Break out of your comfort zone!
From the time we are first born, we have a comfort zone. As a baby, your mother and father kept you safe, as a toddler, it may have been your blanket or teddy bear, as you became a teenager your comfort zone may have evolved into sports, drugs, video games, or reading. In each stage of our life we all have comfort zones, but being an adult is no different; we often stay trapped in our comfort zones and look for excuses as to why we are not progressing further in both our personal and professional lives. Here’s the thing, your comfort zone keeps you from achieving your full potential.
But what happens if we go outside the comfort zone, leaving the “blanket” behind and really start to go for what we want?
Defining the Comfort Zone and Fear
You see, a lot of people become comfortable, they stop learning, and they stop growing and fail to live the life of their dreams. Why? Because they’re afraid of what might happen if they try something new. Les Brown used to say people are afraid of two things when they want to start living their dream, “one is the fear of failure – what if I try something and it doesn’t work out?” The second is “the fear of success - what if I make it and I can’t handle it.” These people are trapped in the comfort zone. They let fear and worry stop them from living the life of their dreams! Erik Thomas would say “Do what you can with what you have because what you have it plenty.”
I remember hearing a story about a man who had been captured behind enemy lines in a war and was sentenced to be killed or another option. The captain said to the guy, listen, tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock you can face the firing squad or you can go out this door over here. And the guy said, what’s outside the door? The captain said no one knows, all we can tell you is just unknown horrors. He thought and then the next morning he selected the firing squad. After the shots rang out, the captain’s secretary asked him what’s behind the door? And he said… Freedom.
My Personal Story
I want to share with you a story. For a long time, I was afraid to speak publicly. I was terrified why? Because it was too far out of my comfort zone. See, through elementary and middle school I was bullied fairly often. I was never beaten up or anything, but I was teased and ridiculed by the other students. One project we had to do every year was a speech. I used to hate the idea of having to get up in front of people. Why? The fear of being ridiculed for not having a good topic or fear of making a MISTAKE. I was afraid that if I made a mistake I would be laughed at. Here’s the truth, I made my speeches, I got laughed at, more than once, but here’s the thing, I kept coming back. Over and over again throughout my schooling, I would stand up there and give the speech and look at me now. I was afraid ladies and gentlemen. I was afraid up until I joined Toastmasters. But here’s the thing, I knew that I wanted to speak. I knew that I had a message that I wanted to share and I wouldn’t let my personal fears get in the way.
I always think of Les Brown when he said: “No matter how bad it is, or how hard it gets, I’m going to make it!” Those words have stuck with me since I first heard them, and I suggest that you say that to yourself every day, memorize it because it’s possible! It’s possible for you to break free from your fears, and it’s possible for you to live your dream. I want you to succeed and I want to provide you with the tools you need to live the life you want!
To your success,
Jacob Lethbridge
