[This article was inspired by a post on Liz Strauss' blog.]
I feel as scared as the next person when stepping outside my comfort zone.
What will happen? I could fail. I could lose everything. I could get hurt.
True.
But I have a news flash for you.
Your comfort zone is not all that safe.
Horrors, failures and disappointments can find you wherever you are so why not have fun and enjoy your life along the way.
Something surprising happens when you step outside your comfort zone. Your old familiar zone widens, your world expands, self-satisfaction increases and your inner joy blooms.
But that’s not all.
Stepping outside your comfort zone not only is the path to growth and success, but prevents stagnation and boredom.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to do something but were afraid. We all are at first.
My advice?
1. Do what Susan Jeffers outlines in her book Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway (r)
. Don’t expect to wake up one morning and be unafraid. That’s not likely to happen. Take the first step.
As I was writing this article my daughter invited meto go walking with her. I love taking the metaphorical paths less travelled, but not so much the actual ones. Who knows what wild thing is lurking in all that overgrowth on bordering the trail!
But while writing an article on stepping outside your comfort zone, I could hardly ignore my own advice. So away we went.
We were the only humans on the trail this morning, but lizards, rabbits and butterflies welcomed us. The fragrance of the many varieties of trees and plants was exhilirating. Gratitude washed over me for being physically able, healthy and free to take this walk. My body and consciousness thanked me.
2. Hang out with people who are doing what you like to do. Want to travel, but not alone? Join a travel group or take a group tour.
Last year I attended a seminar on leading a fulfilled life facilitated by Barbara Sher, author of Refuse to Choose. It was held in Italy. Since I hadn’t been to Italy I decided to achieve two goals at once.
Barbara could have set her seminar anywhere in the world, but enjoying the activities in the courtyard of a centuries old Masseria elevated the experience. A few of the attendees were from Europe, but most were from the USA, mostly CA, my home state. I gained a new batch of friends all on the same path of leading fulfilling lives. We’re planning a reunion.
3. Sample first. You think you want to open a nonprofit organization? Volunteer to work in one first. You’ll learn a lot about the inner workings, and can see the operation in a different light. After getting a taste of it, you may discover that you don’t like it after all.
4. Start reading about your interest. Learn all you can from books, articles and the Internet. The benefits are tremendous. You will learn the vocabulary of the field and discover a wealth of sources to consult.
5. Join an organization or trade association. If more than two people in the world are doing it, there’s probably an organization, convention and t-shirt. Check out groups in your interest and geographic area on www.meetup.com
6. Take baby steps. See more about that here.
Do you sabotage your own plans to change? So many of us do by setting up a massive, long-term plan that our subconscious just can’t embrace.
