They say all the best of life is lived outside of your comfort zone. I tend to disagree. Here’s my argument for why you need to be in your comfort zone…sometimes.
Be in your comfort zone
In 2015, my word was SHINE and my mantra was “to get new results, try new things.” You can read more about it here.
I was so far outside of my comfort zone that year, I couldn’t even remember what it looked like.
I learned A LOT. I’m so glad I took chances and stuck my neck out because I also GREW a lot.
But some of that uncomfortable stuff didn’t stick.
For example, a group I tried to help launch fell apart when they went a different direction than I signed on for. I said goodbye to them by the end of the year.
There was no way I could keep up a once-a-month workshop without a dedicated space outside of my home.
The events I hosted and the volunteering I did meant I was always teetering on the edge of “too busy.”
Networking.
Hosting.
Creating.
Inspiring.
Failing.
Tweaking.
It’s at once exhilarating and exhausting.
When you “put yourself out there” and live outside of your comfort zone for an extended period of time, you learn your limits. You know what drains you and what energizes you. And there comes a time when you have to get comfortable again.
I don’t serve people well when I’m depleted, stressed and disorganized.
In the best of circumstances, every event, every meeting, every conversation is emotional, nuanced and sometimes draining. I often say, “I’m outside of my comfort zone enough on a normal day.”
Everyday life is fraught with discomfort. Once you’ve explored life outside of your comfort zone, it’s time to work within your sweet spot. There’s no point being uncomfortable if you can’t apply what you’ve learned and make it work for the long term.
There’s nothing noble about simply being uncomfortable all the time. The point is to push past complacency and work toward the vision you have for your life, even if it’s uncomfortable for a season.
Our efforts should be made toward expanding our comfort zone so we can live there long term.
If you’ve been pushing yourself and trying new things and “doing it scared” for a while, maybe it’s time to step back and see what worked and what didn’t. It’s OK to give yourself new uncomfortable things to try. But being uncomfortable as a way of life might be more detrimental than helpful.
Maybe a time of staying in your comfort zone is what you need right now. Or maybe you need to be uncomfortable for a while to discover if you’re missing out on something amazing in the name of comfort…then dial it back until it’s a way of life.
I’d love to know your thoughts!
If this resonates with you, I’d be honored if you shared on social media or pinned to Pinterest!
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