Much of life takes place in our comfort zone. To survive, we need to be safe and protected. We naturally enjoy creature comforts. We also have routines to give us a sense of order and predictability.
But if we spend too much time in the comfort zone, it becomes a waiting room. Then time passes mindlessly and we live more on the surface of life.
Risk Taking
Granted different people tolerate different levels of risk. Some are more server types and may smooth things over in their affable ways. Others are more warrior types, and thrive on risk and confrontation. Regardless of where you fall naturally on the spectrum, you still have a balance between safety and risk, the familiar and the new.
If you get too comfortable, you settle. As Abraham Maslow noted, “One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again.”
Your Adventurous Zones
Holistically, there is an adventure zone for your body, emotions and mind.
For example, for your body you can explore different exercises and exercise equipment. For your emotions, you can clear stuck emotions with modalities like holistic EFT. For your mind you can read a new book or take a new training.
And for spirit, be present and watch what happens.
Know Where You Are
The comfort zone is characterized by …
safety and security
the known
the predictable
ease
habit
in seeming control
automatic
The adventure zone is characterized by …
risk, challenge and sometimes danger
the unknown
the new and novel
inspiration
growth
discovery
Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone
By our forties, we left our familiar secure jobs of architect (Jane) and school teacher (Phillip). Staying comfortable was “burning us out,” in other words, using up our life force unproductively.
Settling for the familiar grew increasingly restrictive, till it felt like a stranglehold on our growth and soul.
That led us to the life we continue to explore today, continuing to go deeper into holistic coaching, healing and the field of personal transformation.
Questions to ask
Where do you feel your life is too routine and boring?
What’s one thing you can do today that is different and exciting?
Wherever you feel stuck, ask “what else is possible?”
What if you were to smile at the next person you meet or think about?
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this article has helped you know about the function and boundaries of your comfort zone and the wondrous beyond.
Once you sense where you are and where you want to go, you can venture out taking calculated risks. You can follow some intuitive hunches.
The adventurous zone is filled with possibility, creativity and more…
Welcome to the adventure zone. You can enter at any time, just by going out of patterns like holding your breath for a few moments and slowly exhaling.
Or maybe you can use your non-dominant hand to shave, vacuum, brush your hair or pick something up.
And you can start now if you choose.