The Comfort Zone
I used to be someone who liked pushing myself to do things that made me feel uncomfortable. Weird? Perhaps.
I would quickly volunteer myself to do things before I could convince myself not to. Often it would be awkward and I would be a nervous wreck but as soon as it was over – I would be elated. Gradually I became more ok with pushing my boundaries and began to do it more and more.
Then something changed and I became afraid to try new things, even though I desperately wanted to. I had an excuse for everything. This is yet another one of my many realizations I’ve had in the past couple of months – and I’m starting to feel more like myself again. I’m not 100% there yet – I don’t know if I ever will be, but I’m working on it.
I have a few philosophies that I live by – this is a topic that should really be spread over a few posts, so I’ll start with number one:
“Do something not because you want to, but because you don’t want to.”
Obviously this relates to the whole comfort zone thing. There are things we don’t want to do not because we hate it, but because we are just afraid. Like public speaking, wearing something you wouldn’t usually, travelling by yourself, voicing your opinions more, going to an event alone, BLOGGING! The list goes on. If you fear it, but know it’s going to benefit you in the long run – then this philosophy applies.
At the end of the day – if it’s not going to kill you then you’re going to be a better person for it.
Besides – when have you ever pushed your comfort zone and then regretted it? I’m guessing hardly ever.
Instead there is an ironic comfort in realizing that you can do anything you want to.
On a totally irrelevant side note, here’s a great little band I discovered through Pam’s blog. Check them out: French for Rabbits.
Also be sure to check out Jane’s blog. She wrote the sweetest post about my blog, I am so flattered :)
What you’ve said here is so true. Whenever I feel myself drawing back from a situation, I always ask myself why. If it’s because I’m afraid, I push myself to do it. I’ve never regretted doing this. I recently took up ballroom dancing, but I nearly didn’t enter the studio. I stood at the door and was ready to turn around and go home. I knew it was fear stopping me so I steeled myself and pushed the door open. Now I go every week and I’m loving it. I always think of Susan Jeffers’ book “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. Go for it!