Many of us have heard the saying “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” It may sound cliché, but whoever came up with that saying is a genius. How do we live beyond our comfort zones, though?
There’s a space right outside our comfort zones called optimal anxiety. This space allows us to step outside of our comfort zone without spiking our anxiety to the point where we can’t focus, which means it’s the perfect space for us to step out and try something new.
If you’ve ever pushed yourself to try something new outside of your comfort zone, then you know how amazing and liberating this space of optimal anxiety really feels!
Stepping outside of your comfort zone doesn’t have to involve anything intense like skydiving. In fact, you can simply talk to someone you don’t know, sit inside of a busy coffee shop by yourself, or even start a personal blog. Not only will these simple tasks help you break out of the comfort zone trap, but you may make a new friend or discover a new food you love along the way!
New hobbies can also provide the perfect way to step outside of your comfort zone. These activities help us change up our routine and break out of that mindset that failing is not OK. You can try something like painting or gardening, or even train for a new sport or start hiking.
Traveling is a great way to take a step out of your comfort zone, too! When we travel, we make the whole world ours and we soon see exactly what we’re capable of.
If even new hobbies or vacations scare you, though, then start with something even smaller like driving a different way to work or cooking a new recipe. These small things still help us shake up our routines, and even something minor can make a big difference in the long run.
Although we may think that only major life accomplishments matter, remember that any achievement is a success when it comes to breaking free of addicting comfort zones. So ask yourself this simple question: Are you ready to live an amazing life and break out of your comfort zone? It’s time to stop living in fear and stop growing — will you join me?
Feature Image by Nina Uhlíková from Pexels
