Playing it safe is the most popular way to fail - Elliott Smith
In order to achieve your goals, you sometimes have to get out of your comfort zone. It may be hard. You may think that it is not necessary. If you indeed are serious about being successful, you will have to enter into the uncomfort zone. In order to do that it is critical that you perform a self-analysis. This will help pinpoint areas that you need to develop. Once you have completed it, you are now ready to enter the uncomfort zone. The ability to overcome the 'uncomfort zone' will require being open-minded, having a strong desire to succeed and being motivated.
Being open-minded is essential to goal setting. When you expand your thinking, you do not limit yourself. It will allow you to explore all the possibilities for how you can achieve your goal. Things that you would have never thought to do under normal circumstances will appear. They will appear because it may be necessary to do. You would not have recognized that had you stayed in your comfort zone.
Having a strong desire to succeed will also aid in navigating through the uncomfort zone. When you have decided that you want to reach success, you will become a risk-taker. You will not be afraid to fail. You will be able to take chances. Your goal achievement could be compared to a game. You should be betting on yourself because you know the strong desire you have to be successful.
The last element to get you through is being motivated. Like the other two characteristics, it is about how bad you want to achieve your goal. If you are motivated then nothing will prevent you from reaching your success. Passing through the uncomfort zone will be just that. It will not matter what you need to do because you have set a path to accomplish a goal. If your goal is to lose weight and the only time you can exercise is in the morning, then you have to exercise in the morning. Being motivated you will not take no for an answer.
When we remain in our comfort zone, we will not reach our full potential. I recognized through self-analysis that I was shy. I was happy and content working by myself. In order for me to get to where I wanted to go though, I had to break out of my shyness. I put myself in situations that would force me to interact, engage and collaborate with others. I became a volunteer at my college radio station. Eventually, I became an on-air radio personality. By doing so, it gave me the opportunity to interact with the public through the various radio events in town. Taking myself out of my comfort zone helped me to develop my interpersonal skills.
As I pursue my goals, I constantly have to get out of my comfort zone. It is developing me as a person. It is pushing me ever so close to my goals. You must recognize areas that are essential to reaching your goals that are not in your comfort zone. Believe in yourself and the commitment you have made to your success. At that point, enter the uncomfort zone.
Chief Motivational Speaker for the Success Philosophers and host of Osric's Take Live! on blogtalkradio. Our goal is to enlighten, energize and empower you!