Oh the Comfort Zone!! How easy and relaxing it is to stay inside your comfort zone! How nice to have another glass of wine and put your feet up on the sofa every night, being lulled to sleep by the idiot box in the corner! Tomorrow will come soon enough and with it the dull routine of work and the daily grind. Why bother?
Oh I wish someone had pushed me out of my comfort zone years ago!! Instead it was all get a steady job, be careful, behave, don’t rock the boat, don’t stick your neck out!! But if you want to live a great life do stick your neck out, do rock the boat; get out of that comfort zone. Because just outside of your comfort zone is where you will begin to find the excitement in life, the greatness in life. You can become someone great. We all have it in us, but not many chose to explore it.
I am just on the edge of another comfort zone at the moment. I am very excited but also nervous!! I keep smiling inanely for no reason! It feels great! My other half and I just keep looking at each other and our looks say ‘are we crazy?’ and ‘what are we doing?’. Then we laugh and carry on. We know we are getting outside our comfort zone, but we are loving it!! People keep saying ‘oh I couldn’t do that!’ and ‘but what if….?’. Well, we’ll deal with problems if and when they arrive!! Why worry about something that might never happen?
You see we only have one life and having arrived in my fifties, this has hit me big time! Life is short and we should live everyday as if it were our last! Get the most out of our time on earth as possible. There are no second chances! Well, none that I know of…..!! So we must all grab our lives and start to live them to the max.
I see so many people who could be someone great. But they are living a dull, repetitive small life. That’s fine if that makes them happy, but I know so many people who will spend an entire conversation with me telling me how hard done to they are, how miserable they are, how much they hate their life and their job. Then I see other people who are working full time and also doing a degree course at university, or working three jobs at once to make ends meet, determined to get somewhere in life.
Which of these people would you want to be in this, your one and only life?? Don’t get stuck inside your comfort zone; the fun starts just outside!!
Photo by Compass Cheng
Still Looking For the Right Home Business For You? Check Out My Review Site: Home Business Ideas And Opportunities
You are so right Sue…life is short & each one of us should live each day as if it could be our last! For me, the “comfort zone” become pretty uncomfortable in a short order of time. I tend to feel most alive when I am slightly pushing the envelope (meaning getting out of my comfort zone at the time) to see what else is out there…what might happen…and sometimes this is what I have found to be where good things begin to manifest in my life
Your post topic is near & dear to me and I appreciate you sharing! Christine
Christine Casey recently posted..The Power of Networking – Share the knowledge…
Hi Sue,
It’s great to hear you and your husband are exploring possibilities and leaving your comfort zone! Like you mentioned you in your post, there are many people who don’t leave the rut of their lives. When my 30-something year old client said he was too old to go back to school, I told him he could be 35 with a degree or 35 without a degree. The choice was his. I love being able to help people see possibilities and realize that those dreams are within their reach.
Human beings are afraid of the unknown. They feel more comfortable staying with something they know — even if it’s less than ideal — rather than go toward something unknown. Saying that, I also think that many people don’t realize they have the power and ability right now to leave their comfort zone and to reach their dreams.
My wife and I are venturing into a new career and partnership. I could relate to your feelings. We’re excited about storming ahead!
Good luck to you and your husband! It sounds like you have the right mindset to leave your comfort zone, reach your dreams, and have fun while doing it!
Larry Akers recently posted..Leaving Your Comfort Zone May Be Easier Than You Think
Christine, I am one of those outside the zone people. Started a business in Shanghai from scratch and beat an incurable cancer for starters. I live each day and love your inspired, well written post.
Gary Young recently posted..China Sourcing and the Agent of Change
This is one of my favorite topics Sue. Bottom line is only entrepreneurs get out of their comfort zones and at last count that’s only about 3% of us and that’s OK but it is just a choice. For me I now get uncomfortable when I’m feeling comfortable because I know I’m not stretching myself.
Thanks for a wonderful post,
Michael
Hi Sue, I think for me I would be uncomfortable being comfortable. If that makes any sense. I have never followed a beaten path, never wanted to. Honestly there are just some people who enjoy complaining about their lives, they never have any intention to change it. It is like a hypochondriac, they enjoy the attention being sick gives to them.
Why is it that only 5% of people at age 65 are financially independent? Because they did not follow the norm.
God Bless,
Bruce
Oh you are SO right! If I hadn’t gotten out of my comfort zone a couple years ago I would never be where I’m at today. The fun part is, there’s always “something” that’s going to be out of my comfort zone, so there’s always an opportunity to overcome a fear and rise to a new challenge. How great it feels to get beyond the point of being “stuck” and achieving something new!!
Mandee
Mandee Widrick – Social Media Manager recently posted..How to Organize Your Facebook Friends
It is SO EASY to stay in the comfort zone. The path of least resistance right? I am guilty all the time, but at least I am aware of it and trying to make changes. Being an entrepreneur, you’ve got to do what’s difficult, which is also what’s uncomfortable.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike Pedersen recently posted..The Secret To Success When Networking For Realtors
Hi Sue, thanks for the great post! I love the picture (as that is way out of my comfort zone!) I tell all my friends, if you are not uncomfortable at least once a day, you aren’t pushing yourself. Being uncomfortable is a sign of personal growth!
Internet Marketing Kris recently posted..About Steroid Marketing
I am still working on my comfort zone too. I know it’s a step by step process. No one can change in one single day, but one has to be willing to take the journey for change. I don’t like my job but i take it as an opportunity to get somewhere. I know some who were not lucky enough to even get a job. I should be grateful
Thanks for sharing ,
Loic
Loic recently posted..Igloo Dog House- The strongest and most durable of all
Great Post Sue!
I saw a presentation by Darren Hardy where he talks about pushing for failure, because the pendulum will swing back towards success when you do. He of course got this idea from someone else, but I think this is exactly the concept you’re talking about!
Thanks for the reminder!
-Kyle
Kyle McCauley recently posted..Are You Missing The Secret Ingredient For Online Marketing Success
Hi Sue. Great article. I work with entrepreneurs every day that have chosen to get out of their comfort zone, take a chance, and do what they love. I started my first company when I was in my early 20′s and have never regretted my choice to not take the easy road. Thanks! Scott Pollov
Scott Pollov recently posted..Business Networking – Know Why You Are Doing It
Hi Sue…Your post was dead on. Most of us are trapped in our own comfort zone to one point on another. Our biggest challenge is to find a way out. I truly believe that this will help us to live a more fuller life.
~ Tim
Tim Colletti – Internet Marketing recently posted..Converting Your Website-Blog Hits Into Sales
Thanks Sue, Pushing past and through into a new zone, out of my comfort zone. I’ll never realize more success until I do. Thanks
Bill Cowan recently posted..Can You Eat Healthy At A Restaurant
Sue – I soo respect your action of kicking down the wall of “comfort” and beyond “what’s safe” to take risks to pursue your heart’s desire. That is so why I enjoy networking and connecting with people like you. You totally understand that life is truly not fulfilled unless we tap into the power that’s inside of us and press through the fear and live life BIG!.
A really good reminder here! I think some people just want to be comfortable and are scared not to be. I can remember a lady at a law of attraction class one night saying what she wanted in life was security. A secure job with insurance. I thought that was insane! I just don’t think real happiness is ever found on the couch or in total security. I feel more security when I push through something. Just yesterday I wanted to do a Tom Cruise jump on the furniture in a coffee shop but of course, I did not. I just felt really good because I learned something new and accomplished something. I could have stayed home but instead I got it done. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Comfort Zones are safe and secure yet also limiting. But a lot of the safety one feels in your safety zone is false. The world is spinning around, and just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean it is not effecting you. Getting out of that zone makes it possible for you to be more than a passive rider on the wave.
Thanks Sue. I stayed in that comfort zone a long time. Never doing what I really wanted to do. Now in my fifties myself I’m doing what I love and I don’t worry about what might happen. Wish I could of or would have done this sooner. Now I try to encourage others to do the same. Follow those dreams!!!
Have a Great Day
Chester
Hi Sue,
I believe that is what all successful people have in common – they live outside their comfort zone. It’s easier said than done, however, and I applaud you for doing that. I am working on that myself and find that when I get it right, I’m happier. Go figure! Thanks for sharing.
Debbie Stevens recently posted..Running – A New Frontier
I find pushing out of the comfort zone into the unknown always makes me want to run in the other direction but I feel compelled to do it anyways. As I grow my kids up I send them mixed messages on this too but..I think they have noted the importance of going beyond it and finding their own voice. I too wish I was assured of this as the “right route” at a young age. It is great to have models and mentors around.
rebeccahappy recently posted..Big Hairy Audacious Goal BHAG
Wow Susan, this is an incredible post. I found it to be very inspiring and thought provoking. Another reason people stay in their comfort zone is fear of the unknown. But as you say just get out and do it stuff happens deal with it when it does.
I have left my comfort zone often, struggled for awhile and even thought “Why am I doing this? I remember the first day I arrived at the college where I taught for over two decades. I had left a High school teaching position and sat in the opening convocation, looking at all these strangers, feeling scared and saying to myself “Maybe I should have just stayed at the high school.” But soon I found my way around and entered a comfort zone – for too many years. Finally, I left that comfort zone, relocated and developed a private counseling practice. Then I ventured into another world – the internet. Each time I started something new, I had that same feeling again – some fear, some adventure, all sorts of new possibilities. And then the newness becomes comfortable again. Luckily I haven’t failed terribly, just some minor failures or disappointments along the way.
Dr. Erica Goodsotne recently posted..The Strangest Secret
Hi Sue,
What a beautiful article! Life is definitely short. I was just telling my friend that you only walk this path once and as much as you think there’s unlimited time in this life but the truth is, time flies, and in a blink of an eye (it seems) you miss out on the things you should have been doing if only you weren’t afraid to go for it. Life is such a gift and things are never as bad as people make it out to be
.
Janette
The comfort zone is the BIGGEST thing for everyone Sue, it really is. I mean like you said… it’s just sooooo comfy!
Once we start going outside of it though, there is just that twinge of excitement. It’s like exploring a wonderful new land, with the pulse racing, wondering what will happen next.
And when good things start to occur… oh man how great does it feel to be on the roller coaster.
To the top,
-Gregory Elfrink
gregthewriter.com
Gregory Elfrink – Network Marketing Books recently posted..Make Money in MLM Lesson 3- The Power of Network Marketing Books!
Hey Sue,
You are definitely spot on with this post! The comfort zone is by leaps and bounds the safest path but also the path to ensure a lack of growth. We can only grow by stretching ourselves beyond that all too secure comfort zone. Thanks for your post.
Linnea recently posted..Avatar Content Ideas
HI Sue, Great post about getting out of your comfort zone. The question we should ask ourselves when we are faced with doing something uncomfortable is “Do you want to be comfortable or do you want to be rich?”
Ted Hunsaker recently posted..Six Steps To Developing a Strong Personal Brand For Your Online Business
Sue, after 21 years of having my own business I still walk the comfort zone line very gingerly. I often wonder how much more successful I would be if I got out of my comfort zone every once and a while.
Tim Somers recently posted..Change How You Think To Succeed
Very inspiring! I have a bit of experience in pushing my comfort zone, but I don’t do it as much as I would like to. I love the feeling after you’ve done something that scared the heck out of you. A sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Your comment “you don’t regret what you did do, you regret what you didn’t do” really hits home.
Thanks for the inspiration,
Bethany
Bethany Lamb recently posted..Canary Islands- Spain