What if I said I’d give you $1,000 to make an important public speech? Would you take me up on the offer?
Like most of us, you probably recoiled at the idea, even though it could be lucrative for you! Why didn’t this idea appeal to you?
When the very thought of certain activities evokes fear or anxiety within you, it’s usually because they’re outside your comfort zone. Public speaking, for example, is outside of most people’s comfort zone.
Your comfort zone is the sphere of activities that you feel comfortable with and that you can accomplish without negative emotions. It also includes people, places, and things that only cause positive thoughts within you.
How Important is Your Comfort Zone?
Your comfort zone can limit your capabilities and cause you to forsake your dreams and goals, or it can spur you on to great things. In fact, your comfort zone can impact both your personality and your potential for success.
Many successful people achieve their goals because they have the ability to expand their comfort zone in order to get what they want.
If you want to expand your comfort zone, you can mentally condition yourself to be comfortable in new situations so you can overcome your anxiety, achieve your goals, and fulfil your dreams.
Here are 4 tips you can use to expand your comfort zone and help dispel your anxiety about certain situations:
1. Understand your mindset.
Mental conditioning plays a large role in developing your comfort zone. This means that how we form our comfort zones begins in our own mind.
Each of us already has preconceived notions of what may be comfortable and what may not be, and we designate mental guidelines to keep us within our comfort zone.
Recognise that you have chosen your own comfort zone boundaries! Knowing your boundaries is the first step to being able to expand them.
2. Disobey some of your self-imposed rules.
If you want to expand your comfort zone, let yourself loose from the guidelines you impose on yourself.
This is like the very strong guideline I used to have that “I wasn’t an outdoorsy person and certainly not a camper or hiker” and yet I ended up climbing Mt Kilimanjaro hiking and camping in the outdoors for 7 days and nights. How? Because I decided to let go of that guideline so I could step out of my comfort zone to experience something new.
Breaking some of your rules will allow you to seek new experiences that can bring you greater success!
3. Consider the true risk of a situation.
It’s important to know what the true risks are, as opposed to what you feel (or fear) may happen.
Knowing the difference can enable you to overcome your limitations.
4. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone.
Many times, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to boundaries and limitations. There are times when you have to push yourself to get where you want to be. In these instances, you need to meet the challenge to leave your comfort zone.
When stepping outside your comfort zone brings you success, you’ll find that the benefits are well worth the effort! Just like when I finally stood atop of the highest freestanding mountain in Africa 🙂
Whenever you try something for the first time, you’re bound to be a little uncomfortable. We’re all conditioned by our survival brain to fight change and stay in our comfort zones. You may have to remind yourself that only you can push yourself to step outside the box.
Be patient, be aware of your self-imposed limitations, and try things in small steps one at a time. This way your comfort zone will expand at a gradual, satisfying pace, and your fears and anxieties will subside as you gain positive experiences.
Keep your dreams in sight! Expanding your comfort zone may be all it takes to achieve your goals and live the life you dream of.
If this has been useful for you, I’d love for you to share it with your friends or anyone else you think may find it useful.
Remember, you can unleash your unique version of success!
I have had (and still do have) so many people supporting me on my journey of self-development, I’d love to help you on yours. Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways I can support you:
Join our IYS Community – to connect with like-minded individuals focused on increasing their ENGAGEMENT, CONFIDENCE & JOY in work (and life)
Access your FREE Online Training – and learn how you can immediately hit higher levels of performance and potential in all you do!
Take the High Performance Questionnaire – to understand if you’re ready to go to the next level and live a life full of engagement, joy and confidence…
Book a Chat – so we can breakthrough what you’re currently challenged with and take the next action towards living the life of your dreams!
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