Identify what is holding you back

 When we think about our comfort zone, we think of what makes us feel protected, safe and secure. But i challenge you to look at it differently. What if you saw your comfort zone as everything you’re afraid to lose? Our comfort zone is a collection of people, places, jobs, homes and life situations that we are afraid to lose. Even if they are not what we want to lose. It represents our safest option currently available to us. How many times have you thought about changing your job and the main reason you decided to was because your current situation represents “safety” or smaller chance of pain or failure. How many times have you considered leaving that relationship or friendship? Do you fear loneliness? Or unknown? Take stock of your current comfort zone. Let’s look at all those things. Typically, you know would not give up unless you had something In Place to leap into. Grab the notebook and start writing a list of all the things that are in your life that represents protection from pain and discomfort. But, don’t make you feel empowered or happy. Then next to each item, write down what the best case would be if you knew you couldn’t fail.  The brain likes consistency, it likes the familiar and likes to protect us. So often you will find yourself holding onto something that is not ideal or just straight up toxic for you if the alternative is the unknown. Take relationships for example. People who love being in a relationship and hate the idea of being single are likely to stay in a relationship that is unhealthy for them. Being being single and not knowing what is out there feels threatening, scary and risky. I know from my own experience. Would you consider it the safety zone? It’s that whole concept of better the devil you know we see this with jobs all the time. Can be daunting experience. At end of the day for most people, security trumps adventure. But what if I told you that you already have the resources to overcome that fear that currently lies? What if you knew you could leave that situation behind, because you can grow into something new? After reading this you will discover that you are capable. The problem is that the less adventure we take, the more we lock ourselves into the place of “security”. But the truth is nothing is guaranteed in life. We live in a constant state of flux, and so do all our relationships and life situations. And change will happen wether or not you change. If you live in safe life trying to make fewer efforts, and still find yourself in a situation where you get hurt. The idea of comfort zone is often is false and misleading because the more we attach ourselves to needing safety the more we focus on how fragile we are. We engage in behaviour that is more productive and less advantageous. Why? Because you cut off from being resilient and driven by growth. The more you get out of your comfort zone the more you have out grown your past self. 

Written by Lori from Lifesuccessnz