{"id":24141,"date":"2014-02-04T21:12:56","date_gmt":"2014-02-05T05:12:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=24141"},"modified":"2014-02-05T20:39:34","modified_gmt":"2014-02-06T04:39:34","slug":"ultimate-guide-breaking-comfort-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-breaking-comfort-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

The comfort zone is the warm and fuzzy place where everything makes sense, and nothing is particularly challenging. But the comfort zone is also the place where nothing life changing happens, so if you\u2019re looking to move forward and make progress, you have to step outside of your comfort zone.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b>I believe that if you can consistently do this one thing, if you can consistently push your own boundaries and get uncomfortable<\/i><\/b>, you’ll continue to grow and you’ll continue to move forward in life. Every time you break out of your comfort zone, you move one step closer to your goals.<\/p>\n

Breaking Down the Different Zones<\/h1>\n

The Comfort Zone<\/h2>\n

The comfort zone is defined as \u201ca behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s break down that definition.<\/p>\n

The comfort zone uses a \u201climited set of behaviors\u201d and it delivers a \u201csteady level of performance\u201d.<\/p>\n

Neither of those are a formula for professional and personal growth.\u00a0 Using a limited set of behaviors means that you\u2019re not developing any new skills. When\u2019s the last time you saw someone make it to the top with same old skill set?<\/p>\n

And you\u2019ve probably never seen someone make it to the top with a steady level of performance. All the masters, and superstars continually improve<\/i><\/b>. That\u2019s what makes them great. The ones who give steady performances are the average people that don\u2019t get talked about, or even worse, they get forgotten all together.<\/p>\n

The Growth Zone<\/h2>\n

The growth zone is where the magic happens. This is that space just outside of your comfort zone where the goals are attainable, but only if you push yourself past your current limits.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that tension between what you can currently do and what you\u2019re capable of doing that really allows you to achieve amazing things in life.<\/p>\n

This is the zone you want to constantly operate in. This is the zone that\u2019s going to take you from where you are right now, and move you one step closer to your life\u2019s most important goals.<\/p>\n

The Panic Zone<\/h2>\n

The panic zone is on the opposite end of the spectrum to the comfort zone. In the comfort zone, you\u2019re \u201canxiety-neutral\u201d. In the panic zone you\u2019re, well, panicking.<\/p>\n

You know you\u2019re in this zone when you feel you\u2019re in way over your head. I\u2019m not talking about a little stretch here, I\u2019m talking about going from pitching at the local park to playing in the major leagues.<\/p>\n

You want to push yourself, but not to the point where the stress is preventing you from actually growing. It\u2019s a bit of a balancing act between the panic and growth zones, but if you feel you\u2019ve stepped out a little too far, don\u2019t be ashamed to admit it.<\/p>\n

How to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone<\/h1>\n

Start Small<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s okay to take baby steps here. Get a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish, and take small steps in that direction. The gradual change makes leaving the comfort zone easier.<\/p>\n

Understand That It\u2019s Okay To Fail<\/h2>\n

The main reason people have such a hard time stepping out of their comfort zone is that they\u2019re afraid. They\u2019re afraid of failing. They\u2019re afraid of stepping out into uncharted territory and landing flat on their face. They\u2019re afraid<\/p>\n

Failure is not fatal, and most of time it\u2019s a necessary step on the way to success. I\u2019ve come to embrace failure because I\u2019ve realized that I learn the most when I fail. I wouldn\u2019t be the person I am today had I not failed a thousand times along the way.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t shy away from failure, it\u2019ll build you up to be a better person.<\/p>\n

Have Faith<\/h2>\n

Look to past experiences for evidence of your ability to succeed in new and unfamiliar situations.<\/p>\n

Have confidence in your ability to learn new skills and adapt to changing environments. It\u2019s so much harder to break free from your comfort zone when you\u2019re constantly second guessing yourself and your abilities.<\/p>\n

Tony J. Robinson is the founder of DoReallyGood.com<\/a>, which is the place to go for the information and inspiration necessary to take your life\u2019s most important goals and make them a reality. You can pick up a copy of his free eBook, \u201c8 Killer Resources to Streamline Your Personal Development\u201d here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Photo credit:\u00a0mnapoleon<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Foter.com<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0CC BY<\/a><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

But the comfort zone is also the place where nothing life changing happens, so if you\u2019re looking to move forward and make progress, you have to step outside of your comfort zone. 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