A study stated that 70% of people avoid any sort of challenge that brings them discomfort. Where challenges arise, learning happens. Many of us spend our whole lives staying within our comfort zones, never subjecting ourselves to a challenge that might force us to step out of our self-established safety bubble. 

The uncomfortable zone is where magic happens. Want to start a business? Get out there and find investors. There’s always an element of risk involved. This goal can never be achieved while staying within our comfort zone. It’s the place where people put their all into achieving what they can. 

In this article, we’ll be focusing on why and how achieving our goals can only happen if we stay out of our comfort zone and make things happen. Discomfort is the key to success! Embrace the chaos, face the obstacles and you’ll definitely find gold.

The psychology of comfort zone

Behaviorally, the comfort zone is a state in which an individual uses a small number of activities to maintain a constant level of performance, typically without feeling risky while operating in an anxiety-neutral state. There is little motivation for people to achieve at higher levels when they are in their comfort zone. People follow risk-free habits here, which stops them from making progress. 

Once a person steps into the discomfort zone, it triggers the brain adaptation process. When we engage with new challenges, we’re able to build different connections that activate learning. It also leads to neuroplasticity where our brain solves problems and functions in a way that is different from how it used to do. 

Many business tycoons and successful people all have one thing in common. They got out of their comfort zone and embraced their creativity to form new ideas. They were able to take on any task that challenged their learning and helped them grow in new ways. 

Why do people avoid discomfort?

There are many reasons why people avoid discomfort, some of them include:

  • Fear of Failure: When fear takes hold of our minds, we are unable to make any decisions. We are rational beings but once fear controls us, we forget all our decision-making skills and focus on the fear. Since getting into the discomfort zone requires some risk-taking, fear steps in and demolishes that thought instantly. It influences us to not take any risks. It is our fear of failure that gets us to stop making any informed decisions.
  • Immediate Gratification: Many of us prefer getting short-term rewards over long-term growth. This results in many individuals avoiding the discomfort zone and being happy with what they’re getting within a short.
  • Cultural Factors: This is where the fear of failure originates from. We don’t take risks because even the idea of failing is discouraged by our societal norms. We are afraid of what people will think if we fail. It’s that thought that forces many individuals to stop making decisions that involve risk-taking.

Benefits of embracing the uncomfortable zone

  • Development of a growth mindset

People who have a fixed mindset think they have a maximum amount of each talent and a set dosage for each. Criticism becomes a deadly blow to self-esteem, and failure exposes inferiority. Developing a growth mindset is closely linked to purposefully stepping outside your comfort zone. The growth mindset opens up possibilities, whereas the fixed mindset confines us to our fear of failing. It encourages us to grow and take calculated chances, which has a good impact on many areas of our lives.

  • Professional development

When we step out of our comfort zone, we explore a world beyond our imagination. It is full of risks and obstacles that lead to many accomplishments. However, it does help us form many skills like problem-solving, creativity, and leadership skills. These help us navigate our professional lives and boost our careers. We experience amazing professional development that enhances our chances of success and freedom. 

  • Social Connections

This is also the time when we’re more open to deeper connections. Our mind has the freedom to think beyond social judgments and societal norms. We are secure in our ability to think, feel, and connect with others. This is when we’re our most vulnerable and authentic. It builds a deeper connection for us to form long-lasting bonds that we can fully immerse ourselves in. 

How to step into the uncomfortable zone?

  1. Start small: You can begin your journey by starting out small. Take on small challenges that will help you build confidence. These challenges will reassure you that you can definitely achieve things. 

  2. Set clear goals: Starting something new and challenging should be worth it if the goals are meaningful. They should be well-set and clear for you to achieve them. You can even add on personal growth for a sense of motivation. These objectives should be well worth the struggle so you can move in your personal growth.

  3. Seek support: It is important to seek help from coaches, professionals, and mentors to achieve your goals. Such support is important when it comes to being successful in your professional life.
     
  4. Practice self-compassion: It’s okay if you went through a failure. It is completely natural to fail when you’re progressing towards personal and professional growth. It all comes down to how well you treat yourself when things start becoming difficult. Be kind to yourself so you can slowly build the confidence that will help you achieve your major goals.

  5. Experiment with micro-adventures: You can engage in activities like public speaking or other new hobbies that will challenge your comfort zone. These will prepare you for the outside world and how you can deal with obstacles when they arrive.

Conclusion:

Personal growth can only happen if one gets out of their comfort zone and is always ready to take on risks and challenges. Leave all the judgments behind and get on the high road. Growth can only happen if there’s an element of discomfort to it. It all comes down to finding what works for you and moving from there!

God bless

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