On the one hand, we can’t start new things, progress, or improve our performance if we don’t step out of our comfort zone. On the other hand, getting out of our comfort zone can cause stress which can affect us detrimentally.
So what do we do? How can we get out of our comfort zone without detrimentally affecting our health?
Our comfort zone is the bulls-eye. It’s where we are and what we’re comfortable with. The comfort zone isn’t necessarily where we’re happiest, but it’s the zone we’re most familiar with.
And most of us will do anything to stick to what we know. Even Gary Vaynerchuk. And sometimes that’s a good thing.
But as even Gary knows, there is no progression without learning; there is no action without courage; and there can be no success without failure.
The law of diminishing performance
The law of diminishing performance states that in the development process, as stress is increased there will be a point at which our performance decreases and our health harmed.
In simple English, increase stress levels too much and you’ll decrease performance as well as your health.
The trick of course, like in the law of diminishing returns, is to find the sweet spot.
Each person has their own sweet spot. And finding it is a process that involves trial and error.
I found my sweet spot by thinking about what I love and what is difficult for me and using affirmations and action to help bridge the gap.
How I comfortably moved out of my comfort zone
I’m constantly stepping out of my comfort zone. But sometimes I’m stepping too far out; to the point where I become stressed out and quickly return to the safe haven of my comfort zone. So I had to take a step back and thing long and hard about just one thing that if I could improve would bring me the positive results that I’m looking for. I also had to think about how I would make it safe, comfortable and sustainable.
Here’s what I did:
- I thought about what I love – writing content and putting interesting ideas out there
- I identified that I don’t produce enough and do not outwardly put out my work enough.
- I undertook to promote my value with both passion and enthusiasm and I affirm it to myself every day (something I took away from Harv T. Eker’s book – The Millionaire Mind).
- I created a list of 100 pieces of content that I will produce in 100 days.
- I have begun producing my list of content and sharing them.
How you can step out of your comfort zone comfortably
- Think about an activity that you love doing and that you can connect to your personal or professional development
- Identify something that you find difficult to do and which connects to something you’d like to develop in yourself or improve upon
- Undertake and affirm the task you will take upon yourself.
- Make a list of the steps or tasks you need to take in order to fulfill your undertaking.
- Begin taking the steps or completing the tasks towards fulfilling your goal.
- Reward yourself!
What are you doing to comfortably get out of your comfort zone? I’d love to hear about your process. Leave a reply below.
