Venturing into the land of uncertainty beyond your comfort zone is a topic I have written about many times. But I have had an important realization recently.
The realization that maybe the mystical idea of a comfort zone is more nuanced. Maybe the comfort zone can take many forms. Maybe we all have several distinct comfort zones.
For different aspects of life, people have different thresholds and boundaries that mark what is comfortable and what will be uncomfortable.
Categories of your comfort zone
The three main classes I have landed on are physical, social, and behavioral. There are likely many more (like these), but these three suffice as starting points.
Physical
Physically leaving your comfort zone means doing things that bring about new, unknown, or potentially unpleasant physical feelings and sensations.
Taking ice baths, trying new flavors, or going for a new personal record in the mile all challenge your physical comfort zone.
Social
Your social comfort zone is how okay you are with putting yourself in vulnerable positions with others.
Introducing yourself to new people at an event, talking in front of others, and having difficult conversations are ways to expand social comfort levels.
Behavioral
Now this topic is a bit trickier and goes deeper. Leaving your behavioral comfort zone means doing things that you may normally avoid.
The avoidance may not be for social or physical reasons but rather due to a mental block around an activity. Because of this, it involves a level of mental discomfort as well.
Fears are a good example that fall within this category. A fear affects your behavior but originates in a belief or mental stance toward something.
Leaving your behavioral comfort zone is typically a matter of exposure to things you may intentionally avoid.
Why this matters
I know from personal experience that I am quite willing to leave my physical comfort zone but more reluctant to leave it behaviorally.
Even within the same category, I am willing to dive into some new behaviors yet struggle with others.
I know there is immense value in leaving my comfort zone. But this doesn’t mean I am always perfectly willing to do it. The larger point is that there can be a disconnect between knowing something is good for you and actually doing it.
This happens because we are human, and we aren’t perfect. However, specific knowledge of where you struggle and can grow is the first major step in the process of taking strides forward.
I’ve found that leaving my comfort zone is most beneficial when I consider the reasons for my hesitation. Understanding my deeper thoughts and reasons for reluctance uncovers some interesting findings.
It might just be the best way I’ve found to learn about myself and decide where to take action and grow. It isn’t a perfect or linear path, but it allows me to be honest with myself and carry forth in a more personalized way.
Thank you so much for reading! Please share with others who may benefit! 🙂
