Comfort Zone
A comfort zone is a familiar psychological state where people are at ease and (perceive they are) in control of their environment, experiencing low levels of anxiety and stress.
More often than not, people work hard at controlling the day, decisions, conversations and even the people in their lives. I suppose it’s possible that if everything works out as planned, there’s less angst and uncertainty, right?
I’ve spent recent weeks thinking about my comfort zone. When I stay in my cozy comfort box, there’s definitely less head noise and anxiety. On the other hand when I step out of that box and challenge myself, I feel satisfied and super charged. On the other hand sometimes things don’t work out as hoped and there are lessons learned, growth for sure.
Last week I spent eight days camping in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I’ve never spent that much time sleeping on a cot, walking down a dirt lane to use a communal bathroom, not washing my hair for days and smelling a musty tent night and day. The last time I did something similar was 2018 on a four day camping trek to Machu Picchu. The Salcantay Trail climbs to 15,000 feet elevation and the pass is slow and snowy. The final two days involved a 10 mile trek down in a tropical jungle, a walk through an avocado farm, and ending the next day with unforgettable views looking down into the bowl of Machu Picchu. When I did that trek I was 58. I’m nearly 63 now and can’t believe I camped again.
I confess it was a tough week. Cold, often rainy and damp, bugs (especially spiders) all around me and camper prepped food at a nearby lodge that was less than desirable. I still can’t believe I ate a hummus spread sandwich, thankfully GF, purple onions and kraft processed cheese (yikes) for six of the seven lunches. I was fatigued at night but still had to get out of my warm sleeping bag and figure out a way to go to the bathroom in the dark.
I also hiked my second 46 “er”…one of 46 mountains in the Adirondacks with elevation over 4,000 feet. I climbed Mt. Phelps covering 9 miles over eroded tree roots, large and small rocks, boulder climbing, wooden walkways and deep mud. I ascended 2,200 elevation, (1,000 of it over one mile) for a total of 5.5 hours to the summit and back. The view was breathtaking. The stillness and quiet striking. Here’s what I learned…
I am resilient. I can do hard things. So can you.
Research shows that if you stay within your comfort zone you become complacent. If you don’t try things that scare or challenge you, you miss out on opportunities to grow and learn.
Here are some tips for stepping out of your Comfort Zone:
Surround yourself with confident people who challenge you.
Take small steps that lead to bigger steps. Persevere.
Consider the worst AND the best that can happen. Balance.
Reward yourself for doing uncomfortable things.
Acknowledge your fear and say yes anyway.
Share your fear and ask for support from a trusted friend.
Are you holding yourself back from a challenge? I promise, once you take a leap of faith and step outside of your comfort zone, you will gain new insight and a level of self-confidence that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
It’s all a dance….Diane