How to Get out of the Box

“If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.” – Les Brown

Continuing with the idea of getting out of your comfort zone from yesterday’s coverage of “Quit Getting Comfortable… Explore The Edge,” we’re going to get to the HOW. Colan and Cottrell are nice enough to offer up a list of questions to help prepare us for getting uncomfortable, as well as some suggestions for when we actually make the leap over the edge.

Who else has done it? – You may think you’re in unexplored territory, but it’s unlikely that you’re trying something no one else has ever tried… someone else has been at that very same edge. That person can help support you, prepare you, and encourage you to win.

Can I dip my toe in first? – No one says you have to hurl yourself headlong into every new endeavor. Try it out first. Start small… After a while, what was once the edge [becomes] your comfort zone as you [build] your competence – and competence builds confidence.

How bad can it be? – Often, the fear in your mind paints a darker picture of things outside your comfort zone than is really the case. Remember, the victory is the exploration itself more than the success of your attempt. Thomas Edison said, “Genius? Nothing! Sticking to it is the genius. I’ve failed my way to success.”

How great can it be? – Your dreams are usually bigger than your comfort zone. You must be so passionate about your dream that instead of feeling that you have to leave your comfort zone, you are magnetically drawn to the edge.

Need some personal examples before you ask any of these questions of yourself? No problem. The perfect answer from me regarding the first question would be the blatantly obvious, Teaching in Korea. I wasn’t the first of my friends to head across the Pacific for a year. I had a handful of girls who had been and had a great time. They gave me tips, assuaged my fears and I ended up working with the same recruitment company one of them had had such success with. I know I’m with a great program and won’t be getting scammed like in the horror stories. What about starting small? I’ve mentioned my 30 Days of Good Habits before, and believe me, after a couple of years without working out regularly, getting back into it was intimidating. Trying foods I had before detested, also intimidating. Little steps and little bites. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time. (Although, I in no way suggest you literally eat an elephant at all.) What if whatever I’m trying to do is horrendous and ends in disaster? My friend, Kevin, owns Pirate’s Cove Car Wash and he is always telling me to think about that question. How bad can it really be? “At the end of the day, if you’re alive, fed, and have a place to stay then things can’t really be that bad.” He has this great way of putting everything into perspective and saying exactly what you need to hear, for good or ill. So if you’re having a crappy day, think about it and take an optimist’s point of view.

Hopefully, you get the idea by now. I really hope I don’t have to paint a picture of how awesome your dreams could be if you actually put work into making them happen. Think about smiling every day and you’ll probably be close enough to imagine the rest.

Still feeling uncomfortable about leaving your favorite spot, habit, routine? The authors give you three bits of advice:
1. Take comfort in your discomfort.
2. Study those who can beat you.
3. Set your sights high.

“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree

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