How to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

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If there’s one place that feels safe and warm to hang out in, it’s your comfort zone.

Life is usually so uncertain, that it’s only natural to want to stay inside of your comfort zone.

Although you may be out of harm’s way in the comfort zone, you might be missing out on other things like self-growth and finding your true calling.

Taking risks and doing things that feel uncomfortable may be difficult, but they are crucial to evolving as a person.

If you are ready to ditch the comfort zone and discover who you are on the outside of it, here are some tips for you!

Tips to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

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Don’t step outside of your comfort zone alone

There is strength in numbers, especially when you are doing something that scares you.

Having a trusted friend there as you navigate the unknown provides you with a sense of comfort, security, and it can even help boost your confidence.

For example, if it’s outside of your comfort zone to attend a local meetup for business owners, invite a friend to tag along!

Having a friend could help serve as a buffer and might make conversations with strangers a little easier.

However, be mindful that you aren’t relying too much on your friend and you still are able to put yourself out there.

Discover why you have been playing it safe

Why have you been staying within your comfort zone in the first place? Is it because you have failed in the past?

Do you not believe you are worthy of all the good on the other side?

Are you nervous about who you may become?

Getting to the root of why you haven’t left the comfort zone in the first place can help you move past it.

Turn your nervousness or fear into a more positive emotion

Doing something new and treading in uncharted waters might bring up feelings of nervousness or fear.

These are normal emotions because they are just trying to keep you safe in an uncertain situation.

Instead of focusing on these feelings, turn them into something more positive. Convince yourself that the nervousness is really just excitement.

Transform fear into a deep knowing that there are possibilities for growth out there.

Release control of the outcome

As much as you may want to be, you cannot 100% control the outcome of anything in your life.

Stepping outside your comfort zone is one of those things where you can’t guarantee a specific outcome will come to fruition.

Go into the situation with a positive mindset, but release that control of the outcome. This will actually help you feel more present and at peace.

Expect to improve over time

Everything new is a little rocky and uncomfortable at first. That’s okay!

Think about when you learned to ride a bike or went live on Instagram for the first time. It wasn’t perfect, you may be fell down or messed up a few times, but you survived.

Each time you put yourself out there, it will get easier and you’ll improve.

Start small, and break your goal down into attainable chunks

If your overall goal is to do a TEDx Talk but you currently hate public speaking, then that big goal might feel overwhelmingly daunting.

You won’t just step outside your comfort zone and onto a TEDx stage; you’ll start small and break that goal down into manageable steps.

Maybe you’ll give a short speech to a few family members. Then you’ll share with a classroom of students. Then you might go on and present at a convention or event.

Overcoming each level will continually boost your confidence until you reach your overall goal.

Take time for self-reflection

Day to day, you might not notice a change within yourself.

However, if you look back a month, a year, or a few years, you’ll see just how much you have grown.

Use this growth to motivate you to continue doing the things that make you feel uncomfortable.

Through the discomfort, you will continue to evolve as a person.

﹥ Related Read: Why You Should Make Time for Self-Reflection

Remember to celebrate the little wins

Recognizing the small moments that move you towards your goals is so important.

Whenever you take one small step outside of your comfort zone, it should be celebrated!

That small step will lead to another and to another until you are the person you’ve been wanting to become.

Every time you choose to celebrate these little wins, you will feel a bit more confident and motivated to keep going.

Go easy on yourself

Putting pressure on yourself and setting an unrealistic timeline really will not help you. Remember that you are only human.

You are going to make mistakes and revert back to your comfort zone sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with that.

You can always change your patterns or habits.

You can make new choices that get you back on track.

Give yourself lots of grace here and trust that any bumps in the road are just part of your journey.

Keep the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone at the forefront of your mind

Doing things that are uncomfortable can be stressful, scary, and downright difficult.

Because of this, make sure to focus on the benefits.

You might discover yourself and your true purpose.

You could meet new people that might change your life.

You are bound to grow as a person and further develop your strengths.

Focus on all of these positive outcomes instead of the negative ones.

Final Thoughts

Think of your comfort zone as a bubble that keeps you safe.

Although nothing bad happens within the bubble, there is no room for growth and improvement there.

If you want to live an average life, the comfort zone is a fine place to be.

However; if you want to break free and live an extraordinary life, you have to step outside of your comfort zone.

That is where pure joy and growth live. It’s all available to you.

Take these tips on how to step outside your comfort zone and implement them in your own life.

One step at a time can lead you to the life of your dreams!