Do you step outside your comfort zone or do you expand what’s in your comfort zone? This has been the debate raging in my head for the past several days. It may be a glass half full or half empty argument but doesn’t your perspective on that make all the difference? Isn’t there a big difference between half full and half empty people even though the glass looks exactly the same?
I think if we all made that little tweak about our comfort zone we would be able to achieve so much more. It just feels easier to expand what’s comfortable than to step outside it. Sure the result is probably the same – more self confidence, a sense of discovery, feeling like you could conquer the world – but how much more often would you do it?
Would you take that risk, ask that question, try that new thing if all you are doing is expanding your comfort zone? Would you do it more often it that’s how your mind thought about it?
Let me share a personal example with you. Last weekend I attended the monthly Colorado meeting of the National Speakers Association. Now, this is an association that has to approve your membership. Some local celebs like Steve Spangler and Colleen Stanley (well known in our little circles) show up regularly. The focus of this weekend’s meeting was humor and using humor to connect with your audience. At the beginning of the meeting the two fabulous presenters said that they would be sharing their insights with us and then asking for volunteers to come up on stage do a 3-minute bit from one of their speeches and then they would provide feedback on how to make it funnier. My heart beats just thinking about it. The thought of standing on stage in front of expert speakers, people that I only know from TV and all those judging eyes….no freakin way. I speak all the time but speaking to speakers is another thing! I will pretty much do anything but that was just too much. I mean, these are people that travel the world, make bucko bucks and are known…..yikes!
Well, Colleen Stanley – founder of Sales Leadership for all you needing sales help out there – nudged me and said, “of course you are going to do it.” My first thought was to run into the bathroom, lock the door and wait for everyone to leave the building. I can’t sit for 8 hours so that wasn’t an option. At first I thought no way am I doing something that out of my comfort zone. But then I caught myself. Instead I thought, well if I do this I’m simply expanding my comfort zone. When I put it that way to myself it didn’t seem so bad. So, I put my name in the hat and hoped for the best.
Don’t get me wrong, I was totally nervous but after I got up there and did my bit I felt awesome with a capital A. Now I can add speaking to my mentors and peers as something inside my comfort zone. Just call me Captain Fearless.
The next time your heart starts to beat a little faster or you catch yourself saying no to something out of fear or turning you back on a risk, ask yourself why. Ask yourself if you are thinking about this in terms of stepping outside your comfort zone or expanding what’s in your comfort zone.
Tell yourself that all you are doing is expanding what’s in your comfort zone. You’ll find that it makes the leap a little less scary.
I bet the latter statement will help you become Captain Fearless for a few moments each day.
Dream Big. Dream often. Stick your tongue out in the snow!
Tues. @10am MST on Imaginibbles Blog Radio, Sara Ortiz from Creativity On A Mission stops by for a chat
Tags: achieving dreams, attracting energy, creative exercises, dream, imagination, imaginibbles, outside comfort zone, overcoming fears, right brain, risk taking, speaking in public, stepping outside comfort zone, tamara kleinberg, the universe, trust yourself, unleashing yourself, vision
PERFECT timing! Thanks for making it seem so do-able!