Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone

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thanks for the “research”. this article is timely. to get what i have never had, i have to be willing to do what i have never done.
i am risking much to receive much, not for myself, but to be the example for others.

have fun in brazil…..drink lots of acai juice, enjoy the coffee, & have the experience of a lifetime.

During the first day of the Covey Leadership Program, Stephen Covey made the statement, “Life begins at the EDGE of your comfort zone” and I’ve never forgotten that.. Problem is I often find myself staying in my comfort zone, though I do venture out from time to time.

Most recently I attended a networking group meeting and came away from it enriched and inspired. It reminds me of one of the many funny parts of the Bill Murray film, “What about Bob”, where Richard Dreyfus’ book uses the baby steps method to heal. I think the similarity here is that if we take baby steps towards getting out of our comfort zone, we’ll experience Life.

Why point right in the eye almost all the time when you are writing those notes ?? =).
Routines all day long.
Scarry to do something new.
Have I done all already ? Done that, been there, got the t-shirt.

By no means dont think so.

When I look back, I can see I have come a longish way off the well-worn track.

Compared with some people I used to hang out with, I have gone a long way off that track.

A good place to check is to ask some trusted friends – they can tell where we’re still hugging tight to the shore!

kh

I like knowing you’re eating delicious puddings for me. I’ll eat less ice cream for you while you’re away.

Well – when I have been t foreign lands I go on delicious adventures, and meet locals and even if we don’t speak te same language – we adventure off and they show me parts of the area I may never have seen as a normal tourist.

Yep, Sao Paulo does take some aclimatizing to especially the 2pm thunderstorm and the traffic on rua augusta – the only way to get accross is by cab. Try a trip to santos – best port in the world say the merchant seamen. Or Guaraja where I saw Mick Jagger after carnival.
I personally love being out of my comfort zone – life would be so boring if there wasn’t a bit of fear now and again. Once anyone makes the initially plunge it’s fun – isn’t there a book ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’?

We start off, taking ourself seriously, with a lot of drama, see ourself as a hero and this rings between our ears:

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

Then we grow and move on and we then realise this:

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” -Mark Twain

Or is this not true for some of us?

kh

Interesting.. as far as comfort zone when traveling, I do look for whatever is local. As far as comfort zone for my life… yeah I can’t seem to break out of it. Yes I have the paycheck that pays most of the bills, I have the house… but I want more, so I know I need to break out. I WANT PROSPERITY.

Hey Randy,
First let me thank you for your willingness to ‘research’. L.O.L.
Second, man I have been hanging out in my comfort zone too much lately. And I actually have the nerve to ask why I haven’t gotten anything meaningful done lately. Because of some unsettling things happening in my life lately, I have been forced out of my comfort zone. Yay! Back to work!!

Love ya,
Luc The Opera Diva

OH tell me you did NOT seriously think about that McD’s, even for a second! We have a traveling rule in our family – no chains unless there is NOTHING else and we are desperate.

Traveling is a great way to bust out of that comfort zone!

Enjoy.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Hey Randy! Sounds great- I’m so proud that you admitted to thinking about going to McDonald’s- hilarious!

While you’re in Brazil, get a Caipirinha with “CACHACA” (pronounced ka-SHA-sa)- delicious!

Randy

I just did what you did. I just got home this week from a trip to 12 countries in 7 months on my own. Many times I had friends to stay with but of course I was sightseeing on my own a lot so I had to be brave and order on my own many, many times. It definitely forced me to be outside my comfort zone! It was a great experience for me and I deliberately set up my trip that way because I knew that I had been living in a comfort zone for way, way too long. Now that I’m back, I’m looking to do things differently – I’ve already joined a different dancing studio and I’m now looking for a new gym, a new place to live and a new job. It’s really refreshing.

Funny you should mention “comfort zones” today. I am just now working on a 3 week adventure to the remote part of the Amazon to spend 2 weeks with the Shipibo Indian Tribe. I am really WAY out of my comfort zone here. Do not know the language or the Amazon River (a boat ride for 2 hours up the Amazon River to reach the destined area). There is nothing that I can think of that I would rather do at this moment.

Life has definitely become more exciting since I really started stepping out of my comfort zone. As I continue to step out, I realize things that used to be stepping out are now “comfortable” and that I’m adding new things. There’s never a dull moment.

I embracing my new business and am grateful for the opportunity to grow yet again.

Thanks!

Love the sharing of your explorations with us….that is exactly what I do when I am away from home. Got to find out what makes the Country, City, Town or Village tick and the food is a must…oh yes …wow ….how I do love to experience ethnic fair and flair.
And I am jealous…..

Well I admit that I’ve been staying in my comfort zone too long, time to stretch myself. Pacman will be a 21 million wealtier! wow he truly deserve that. He really did go beyond his comfort zone. Inspires me to do more adventures.

Я не могу выйти из зоны комфорта, поэтому у меня нет успеха.
Люблю быть одна, а успеха хочу.
Как быть в этой ситуации?
Спасибо.

I can’t honestly say I ever thought of McDs as a “comfort zone”…lol..more like a discomfort zone…especially after consuming it. Besides its never the same food as when in US- GROSS!

I’ve always found when traveling when you ask the locals where to eat or visit, you immediately find a new “comfort zone”- theirs! Most (friendly) people will love to share their fav eating spot with a visiter…plus its a great way to meet a new friend.

Any time I find myself in “Divine Dissatisfaction” its usually because I’ve hanging out in Da Comfort Zone a little too long. It then becomes a Point of Clarification. I ask myself 1) What do I want 2)Why do I want it? 3)What can I do right now to get there? The Comfort Zone expands beyond comprehension when you focus on what you are wanting instead of what you don’t.

The “Uncomfort Zone” is also my “Learning Zone”. I tend to see the uncomfortable things as learning experiences.

For example, my life partner and I took some Salsa dancing clases because we wanted to know the basics, so next time we hit the Caribbean we know what the heck we’re doing on the dancefloor! And you know what? It was umcomfortable! We almost didn’t enjoy the process, althought we love to dance… Now that the classes are over, we learned the basics and know how to dance Salsa.

I can probably give 1000 more examples of learning experiences we had to face, but everybody lives them. But for some reason, some of the life experience’s we just don’t want to face, even if it would be good for us.

Why? I don’t know. Do you know? Who knows?

The only thing I know about the Comfort Zone is that if I am in it, I am not learning anything new, thus stopping my progress in whatever field I am experiencing.

What about you Randy? What are some of your Comfort Zones?

Regards,

Adrian Bolosin

Hey RG,

Consider getting yourself a translator. I’ve done this in China once, worked wonders. Arranged in advance through the company I went to, he drove me, translated alll dealings and money transactions. I’m sure it’s available in every country.

When you want alone time, have him wait in the car for you.

Good luck, thanks for your posts.

If you have a chance go the state of Bahia. That’s where the best samba is.
Nao Tenho Lagrimas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLgtDYEit0c

Randy,

I take my ‘comfort zone’ with me wherever I am. I go places in this city most long time ‘locals’ won’t go. One week to Bogota and delights only found there. I can barely wait. About McDonald’s. The entire menu is the same outside the US BUT the ingredients are 100x better. They still can’t beat the local burger shops but if you want to be REALLY be disappointed with a US BigMac get one in Brazil or Colombia.

Ever seen the Jim Carrey movie, Yes Man? The concept was a life changer.

When someone asks me to try something new, I say, Yes. I’ll try it. Why not?

I don’t have to love everything, or even like everything…but how do you know if you don’t try it? Really, what do you have to lose?? Same thing with people…you won’t be best friends with everyone you meet but you can shake hands and chat for a minute.

I wasn’t always like this; I spent a LOT of time waiting on a husband who never really came to the table. Then I opened my eyes to all the opportunities that were being offered that weren’t being taken advantage of.

Have a great day, everyone!

Michele

“Are you making every day an adventure? Or do you stay in your comfort zone too much?”

I have traveled alone before and I can say that it is better to be a pirate…

I just put myself in a discomfort zone even though on the surface it may look like a comfort zone.

As Geneva says: “to get what i have never had, i have to be willing to do what i have never done.”

So I have to breakout of one more comfort zone because if I repeat the same mistake I won’t grow & I won’t be really living.