Life Begins Where Your Comfort Zone Ends

It was Neale Donald Walsch who said: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you are feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is a beginning, not an ending.”
And that saying could not be truer if you thought of your life as a journey towards a purpose, a true calling, the fulfilment of a true potential. Most of us tend to live our lives in our comfort zones. Afraid to step out, afraid to change, afraid of the unknown, we stay where we feel safe and where we are conversant with all the rules of the game. Then there are those few who dare to step out, embrace change and leap into the unknown—with the full knowledge that true human potential recognizes no bounds, and that staying in a comfort zone is the greatest evil one could fall prey for.

The major problem with living life within your comfort zone is that it halts your personal growth. You must be willing to chuck your comfort zone if you are to experience the emotional, economic, spiritual and social growth necessary for a successful and vibrant life. Real personal growth will only take place outside the familiarity and parameters of your comfort zone. Imprisoning yourself in your comfort zone is akin to robbing yourself of some of the greatest blessings in life that await you.

Even though your comfort zone is something that’s not necessarily physical, you can feel it. It’s a title that describes everything you fear doing, but wish you could do. Several surveys conducted indicate that successful individuals have a bigger comfort zone than the average John Doe. Very often people have fears and seldom face them because of fear. Consequently, they never live the life they’ve always dreamt of.

Daring to face those fears that have daunted you for years will expand you as a person and make your life more fulfilling. Overcome those fears you wish you didn’t have, such as making speeches before huge crowds or talking to new people in social situations. These fears are often a result of lacking experience or not being taught in whatever it is. Even though you might be nervous, embarrassed and afraid to face your fears at first, overcoming them will realize you amazing changes because it will afford you the ability to soar to new heights of diversity and versatility. You will be an individual that can leave his/her comfort zone at will.

Focus on Positive Outcomes
Always have the mindset that even if something negative was to happen, you’d still move forward with your life. However, be extremely happy and grateful for all the good things that happen in your life. Most of us are more scared about what the negative circumstance could be, than what the positive circumstance could be. You will only be confident to leave your comfort zone if you focus more on the positive circumstance than the negative circumstances.

Welcome Change
Change is one thing that is sure to come your way in life no matter what. Every aspect of your life is subject to change at some point. Changes in life happen whether you welcome them or not. Embracing change is the best of dealing with change. Trying to resist change is akin to allowing misery to take over. Those imprisoned within their comfort zones tend to resist change. In a comfort zone, it’s very easy for one to believe that change is something that happens to other individuals and that whatever he/she is currently enjoying will remain so forever.

Even those who anticipate change in the near future will be quick to dismiss it with the thought that they’ll adapt to it as soon as it arrives. This is a mental trap because not only will they be unprepared for change upon its arrival, but their lives in comfort zone will make them cling on to the past and try to resist change. Be sure to embrace change before it even comes knocking on your door.

Upon realizing that staying in your comfort zone is halting your personal growth, don’t hesitate to welcome big changes into your life. Learn where you want to take your life and move in that direction. Do you need a change in career? Do you need a relationship change? Or do you need to change where you live? Embrace whatever change you want in your life.

More often than not, endeavour to make decisions and take risks based on a deep sense of awareness. While at it, remember that change is part of life, and that you don’t reap great rewards without taking great risks.