How to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Getting out of your comfort zone can be a gradual process, but the main thing is to start making an effort at it. In this article, I'll share some tips that I've found helpful that will give you a good start.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The desire to get out of your comfort zone in one or more areas of your life

1. Underlying the feeling of comfort in not taking any chances in life are other emotions such as fear and doubt. These do not develop overnight, but recognizing them can be very important. A lot of it is just things you were taught when you were young that often no longer apply to you as an adult.
   
   For example, talking to strange people as a child can be a legitimately dangerous situation. Talking to new people as an adult however rarely has this element of danger, but due to training you may still be reluctant to talk to them.

2. The fear of failure is a major fear to overcome. Over time, we've all been trained that failure is a bad thing in the academic world. It's often not taught that people we view as genius thinkers often had to fail many times before they found something that works. Failure is a form of education. Obviously you want to get things right as soon as possible, but don't stop after a single failure or setback.

3. Sometimes we like our comfort zones because we have a lack of knowledge when it comes to people. Books on people skills and personality help with this, but you have to take action and apply them as well. Start small and work your way up to larger goals. This helped me especially with issues such as speaking in front of a group.

4. When you're following any kind of major dream, there is sometimes opposition to it. It's not always from mean people but people whose comfort zones are being stressed by you improving yourself. You have to expect that and not be caught off guard. Otherwise you may get discouraged.

Tips & Warnings

• It's better to live a life where you try and fail than to live a life of regret of never trying. Success does come to people who are diligent and aren't afraid to do the work it takes to follow their dreams.
• If you aspire to "just get by," most likely that's what you'll get out of life--barely. How you view yourself and your own ability does make a difference--it's not about arrogance but confidence.

Resources

• How to Find Your True Passion in Life
• How to Stay Positive in a Negative World
• Is Success Determined by Luck or Attitude?
• How to Prevent Negative Influences from Harming Your Success
• Jobs and Happiness
• How to Overcome Obstacles with Perseverance and Faith
• How to Go to College if It's Been Awhile!
• Life Skills/Success Resources Page
• Index of Cougar1002's Articles (Sorted by Topic)
• Cougar1002's Author's Blog (For Most Recent Articles/News/Updates)

[MissRenee]

on 5/31/2008 This is an article I needed to read. Thank you. I heard a saying and other readers may find this as thought provoking as I did, "It's not the holding on that hurts ... it's the letting go."

[Desula]

on 5/24/2008 I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone as well. It's a difficult place for me. This is a very helpful article.

[changeling]

on 5/21/2008 Great perspective.

[MidniteWriter]

on 5/18/2008 These points are all true, as I am stepping out more and more and these very things are happening. But yes, we do need to put aside our failure or fears and press on! Thanks for the encouragement!