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Are Your Comfort Zones Holding You Back?
As creatures of habit, we find great comfort in engaging in a pattern of what feels natural and familiar. At the same time, however, our desires often change; we make new goals, gain new dreams, and develop new passions. But with this desire for change comes reluctance to take the actions needed to move along a new path – to change the status quo – and we may often feel stuck.
We begin to try to perceive our ability to make any kind of change and judge ourselves, typically in subtle ways that can build into a powerful influence over our actions.
We may tell ourselves the following:
“I am overwhelmed and don’t have time.”
“It has to be perfect.”
“I can’t do this.”
“I should….”
“I need to….”
“I will never be able to change.”
Powerful thoughts such as these can cause us immediately to retreat to our comfort zones.
What are comfort zones?
It is natural and normal for human beings to drift toward comfort. Most of us return over and over again to what is familiar or routine, easily falling into comfortable habits that over time can create a sense of complacency and boredom – essentially very little growth of ourselves, better known as entropy or decay. The Bigger Game examines the places where comfort zones can distract from what we want our life to be about. Comfort zones are neither “good” or “bad,” they are just comfort zones; because after all, we are just human. Here is the key question to ask: “Is this comfort zone serving me and/or my Bigger Game or not serving me or my game?” There is no judgment attached to our comfort zones, but the key to a successful Bigger Game is to be aware of our comfort zones – unexamined comfort zones can cost us our own success.
“The Bigger Game” refers to an innovative model based on the belief that we all hunger for a fulfilling life – a life filled with meaning and purpose – for ourselves and for the people around us.
Note: Description of The Bigger Game used with permission from It’s All Made Up, Inc. – www.biggergame.com
Take Action
Comfort zones exist in every area in our lives. The key is to be aware of them and examine which comfort zones may not be serving our current goals. Which comfort zones are preventing you from creating change?
In order to determine the answers to these questions, first, explore your comfort zones. Then, determine the solution to feeling stuck in your routine. Are you willing to move beyond the known into the unknown? Is the change you desire worth the discomfort of leaving what is familiar? No one can answer these questions but you. Most importantly, never underestimate the power of your intuition – what is your gut telling you?
Related "ripples" you might enjoy:
- What Are You Waiting For? 4 Steps to Begin Taking Bold Action
- How to Find Joy at Work
- Choosing a Different Road
- Find Your Links and Feel Good
- 10 Simple Truths For Living a Life You Love
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 5:51 pm and is filed under Goals & Productivity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
7 Responses to “Are Your Comfort Zones Holding You Back?”
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It’s like you read my mind today lol ;)
I am feeling exactly that, my fiance and I are in the process of trying to move to north Florida and I am feeling anxious and excited at the same time. Anxious because I have never been more than 20 mins away from my parents before.
Thank you so much for posting this Carolyn, I will definitely sleep on this action point “Are you willing to move beyond the known into the unknown? Is the change you desire worth the discomfort of leaving what is familiar?”
Twitter: carolynr
says:
So happy that this post clicked for you :). You are going through a difficult transition – lots of comfort zones are changing.
When thinking about your comfort zone(s), you can also try to focus on how you can maintain elements of the comfort zone that will serve you moving forward. It’s so easy to get into “all-or-nothing” mode – which can be pretty self-defeating. So you can think about positive ways to maintain your connection with your family – and focus on the positive elements you’re going to add to this comfort zone vs. solely the elements you’re losing.
Let me know if you come up with any other “aha” reactions when taking on this action!
Thanks for replying to my comment :)
What you said makes sense, I am definitely going to have a one to one with my family about it, they know that I want to move but Dad not too sure about (I’m a daddy’s girl lol)
Your the best Carolyn! :)
I enjoyed reading this, as always. We need to take risk and go out of our confort zone every once in awhile :~)
you rock!!!
Twitter: carolynr
says:
cheers to taking risks!
[...] The Bigger Game [...] referenced by Himmel & Ord
Hi Carolyn,
Just thinking about comfort zones myself today. It is hard to push myself out of mine. I’m a turtle, I move incrementally, gathering my courage slowly. I do move inexorably toward my goals, however, which are generally outside societal norms, and so do cause reactions among my family, and inside myself at times. But I embrace change, keep taking the risks, and keep pushing myself slowly but surely.
I enjoy your blog so much I’ve give you the Sunshine Award for positivity and creativity. ;-) http://insanelyserene.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/the-sunshine-award/
Best,
Linda