Conversations with friends about growth and comfort zones have been numerous lately. Questions like, “What’s the worst thing that can happen if we give up taking actions to achieve our dreams?”, “What prices are we willing to pay to achieve the results we want?”
Taking the necessary actions is uncomfortable. It means moving out of our comfort zone into a new unknown zone. This prospect can be overwhelming.
We agreed that inside the comfort zone there is no growth as growth opportunities are comfortably limited. Inside, we are great at what we are already doing, even auto-pilot in our actions. Comfort is not a place to grow.
The thing is, yes, inside the comfort zone, we are surviving, but, are we flourishing?
Surely, while confined in that zone there are still dreams in our hearts waiting to jump out to become a reality.
Sadly, feelings of unworthiness, fear and self-judgments prevent us from venturing outside our comfort zone because outside is an unknown territory where we will stretch our capabilities, creativity and imagination to act on our dreams. We will challenge ourselves to do things we are not used to do, put in time and energy getting into action to invest ourselves beyond our normal, predictable routine.
This is why so many of us give up on our dreams, not wanting to put in the time and effort because it is uncomfortable, challenging, overwhelming.
Zones we are at determine whether we grow or stagnate. Staying inside the comfort zone means stagnation. To grow and flourish, we get out of the comfort zone and dive into the discomfort zone where opportunities to grow are many.
We can’t achieve our long-aspired dream until we dare move into discomfort zone, sweat and make things happen.
Dare joyfully,
Joji
