Stretch Out of Your Comfort Zone: Top 5 Benefits

There are many benefits to stretching out of our comfort zones... here are just a few. Which ones speak to you?

Build Confidence in Yourself
How important is confidence in our quest for happiness and fulfillment in our lives? In my past, I had little confidence in myself. I was often fearful to try something new because I was not sure I could do it or worse, I worried about what others might think. I soon began to realize, though, that every time I did something for the first time, stepping into the unknown, it changed me a bit. I felt a little stronger, proud that I had done it. It was as if each new step brought me closer to my realizing my full capacity - a sense of confidence that made me want to do more.

Overcome Fear and Worry
Mark Twain once said "I have lived a long life and had many troubles, most of which never actually happened" Does that sound familiar? How often do we spend countless hours worrying about what might happen, the "what if's...." that we let govern our lives? When we spend all of our time worrying and wondering "what if", we lose sight of what is most important... WHAT IS. We all know that most of our worries never come true, for when we actually try something we were fearful of what happens? We realize that it was easier than we thought it would be and often even better than we thought.

Continue to Grow
You may remember a movie called Pleasantville. The characters lived in a small community bound by routines and beliefs that were known and accepted by everyone. They never deviated from this norm, they never even knew anything else existed beyond the streets of their perfect town, this perfect comfort zone. That is until one day, two characters appeared from another place and brought with them new knowledge, ideas and practices. As this new information was introduced, everything began to change, people began to question, to see, to experience things for the first time. Remember, growth happens every time you venture our of your comfort zone and experience new activities, "try on" new ideas, and learn new knowledge.

Have More Fun
How often do we move through life watching, from the sidelines, others playing, active, exploring, experiencing...? How often do we long to be engaged in some of these fun activities - but we hold back because we don't know how to do it, or it doesn't seem safe, or possible? What would it be like to let go of the trepidation holding us back, to take that first step out of our comfort zone and try something new. How much fun do you want to have? It's yours, for the taking, you just have to want it and then go for it!

Live Your Life to the Fullest
How often do we go about our lives in a rut, moving through each day just as we did the last, in a veil of contentment or complacency? A heartwarming movie that brought up the importance of living our lives to the fullest is "Last Holiday". The lead character of Georgia Byrd looks longingly through her book of Possibilities; images, and words that she has collected through her life representing all that she wants for herself, all of her "someday's". When she decides to spend her savings living some of her "somedays" and takes a wonderful "last holiday" abroad in a beautiful magical place, she finally lets her true self, her desires and possibilities emerge.

How has stretching benefited you and others in your life?