Pushing Through Your Comfort Zone

Our greatest growth in life comes from pushing through our present comfort zone. This process starts at birth. A baby feels safe, warm and secure in its mother's womb. However, to stay there much longer than the gestation period would mean certain death for both the mother and child. Life began for all of us as we left the comfort and security of the womb and faced the strange and unfamiliar world outside. Our first breath is often a painful experience, a cry of protest at temporary discomfort. Yet without this experience, our life would be fleetingly short.

Each milestone of growth and accomplishment for a young child involves leaving an existing comfort zone. The first crawl, the first step, many new, first experiences all push from the familiar into the unknown. For the child the process of pushing through their area of comfort leads to increasing independence and the formation of their unique personality and character.

This foundational principle continues into adult life. In order to enrich our life, it is necessary to step out of our present comfort zone. Personal growth occurs when a person moves out of their area of comfort and into the unknown and challenge of a fresh experience. There is a stage of risk and discomfort before any significant growth in our life. For each of us there comes a point where we hold back and resist. It becomes easier to remain static and comfortable than to keep moving forward.

What holds us back?

Whenever we consider taking on a new project, or venture, or want to put ourselves out there, we feel fear. Fear is natural, and is to be expected. It is our body's way of letting us know we are moving out of our comfort zone. Fear can alert us to possible threats and dangers. However unlike our cave men predecessors, many of the threats today are not life threatening. Fear can warn you and enable you to be more aware and cautious, but need not stop you progressing. If you want to move forward on the journey towards where you want to be, you will have to confront your fears. Unfortunately many people allow fear to stop them, and don't achieve their goals and aspirations.

Fear does not feel comfortable, and many people want to avoid it at all costs. Everyone experiences fear. People who want to be successful feel the fear and do it anyway! Fear is part of the package. Yes, there is always a risk of failure, but that needs to balanced with the old adage "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained". A child's risk of falling when taking those first faltering steps is high. Yet, what a transformation to a child's life once they have mastered the skill of walking! Limitless possibilities are opened up in the child's life. The falls and tumbles are soon forgotten overshadowed by the new adventures and experiences.

Pushing through to leave your comfort zone is hard work. Nature demonstrates that graphically for us. The chick pecking it's way out of the shell, the butterfly struggling from it's cocoon, illustrate how that struggle is necessary in order to bring life, growth and success.

The good news is that once we have faced our fears and done it anyway, we have moved forward to a new place. Every time we push through and live out of our comfort zone we will never be the same. Growth happens!

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. US Supreme Court Justice, once said "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."

I believe this is true of not only our mind, but also of who we are as unique people. Life moves into a new dimension through each experience we go through in life.

However there is also the possibility that once we have pushed through our comfort zone into a new place of growth, we rest too long there, and create a different comfort zone!

Let's keep pushing through and moving forward towards growing our uniqueness and living our life fully.

Barbara White, of Beyond Better Development,speaks and writes with passion to inspire and empower people in their journey of personal growth towards the excellence in life that they aspire to.

This article was written for her newsletter Growing Beyond Better. If you would like to receive Growing Beyond Better regularly, you can subscribe for this free newsletter at Barbara's website http://www.livingbeyondbetter.com

---

We Are Trying To

How many times have you heard this in your life?... Read More

If You Dont Ask You Are Rejected, 7 Steps to Overcome that Fear of Rejection

If You Don't ask then You are Already Rejected. Many... Read More

Do The Hardest Thing First And The Rest Will Be Easy

Have you ever noticed that in life we almost always... Read More

Get The Man Right

One Saturday morning, a minister could not think of a... Read More

Daily Motivation--Be Kind to Yourself for a Change

"How far you go in life depends on your being... Read More

How To Become More Patient

"Lord give me patience ? and hurry!"Have you ever prayed... Read More

The Secret to this Famous Singers Success

It seems the longer think we have, the longer we... Read More

Self-Motivation for Trainers

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF-MOTIVATION FOR TRAINERS: Lack of self-motivation is... Read More

Its Not Enough

Whatever you are doing in your life at the present... Read More

12 Reflections on Personal Responsibility

Responsibility means being accountable for what we think, say, and... Read More

Tips for Mastering Visualization Techniques

Visualization is creating a mental picture of something. Visualization is... Read More

The Simple Secret To Lasting Motivation

This is a key to lasting motivation and beating procrastination.If... Read More

Words that Inspire: PASSION

What is your PASSION?Dictionary says: strong liking for or... Read More

Do Yourself A Favor--Forgive

"Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with... Read More

Information Age: Knowledge is King

In our information age, having the right knowledge at the... Read More

Are Millionaires and PhDs Really Smarter? The Answer May Surprise You!

I've had a vast array of job experiences. While in... Read More

5 Motivation Killers and How To Avoid Them

Motivation is an oft-discussed subject, particularly with regards to whether... Read More

Motivation: If Today Were the Last of All Days

"If today were the last of all days........" - Marilyn... Read More

The First Step

Today is an anniversary of sorts for me. Three years... Read More

Anchors Away!

If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More

If You Are Rejected!

This article exemplifies the inner working of emotional intelligence. Effectively... Read More

Greed and Selfishness: Knowing The Difference And Loving Yourself!

I hear many people discuss how selfishness leads to greed,... Read More

Time Management - Finding Some Personal Time

Personal time or relax time is often why people want... Read More

Live Life with Gusto

Life is a gift; live it with gusto everyday. Don't... Read More

The Road Less Traveled

Can someone please tell me why it is that men... Read More

Who Is Stuart Goldsmith?

'Stuart Goldsmith? Who is Stuart Goldsmith?' you may be asking.I... Read More

Procrastination Strategies: Boost Your Productivity by Getting On With It

We all suffer from procrastination from time to time but... Read More

How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit - Part II

A friend of mine read the article, How to Use... Read More

9 Great Ways To Change Your Life By Changing Your Motivation Style

If you are not as productive as you'd like or... Read More

The Top Ten Strategies to Employ When You Feel Like Quitting

Ever feel like quitting? "Are you kidding?" you ask, "A... Read More

Extreme Makeover ? Compliments of Me

There is a fascination these days with reality shows that... Read More

Your Life Just OK? It Doesnt Have To Be That Way! Live the Life You Really Want To Live!

I have some questions for you. Are you ready? How... Read More

Self-Esteem: You Matter

You'd be surprised. Maybe amazed. If you could see the... Read More