Words of Inspiration - Step Out of Your Comfort Zone



I am sure you have often heard the phrase 'comfort zone', but what does it mean?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a comfort zone is a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.

A Google search returned the following definitions:

        1.  A settled working method that requires little effort and yields only barely                     acceptable results.

        2.  A situation where one feels safe or at ease.

 Having established a comfort zone, I am sure we can all identify with this state. In fact, it is a place where most of us like to be. It is a place of ease, where little effort is required. It's life on Easy Street. I borrow a few lines from the theme song from the old TV comedy of the same name:


I love to live on Easy Street, nobody works on Easy Street, just sit around all day....

In everything, there is good and bad. So, while easy street/comfort zone may be a good stop for a while, it cannot be a permanent stop. Yes, there are times when we have to take it easy. There are times when we have to rest and practice self-care, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. There comes a time when you must heed a certain call and step out of your comfort zone, as difficult as it may be.

To live a fulfilled life, you must make the effort to overcome the obstacles in your way, the biggest of which is, in most cases, FEAR - false evidence appearing real, which can be crippling, if not nipped in the bud.


Disadvantages of staying in your comfort zone

Life cannot be lived totally in your comfort zone because there is no growth in your comfort zone. When you stop growing and learning, you die, not necessarily in the physical sense, but mentally, emotionally and socially, just to name a few. When you stick to the same routine day in day out, monotony, boredom and complacency become the order of the day.

Staying in your comfort zone robs you of the opportunity to learn new skills, form new relationships, gain new experiences and advancing in your career. If you are not willing to try something new, you will never know if you would have succeeded at it.


Advantages of stepping out of your comfort zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone requires determination and intentionality. It involves taking risks, but more often than not, it is well worth the risk. The rewards far outweigh the pain and struggle involved. As the saying goes, no pain, no gain. Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new is actually good for you! Here is proof from Psychology Today:


1. Doing something new helps build flexible thinking and 'wakes up' your brain, which is part of mental wellness.

2. When you engage in a new experience, the brain is likely to release the hormone dopamine, which improves your mood and overall well-being.

I can attest to this fact. Just a few days ago, I visited a particular restaurant for the first time. I had heard glowing reports about the quality of the food and the ambience there and wanted to experience it for myself, but never got around to it. So, on Sunday, instead of cooking, I headed to the restaurant. Though there was not much activity at that time of day, I was able to look around and enjoy the ambience and order one of my favourite meals. I decided there and then, that it would certainly not be my last visit. I definitely plan to return, next time, with friends. It was a good experience and I am happy that I took the time to do something different that day. And to top it off, I learnt a new route on the way home.  
 

So, what are you waiting for? It's time to step out of your comfort zone. Commit today to do something you have never done before, no matter how small.  It will be worth your while. The world is your oyster, so step out and grab life with both hands. Don't live in regret!

I end by sharing with you this poem that I wrote in 2022. Enjoy and step out!


Stepping Out


As I step out today
I remind myself
That I'm a child of the Most High God
The daughter of a King
Yes, I am an overcomer
More than a conqueror am I
I can do all things through Christ
Who gives me His strength.
It is well, it is well, it is well
I will pursue, overtake and recover
I will not be afraid, because He is with me.
It is my time to fulfill purpose
So, I go forth with boldness
I am .... stepping out!



Sources:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/comfort-zone

https://www.google.com/search?q=meaning+of+comfort+zone

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-of-mind/202201/doing-something-new-is-good-for-you

Vaughn, Sarah. Sarah Sings Soulfully, 1963.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review - Memorial Stones Vol. 1

Image
  Unveiling the Power of Faith: A Review of 'Memorial Stones: Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness and Provision in Times of Need – Volume 1' .         God Is Good   “God Is Good”- is the greatest understatement EVER!! However,   ‘Memorial Stones: Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness and Provision in Times of Need – Volume 1’  offers a unique perspective, reminding us that He INDEED is profoundly good. This book, serving as a powerful source of inspiration and a beacon of hope, uplifts the spirit with its unique insights.   But first, let us look at the definition of good. While there were numerous definitions, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the ones that stood out to me most were:  of a favourable character or tendency; and  that can be relied on.   Despite these standing out to me, I believe that the definitions fail to express who God truly is. God is just, of high standards, wise, capable, to be desired, worthy, and...
Read more

WORDS of ENCOURAGEMENT - GOD'S PROMISES ARE SURE

Image
A promise is a comfort to a fool. Faithful promise mek fool glad - (A faithful promise makes a fool glad). These are popular sayings that we have often heard and maybe even use. This is true to an extent because in our fallen world, most, if not all of us have, at some point in our lives, experienced the pain and hurt of a broken promise. Such a saying issues a caution to those who blindly trust in promises made to us, especially if it known that such persons are unreliable or insincere. It paints a glaring picture of one who sets himself up to be disappointed by another. Ideally, your word should be your bond, and this should be the driving force to guarantee that any promise you make is fulfilled. However, not everyone subscribes to this idea, and so are often guilty of making willy nilly, empty and impulsive promises, without proper thought or a plan of action as to how they will be fulfilled. This often leaves a trail of heartbreak, betrayal, anger and a myriad of other negative em...
Read more

Devotional - Guard Your Heart

Image
  Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Proverbs 4:23-27 The Message (MSG)         The heart, weighing between 7 and 15 ounces, is one of the smallest organs of the body, yet it has the biggest job. That’s quite a paradox, isn’t it? The heart is at the centre of the circulatory system, beating on average 72 times per minute to pump blood to the tissues of the body, supplying oxygen and other nutrients and removing carbon dioxide and other waste matter. The heart is vital to the efficient functioning of the body and must therefore be healthy in order to maintain and preserve overall health.    Achieving optimal heart health requires getting adequate rest and exercise, avoiding smoking an...
Read more

Chapter 2 – Driver…… (An Excerpt from Memorial Stones Vol. 1)

Image
  September 19, 2024 • Lona For God has not given us a spirit of fear…2 Timothy 1:7 As a young woman, one of my dreams was to learn to drive and eventually purchase my own car. I kept the dream at the back of my mind for many years, but finally, in the late 1990’s I decided to take the plunge. Armed with my learner driver “lunatic” licence and the knowledge gained from reading the driving manual, I found myself a driving instructor and embarked on the journey of learning to drive. I was ready to put the theory into practice. My first driving lesson was a lunchtime lesson. At the time I was working at Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Half-Way-Tree Road. My first mistake was to assume that, as is the custom with most driving instructors, we would head to the National Stadium or some other quiet area to go over the basics for the first lesson. Was I wrong! I was in for a surprise! We proceeded down Half-Way-Tree Road and turned onto Oxford Road in the heavy lunchtime traffic. The ...
Read more

Devotional – Dress for Success: Put on the Whole Armour of God

Image
Passage: Ephesians 6: 10 -17  (NIV)  Focus verse:  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.   (Ephesians 6:11)     The Christian life is a constant battle and so each day, as soldiers of Christ, we are at war with forces of evil, the enemy of our souls. The war is not physical, but spiritual. How do we prepare ourselves for battle? How do we show up? How do we win the fight? By dressing for success, putting on our weapon of warfare, our armour. In the passage above, the Apostle Paul urges Christians to "put on the whole armor of God," a metaphor for spiritual protection against the forces of evil. This armor is not physical but spiritual, designed to shield us from the attacks of the devil and his minions. Let's delve into each piece of this divine armor. The Belt of Truth This is the foundation of our spiritual armor. Truth, as revealed in God's Word, is our belt, holding up the rest of our ...
Read more