| Fact: A certain amount
of change is crucial to reaching your potential. You may know a bit
about evolutionary development: organisms that adapt most successfully
are most likely to survive. While our daily routine may not consist
of life and death decisions, stepping out of our comfort zone every
now and then can keep us evolving to the next stage of our own personal
development.
What’s so great about evolution anyway?
You might be thinking, “personal development?
What’s the big deal?” And you wouldn’t be alone.
Most South Asians are uncomfortable with anything that remotely resembles
psychology or self help. In general, we are much more concerned with
our level of success and achievement, than overall happiness and balance.
In some ways, our cultural background values achievement more than
bliss. As a result, our family might try to keep us from changing
and moving to a different rhythm, even when our individual hearts
demand it.
My friend Shika* is a great example of this: Shika is incredibly
intelligent, multi-talented, and probably could be successful at anything
she decided to pursue. From an early age, though, she was funneled
towards the pre-med track, even though she found arts and literature
more interesting. To please her parents, she dutifully completed all
her pre-med courses and applied to medical school. She got through
medical school and then began looking for fellowships. What she noticed,
though, was that she was much happier when she was dancing or reading
than she was when she was practicing medicine. Shika began to seek
out ways to incorporate her love of the arts into her daily life-
and into her medical practice. When she shared her thoughts with her
mother, Shika’s mother told her to focus on finding a husband
and that she would be silly to waste her medical education.
So Shika was left with a choice. She could deny the
desires of her heart or she could risk stepping out of her comfort
zone. She decided to take small steps toward her goals. Shika began
by signing up for regular dance lessons, dialoguing with local artists
and dancers in her community, and considering wellness clinics aimed
at dancers and other performing artists. All together, she decided
that her desires were worth pursuing- even when they seemed impossible
and nobody seemed to understand. Shika began to step out of her comfort
zone and made the choice to change.
The same choice is presented to each of us on a regular basis. We
always have a choice to do things the ‘same old way’ or
try something new. If you do what you have always done, you will get
what you have always gotten. If your life is exactly the way you want
it, congratulations. Keep doing more of whatever you’re doing.
If, though, there are at least a few places where you want more out
of your life, it’s time to reach past your comfort zone and
go after what you really want.
Healthy tips for Stepping out of your Comfort Zone
1) Start small. Many changes are easier
to make when you start small. It doesn’t matter what you do,
but even a small change could make a big difference. Starting small
gives you time to make adjustments to increase your chances of success.
2) Try “Different Day”. “Different Day”
(like it sounds) is a day in which you consciously perform activities
‘differently’ than how you normally would. So, for example,
you’d get up on the other side of the bed, you’d eat a
new food for breakfast, and you’d travel a new route to work.
You might buy a shockingly different item of clothing, or you go out
of your way to meet some new people. All these small changes can be
a great way to beat boredom and routine. Plus, they’re fun.
3) Speak up for yourself a little more often. Sometimes
we get stuck in boring jobs and unhappy routines because we aren’t
speaking up and asking for what we really want. The remedy? Speak
up and ask for what you’d really like.
4) Try out a new hobby or after work activity.
Bellydancing? Rock-climbing? Public speaking? Cooking? Anything that
interests you is fair game. Not only will this get you out of the
house, but you might discover a passion or talent.
5) Revisit your life goals. When your life
has become too familiar, it’s time to revisit your goals and
see if you’re on the way to meeting them. It may be that you’ve
met all your goals and need new ones or perhaps your current goals
just don’t interest you anymore. This is okay! There is a natural
process to grow and change, and if you’re bored and restless
then it’s time to do so.
Finally, be gentle with yourself. You didn’t
get into this rut overnight and you probably won’t get out of
it overnight either. However, consistent implementation of small changes
will move you forward--closer to the life you really desire (and deserve!).
A little discomfort now will bring you many rewards later. Those rewards
are the best reason of all to move out of your comfort zone. Start
today.
*Name changed to protect a comfort zone.
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