Comfort Zone: 3 reasons why your comfort zone is holding you back

This is the third part of our 4 part series about comfort zones. This week I want to share 3 reasons why your comfort zone is holding you back and what you can do to change that.

We’ve all heard a lot about getting out of our comfort zone. But have you ever thought about why you should? After all, our comfort zone is where we feel the most in control and safe. It’s where we can predict what will happen and how we will feel. There won’t be any surprises, that we can’t deal with.

Leaping into an unknown situation is scary. Likely the scariest thing you could do. Still, there will be a moment in your life when you have to decide if you will firmly stay in your comfort zone or make the leap of faith in search of something greater.

You have stepped out of your comfort zone before

We have all been there a couple of times in our life, switching jobs, moving houses, or leaving toxic relationships. For some reason non of us see those as us stepping out of our comfort zone. We see those as things that just happen in life. And that my friend is simply not true. That is you leaving your comfort zone. That is you wanting more for yourself and your life.

When it comes to actually doing something for yourself that you have always wanted to do, you retreat back into this comfort zone afraid of what might be on the other side.

Trust me, I get it. It’s a comfortable place to be your comfort zone; there are no risks, no anxiety, no surprises, or nothing unknown.

But the thing is, staying inside your comfort zone, won’t get you anywhere. And if you are happy staying where you are, that’s fine. But if you want to move forward and upwards in life, which I think is the case since you’re reading this, you have to step out of your comfort zone occasionally.

Why would I want to leave my comfort zone?

So why would you feel compelled or even want to get out of your comfort zone? The key to your own personal growth and happiness you need to get out of your comfort zone. Stepping out of that zone helps you build up your self-confidence and the way you view yourself.

There are often dangers that lurk in the Comfort Zone. If you stay there for too long and get too comfortable, our comfort zones tend to shrink as we get older.

Talk about being closed minded…

Is being there holding you back from living a fulfilled life and growing in your career?

The answer is yes. Being in your comfort zone and staying there is keeping you from realizing and achieving what you desire. Staying safely within your comfort zone keeps you from being challenged and you don’t have to rise to any new occasions.

Leaving your comfort zone is not as dangerous as you might think — scary, yes… dangerous no. You need to start small and explore the Learning Zone, not jump right into the Danger Zone.

Here are 3 reasons why your comfort zone may be holding you back

REASON 1:

It’s keeping you from growing personally. Staying in your comfort zone keeps you from facing that fear you are so afraid of. Then you suffer from it forever or until you do face it. You stay away from situations that would put you in a position of having to face the fear in order to overcome it.

For example, your fear of public speaking keeps you from taking a job that requires you to speak in front of others, even though it’s a step up on your career ladder.

REASON 2:

Your comfort zone is keeping you from being happy. Maybe you struggle with self-confidence and self-esteem issues. Not taking these steps outside of your comfort zone can cause problems because you are not addressing them. Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you build confidence in yourself and see yourself in a better light.

When you are confident and have good self-esteem, you are happier. For example, if you’re not confident in your abilities, you tend to stay in your comfort zone instead of trying something new. This drags down your confidence making you feel less competent and making you unhappy.

REASON 3:

Staying in your comfort zone can make you feel trapped and unhealthy. Often our bad habits stem from not stepping out of our comfort zone because fear is stopping us from making the necessary changes. You might want to be more active, run a marathon, feel fewer aches and pains, and go on adventures. But to do any of these things means doing something that is outside your comfort zone.

For example, you want to run a short marathon. It’s always been a dream of yours, but you procrastinate and make excuses for why you can’t. You’re too out of shape. You don’t have time. You’re too old. But the real reason is that you are afraid to get out of your comfort zone and begin training with a trainer. As a result, you put your dreams on the back burner. You continue to eat unhealthily and gain weight until eventually, you’re health becomes a problem.

Our own little four-walled prison cell

If you look at your comfort zone as your own prison, where your potential is contained within those four walls. When you push yourself outside of your comfort zone you are growing as a person. You fill your cell so much that it starts to expand and gives you more room and freedom to do what you want.

Look at your comfort zone as a prison cell again. You are standing in a 6×8 foot room. Take all the things that make you feel comfortable and put them in the room. Do you see what is going to happen? Your room starts to feel smaller because all those things that give you peace of mind have their place but you might not fit in the room after you put it all in there.

All of your comforts are in that room and it’s warm, nice, and cozy, and that’s what it is supposed to feel like. I understand we humans are creatures of habits. We kick, scream, and fight against change. Having those routines and mindless activities is where we thrive. The structure just puts us at ease.

However, when you are cramped into a certain position in this room for a while you need to break away from all the structures because change is imperative for growth. Pushing those boundaries to give you more space in the prison cell and let your breathe.

Humans are creatures of comfort

Staying within the confines of least resistance is easy because it’s what you are used to, but if you want to make progress in your life, you need to break free from what holds you back.

When we stay in our comfort zone, we are holding ourselves back from living a life we love, from being happy, and from growing. We end up letting our fears rule and settling for mediocrity.

Getting too comfortable in your little four-walled prison starts to hold you back instead of pushing you to grow and try new things. Having dreams and goals are there to help you reach new heights. Those challenges make you better.

Focus on stepping out of your comfort zone

The reason I want you to focus on stepping out of your comfort zone is this: Staying in one spot for so long is the surest way to limit your potential. Staying in your comfort zone increases the chances of you being stuck in an unhappy rut.

Never living up to your full potential hiding in your cozy cell is no way to live life. You end up hiding your truest self from the world. I know you can sit here all you want and say that your life is content and you are happy, but I know and you know that you are lying and it’s just fear rearing its ugly head.

Fear is an ugly friend sometimes. It makes you think you are not worthy of certain things, and makes you think you are not smart enough or pretty enough. Fear makes you think the worse about yourself and you need to realize fear is not your friend and it’s time to distance yourself from it. Find your passion and just go for it.

Take the risk

When we take risks we find out a lot about ourselves. We find out what we’re made of. Taking that risk we end up discovering what makes us tick. We start to see the part of ourselves that deep down inside holds wisdom and power and most of us are unaware of that part of ourselves.

It’s nice to be comfortable. It’s nice being safe and cozy within that comfort zone. Being there is where we are most confident, but stop and think if your comfort zone is serving you or holding you back. Build up some courage and step outside your comfort zone once in a while.

Don’t forget to check the other posts in this series of comfort zones.

We will be focusing on:
– Finding who you truly are in the unknown
– Is your comfort zone preventing you from achieving your goals?
– If staying in your comfort zone could be holding you back. (You are here)
– If fear is standing in your way of getting the life you deserve.

Until next time, Have a great day!