Comfort Zone or Comfort Spectrum?
Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash
It is a basic human need to have safety and security. We need solid foundations in our lives to function effectively. The area in which you feel this security is often referred to as a comfort zone. Everyone has a different one.
In fact, I see it more as a comfort spectrum. The further out we go the less certain we feel. There is rarely an exact line that determines the edge of our “zone”.
Equally we all have a human need for variety that counterbalances the security. If we live our lives constantly in comfort then we have too much certainty and not enough variety. This can lead to lack of motivation, boredom, lethargy or even depression. Any of these sound familiar? The really bad news is that the longer you spend solely in your comfort zone the more it will shrink. Your comfort zone is never constant. So eventually you will have a very small range of things that you feel comfortable with. Your quality of life will be poor. The quality of your life is directly proportional to the amount of variety you can comfortably tolerate.
Everything you truly want in life lies just outside your comfort zone. If you live on the edge of your zone or even step outside it, your zone will grow and you will get what you want. And so the process continues. Growth is also a fundamental human need and it is addictive. You will get into a fantastic positive feedback loop.
So how do you live at the edge of the zone or step out of it? You need to associate fully with the benefits of moving towards what you want and equally touch on the pain of not moving. You know what a confident person does with their body, focus and language. It is a recipe. If you find it hard to recall your own confident states, copy someone you know who is confident. Practise it. The edge of your zone feels uncomfortable but these techniques will help you embrace that edge.
As you expand your zone not only will it benefit you but also set a fantastic positive example to those around you.
A few lines from my favourite poem by Marianne Williamson remind me of how important this is.
"There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.....as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
So what will you do today to increase your comfort zone or comfort spectrum?
Thank you for reading.
