How To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone? 7 Keys To Achieve It
Enjoying emotional well-being is a process that involves setting ourselves challenges and showing ourselves what we are capable of; If we don’t, we feel stuck. That is why the concept of leaving the comfort zone is so important, a fundamental idea within the field of Positive Psychology and which is one of the pillars of personal development.
If you are interested in knowing how to get it, keep reading, because here we will review several keys about how to get out of the comfort zone But first, let’s see what exactly this experience consists of.
Broadly speaking, the comfort zone It is a mental state that does not allow personal growth and all those phenomena linked to learning behaviors that make us achieve a high degree of satisfaction with the way life is lived.
Although this comfort zone It may seem pleasant (since it allows us to always continue on “autopilot”), it is not a sufficiently stimulating place and in the long run, not getting out of it can make us feel empty and lead to apathy or certain behavioral dynamics related to depression.
Between you and me… what is it that keeps you anchored there? Surely you have wanted to step forward, be brave and take on the world, but you haven’t. You may be suffering but you don’t lift a finger because you are in your comfort zone. If you are afraid and anxious about abandoning the past to fight for what you have always dreamed of, don’t be so hard on yourself and get out of your comfort zone. You will see that a new and exciting world awaits you!
Reasons why you should leave your comfort zone
Do you want more reasons to abandon the gray routine and go out there to pursue your goals? Here I leave you six Reasons why you should consider leaving your comfort zone
1. It will make you stronger as a person
Leaving your comfort zone may be scary or anxiety-inducing, but stand up to fear and you will see that it wasn’t that big of a deal Feeling insecurity is natural and even warns us that the road will not be easy. But when fear immobilizes you, then it becomes a problem that will not let you develop your true potential. Start by acknowledging that you are scared of the uncertain future, but adopt a positive mindset about it.
Allow yourself to fall from time to time and see it as another part of growing as a person. If you leave the comfort zone and enjoy learning, In time you will be able to look back and be proud of yourself Your personal development starts here, so think about what motivates you, isn’t it really worth taking a step forward and fighting for your dreams?
2. It will make you be more creative
Leaving the comfort zone stimulates creativity by discovering new possibilities and breaking with what is routine. A study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology (2012) showed that students who spent a semester abroad had higher scores on two creativity tests than those subjects who had not studied abroad.
On the other hand, another study revealed that the personality trait of “openness to experience,” one of the 5 big, is the best predictor of creative achievement This personality trait is characteristic of individuals who tend to take risks, challenge themselves, or constantly try new things.
3. It will allow you to gain self-confidence
Leaving your comfort zone and taking the necessary steps to achieve your goals will have positive effects on your self-efficacy beliefs (or self-confidence), that is, on the perception you have about whether you will be able to achieve your goals. This concept was introduced by the Canadian Albert Bandura one of the most recognized psychologists who developed the Theory of Social Learning: which explains the regulation of motivation and human action.
Therefore, get out of your comfort zone and test yourself. It will make you see with your own eyes that you master certain skills that will allow you to successfully get out of situations that may seem complicated at first glance A positive self-efficacy perception is associated with positive thoughts and aspirations about successful behavior, reduced stress, anxiety, and threat perception, along with adequate planning of the course of action and anticipation of good outcomes.
4. It will help you continue with your personal development
As young people we are more likely to take risks, but As we get older we learn to fear failure, which can lead to learned helplessness and paralysis (do you know “analysis paralysis”?). This can entail a serious emotional cost if we do not change our way of thinking, as it can be an impediment to continuing with our transformation towards greater well-being.
In his book “Self-renewal,” writer John Gardner states: *“We pay a very high price for our failures and it is a huge obstacle to our growth. This causes our personality to not develop and does not allow exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty. “If you want to continue growing, you must overcome the fear of failure.”.
5. You will meet new people and live new rewarding experiences
Get out of the comfort zone It allows you to have new experiences, do activities that were not on your agenda and meet new people This will allow you to have a more pleasant life and will allow you to make new friends. You may even meet the love of your life by stepping out of your comfort zone.
A study carried out in 2013 found that Learning new skills while maintaining a strong social network helps us maintain good mental acuity as we age
Study director Denise Park, a researcher at the University of Texas in the United States, concluded: “It seems that going out and doing activities is not enough. It is important to go out and do activities that are unfamiliar and mentally challenging, as they provide great stimulation both mentally and socially. When you are within the comfort zone, it is possible that you are outside the improvement zone.”
Tips to get out of the comfort zone
Of course, It is very easy to say but much more complicated to do However, and although leaving the comfort zone is complicated by the very definition of this concept, it is not an impossible mission. If you need some help or tips to get out of your comfort zone, you can follow these behavioral guidelines.
1. Challenge yourself and perform at your best
Leaving the comfort zone is an important aspect in personal growth, as it is It is not possible to think that we will get to the place we want to get to by doing what is just and necessary and being immersed in the same old routine
Reaching new heights involves the risk of doing things that we are not so good at or that cause us some fear or insecurity (at least at first). According to a study carried out by a group of psychologists, a little anxiety can be positive to improve our performance and allows us to continue growing professionally. Therefore, turn those situations that cause anxiety into stimulating situations and let no one stop you. Don’t call it nerves or insecurity, call it “excitement.”
2. Think about your style of doing things… and act in the opposite direction
Look for situations that may force you to leave your comfort zone. Experiment with dance styles that you would never associate with your way of being, get involved in creative projects that force you to think differently, to experience challenging contexts to adapt to. If you set out to manage these changes, and they are not excessively extreme, this will make you become more flexible and better accept variability and change.
3. Look for material changes in the things around you
To do new things that you are not used to, there is nothing like exposing yourself to new environments. Physically novel, literally. The key is to set the goal of exposing yourself to new situations, making the spaces in which you find yourself different.
Dare to change the way you dress or the decoration of your house, move around different environments and, of course, travel as much as you can or even go live somewhere else, even if it is for a while. This will achieve a similar effect on you as the previous tip, only in this case, instead of varying the situations whose meaning you would not associate with yourself, you will do the same with physical spaces.
4. Anticipate all the excuses you are going to make
Be aware that when you set goals that feel uncomfortable within your comfort zone, Unconsciously you will be looking for a lot of excuses not to do it Judge these excuses for what they are: inventions whose sole purpose is to rationalize the acceptance of convenience.
5. Expose yourself more to meeting new people
Don’t you like talking to people? Force yourself to do it, even if your body doesn’t ask you to The dialogue does not have to be perfect, nor does it have to be for people to get the best image of you. By acting naturally everything will flow as it should, and it will be fun to see how easily interactions with others can work if you don’t think very carefully about what you are saying.
6. Get your friends and family to cooperate
If the people in your immediate environment know that you want to get out of your comfort zone, they will help you achieve it and perhaps prepare a “surprise” for you. In the same way, When you take the initiative and undertake new and exciting projects, they will support you and probably show you signs of support or admiration which will serve as reinforcement.
7. Give your spiritual side a chance
Do you know the benefits of meditation or Mindfulness philosophy? There are habits that manage to improve our mood and free us from many beliefs that anchor us in our comfort zone. Develop a spiritual self andIt is one of the most practical ways to achieve emotional well-being capable of putting an end to routine life You can start by reading this collection of Buddhist phrases, perhaps they will inspire you.
