The Comfort Zone

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Krissy Jackson, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.

The Comfort Zone. Sounds like a great place to take up residence doesn’t it?

Everything works like a well-oiled machine. No blips.

Monday looks like Wednesday which looks just like Saturday. Well maybe life isn’t quite that perfect, but you know what I mean. Sound great?

No, not really.

Beware of the comfort zone!

When you’re in the comfort zone, any one of a number of unfortunate things may be taking place:

You may be failing to live up to your potential. When everything is going along without incident, it’s easy to just sit back for the ride. Before you know it, you’ve tossed your dreams out the window, you’ve settled for the “easy” way out and there you are – going nowhere and accomplishing nothing.

You think you’re comfortable, but actually you’re secretly becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. Also known as “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” when we get complacent, we actually start feeling anxious because we know the laws of probability will ultimately kick in. And then where will you be? Quite unprepared I suspect.

Think about everything you are missing while wrapped in the cotton wool of the comfort zone – It can cause boredom and dullness. A mind not challenged turns to mush.

It can possibly lead to feelings of worthlessness as we avoid taking risks, pursuing our dreams or working towards goals because these will require doing new things which may upset the “picture perfect” life we imagine we are living.

Life in the comfort zone can undermine our self-confidence as we wonder if we can “handle” the next challenges that life will certainly bring.

There’s a lot to be said for being actively engaged in life and for facing up to challenges. What dreams have you been putting on hold? What exciting projects or opportunities have you neglected?
Challenges keep us “in shape” mentally and emotionally. When we live in our comfort zone, we lose our courage and our inner strength.

Just because you step out of your comfort zone doesn’t mean you’re signing yourself up for a life of hard labor and hard luck. Instead you may be opening yourself up to living your dreams in 3-dimentional Technicolor.

There’s no growth, true happiness, sense of achievement or opportunity when living a humdrum, dull existence in the fairytale land known as the “comfort zone.”

Today is the day to make a change: Decide to do something new and then, do it. Awaken your senses, and actively engage in your life.

The next time you find yourself in the comfort zone, ask yourself the question … What more is there? The only way to find out is to take a step forward into the magnificent unknown.

• Live life like you mean it – get involved!*