Comfort Zone

This week’s Mental Sunshine is all about your comfort zone.

It’s nice to be comfortable, right?

So we could all be forgiven for thinking that if we stay within our comfort zone, that’s guaranteed to bring Mental Sunshine our way.

Actually, the opposite is true.

When we stay within our comfort zone, it shrinks around us.

When we do something that takes us out of our comfort zone, that stretches us. It stretches the comfort zone, makes it bigger. And allows our lives to be bigger in the process.

A good example is people who don’t like interacting with new people.

I don’t like it; it makes me feel uncomfortable; I’m not going to do it.

At first, the removal of that pressure to make conversation might feel better; we might avoid putting ourselves in that sort of situation, and feel better for it.

But pretty soon, we’re out of the habit of speaking to new people.

Going to the supermarket feels more difficult now, because we’re not used to speaking to anyone who’s not in our immediate family or small group of friends.

And now there’s a social event we can’t avoid… and we’re really out of practice, and we’re feeling really nervous about going…

Here’s an alternative scenario:

I don’t like interacting with new people; it makes me feel uncomfortable… but I read this Mental Sunshine email from John, so I’ll go to that thing I’m avoiding…

It’s uncomfortable at first, and I don’t like it.

But perhaps I meet an interesting new person.

Perhaps I have a really great conversation with someone.

Perhaps I meet a new business contact, or someone recommends a guy who can help with my garden fence problem.

Perhaps someone tells a really funny joke, and I really enjoy laughing with the people around me.

I go home feeling pleased with myself for stepping out of my comfort zone, and fulfilled by having had some social interaction.

The next time the opportunity arises, I’m not so apprehensive.

And going to the supermarket might even be fun!

We all have days where we really don’t fancy doing anything difficult or new. And that’s fine.

But I always find that if I step out of my comfort zone, even if what follows is a disaster, I’m proud of myself for trying it.

Picture your comfort zone as a really over protective parent who’s trying to prevent you getting hurt - but in the process, they’re stopping you from doing anything fun either!

Don’t let them hold you back!

Do the scary thing this week - and then come and let me know how it goes!