Tag: comfort zone

DO NOT LET THIS CONTROL YOU! ðŸ˜³

Many people I speak with have an outlook that puzzles me. When I tell them I am attempting some charity raising run, or obstacle course, they lol confused. Many times they ask if I am doing this on purpose. When I explain that I am working on my fourth book while working 45-50 hours a week at my day job and as a DJ on Sunday, they tell me “they could never do that.” On a rare day off, when I still go to the gym, they tell me they would be resting.

One of their arguments is that nobody could get them to do it. My response is nobody should have to, you should! They wonder why they should try to do a race, or push their body physically. They believe there is no way that they will attempt anything that makes them uncomfortable. This holds true whether that uncomfortable feeling is physical or emotional. They can’t grasp why it would be a good idea to do so.

Here is why. When you do not dare to push yourself, you become shackled to your comfort zone. “That’s not so bad.” You might think. At least your comfortable, right? Let us be honest. It is a lot more comfortable to sit on the couch eating pizza and watching Netflix than to go out in the cold to the gym and grind through a workout. Guess who is going to be uncomfortable a few years from now when they are out of shape and can’t make it up the stairs without help from a sherpa?

It is not just the physical. When you are afraid to do anything that takes you out of your comfort zone, it becomes your master. This can be extremely difficult as the brain is hard-wired to seek comfort and safety. This can kill you. Not only physically as we saw above, but it can kill your spirit. Not living a life that is fulfilling is spiritual suicide.

To discover your true life’s purpose, and live a life you are in love with, will require you to step outside of your comfort zone. Let me tell you that creating this blog took me outside of my comfort zone. Writing my first book, and with Margie pushing me, promoting it, also took me out of my comfort zone. On my first podcast episode my voice was shaky and nervous. I’m sure it sounded the same the day I went from behind the bar, to behind the microphone to become a DJ.

None of these things make me nervous now, but they required me to leave my comfort zone initially. I would have never have touched all the people I have. I never would have dated the beautiful woman I am with and I never discovered the talents that were inside me. Step outside your comfort zone. As the quote says above, “Not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.“

I’M DOING WHAT?!😲

Today I am doing something that I like to do every year, I am going to run a 5K. This may not sound too crazy. Especially to any of my friends who are runners. Let me explain, I do not fit into that category. My body is better equipped to cheer on runners than do any of the running myself. This is exactly why I do it. It is important to test and push yourself.

This year will be a little bit different than the last 5 years I have done this run. In addition to my asthma, and the fear of hyperventilating, I am only 6 months removed from open heart surgery. Some people think I am crazy, but I am excited to not give up on the idea of self-improvement due to a set back like heart surgery.

I am not advocating being foolish with your health. My doctor advised me to listen to my body. There is a certain growth and self-realization that only comes when you push yourself and become uncomfortable. There is also a feeling of pride and accomplishment when you complete the task.

Think of ways in which you can push yourself, and step outside of your comfort zone. Think of ways you have done this in the past. What growth came out of that?