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

---

Its Not Your Fault

Have you ever wondered what's really holding you back from... Read More

Spring! Time for Love and New Beginnings

Prepare, prepare, prepare! The horizon screams of spring and the... Read More

12 Powerful Motivational Tools That Guarantee Success

No matter how many years you spend in a classroom... Read More

Let It Fly Over Your Head

Sarah Watson is a young woman who contracted HIV eleven... Read More

Dont Just Hope - Decide!

As the story goes, a single college-age guy went to... Read More

The Conversation of Recovery - Part Two

The listening for the Conversation of possibilities will be even... Read More

Magic In The Leadership Zone!

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small... Read More

10 Ways to Reclaim Your Self-Esteem

The way you feel about yourself impacts how and why... Read More

14 Reasons To Get Motivated And Stay Motivated

Why should you bother to spend your valuable time to... Read More

The Dream I Nearly Gave Up

Hello again to you my loyal readers. My very first... Read More

Self-Motivation for Trainers

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

Activity Versus Accomplishment

Each and every day, all of us continually search for... Read More

Ready, Set, Action!

James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied... Read More

Life After Prison - The Road Home, Vanishing Dreams

The basic trauma of being locked inside of a penal... Read More

How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself

Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so... Read More

Inertia? 5 Tips to Getting Yourself Moving Again!

Inertia. Even the word sounds like a disease. No, it... Read More

Seven Habits Of Ineffective People

For maximum effectiveness in life, love or business, it helps... Read More

Breaking Even: When is Enough, Enough?

I had the most interesting discussion today with a friend... Read More

No, Fear! The Success is Yours (1)

Fear is the minds great mortal sin.And isn't it just... Read More

How Breaking Routine And Unexpected Acts of Kindness Can Energize Your Day!

Sometimes life becomes so routine, we don't have to think... Read More

Make It Happen Now!

Most people think that when they have chosen a path... Read More

Wake Up to the Life You Love

While speaking at a San Diego university recently, I was... Read More

How To Be Motivated Without A Motivator

Many professionals spend their entire careers working under managers or... Read More

4 Barriers to Overcome For Growth

As we begin a new year, it's natural to reflect... Read More

Motivation: Tearing Down Your Own Limitations

Q.: I've always been sort of cynical about all this... Read More

Words that Inspire: PASSION

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

If It Feels Good, It Must Be Right

Copyright © 2003 Priya Shah Is it... Read More

Courage and Fear

Mark Twain once said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery... Read More

Procrastinator No More!

Procrastination is when ever we postpone a task or duty... Read More

Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?

I have been giving some thought lately to optimism and... 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

Motivation By An Audience

Sooner or later, if you keep working hard in a... Read More

Employee Motivation - The 8 Basics

Building a team of motivated people in your business is... Read More