Getting out of your comfort zone can be challenging.  It easy to live in the status quo.  Below are six tips for stepping outside your box and expanding your comfort zone.

Try these 6 Tips:

  1. First and foremost, you will make mistakes  Change the way you think about mistakes.  They are not failures, they are learning opportunities.  If you will treat them as such it will make expanding your comfort zone that much easier.
  2. Start with a smaller step. I am a firm believer in “just do it” but I also believe that when you can accomplish a smaller step first, it keeps you motivated.  You know – you must learn to walk before you run.
  3. Consult with others and ask for help. You need encouragers, mentors and friends to help you along the way.  We don’t always like to ask for help but if you want out of your comfort zone, I encourage you to seek out others who have accomplished what you want and some cheerleaders to remind you that you will get there.
  4. Try more than one method to get out of your comfort zone. There is always more than one way to accomplish something.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again and again!
  5. Remember getting out of your comfort zone is a journey and, like any other journey, it’s a process. Trust in the process, learn from it and keep moving forward.
  6. Accept that there will be fear. Sit with it.  Remember it is that voice in your head that wants to stay in its comfort zone and keep things they way they have always been. That voice in your head always wants to argue with you and tell you every reason why you can’t or shouldn’t.  Shut her down.  She will get used t the new comfort zone soon enough.

Recently we accepted the challenge of indoor rock climbing at The Crag Nashville.  It was a big step outside of my comfort zone.  I’m not a fan or heights, falling or broken fingernails.  I can’t say it wasn’t scary.  I had to talk myself through many of the steps above while on my way to conquering the fear I felt.  So worth it; we had a blast.

Over 50 Somethings stepping outside our comfort zone!

This week

Do one thing that takes you out of your comfort zone and try the steps above.  Would love to know how it goes.

 

Kim

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