clashing with the new or the unknown, putting them into uneasy situations and over things they have no control over.

SCARY, right??

Leaving the “Comfort Zone”.

But if they did take a step forward by leaving their comfort zone, people would get an overall self-improvement if they were, for example, to visit another country, learn a new hobby, begin a new sport, taste new foods, make a LinkedIn video or anything that could challenge their mind.

By just taking such small risks and in taking a little challenge or two in things they generally wouldn’t try or do, they would recognize that it might bring out their creativity and get a kick out of doing it. Think about that? You might get giddy getting out of your comfort zone!!

Little and Big Steps of Leaving a Comfort Zone

Little Steps:

• Watch a movie with subtitles.
• Try a new recipe.
• Connect with new people and those which inspire you.
• Do little things with the opposite hand once a week, as it connects all parts of your brain.
• Learn a new language or skill.
• Talk on the phone while walking on the treadmill.
• Walk on a different path to the store or the office.

Big Steps:

• Do something you are always afraid of.
• Become a mentor.
• Learn to play a musical instrument.
• Find a role model who overcame big hurdles to do what you want to do.
• Climb a mountain or run a marathon.
• Hate to do public speaking? Find a Toastmasters Group
• Tackle a do-it-yourself home improvement project.

And throughout these inspired, creative, productive, and slightly uneasy times, you may discover a new you that you never thought was possible.

What new thing that is out of your comfort zone are you going to try?

Let me know how it goes and let me know when you get hooked!

XOXO

Karen