Are irrational reasons, fears and uncertainties trapping you inside your own comfort zone? Join author Lorna Anne as she shares “The Comfort Zone.”
Written by Lorna Anne
The New Year is a time to start all those dreams and ideas and bring them into reality. Here’s a little inspiration to help you with your New Year’s Resolutions!
Have you ever watched a friend stay in a situation in their lives in which they are miserable? It’s so obvious that a change is much needed and would be plainly beneficial to them. And you think, they must be aware of this and do nothing about it. (Is it possible that you are that friend?)
So, you finally confront them, asking directly, “Why don’t you make a change?” And then, inevitably, a list of irrational reasons, fears and uncertainties, are given to shut down the suggestion completely.
So, it must be realized, that they/you are where they you want to be. The question is, why?
For most, the Comfort Zone is where they choose to abide because they know it. Since they have no assurance that a change would be beneficial or successful, they prefer to stay where it’s safe, and come up with flimsy excuses as to why they “must”.
Also, the unknown outcome of an attempt to make changes imposes challenges they’re not sure they have the wherewithal to overcome. In short, they fear failure. What isn’t realized is that once the transition is made, they’d feel just as comfortable there, too.
We all do it to some degree. How many of us are repulsed by something when we experience it for the first time, and yet eventually we end up embracing exactly what we said we never would. It’s because that new experience at first jarred our Comfort Zone. Once we had gotten used to it, we realized we actually liked it. This goes for any new challenge we bring into our lives, whether it be a new workout program or a new study or hobby.
The opposite of the fear of underachievement is someone who thinks they can do no wrong. They will not attempt new things because, unconsciously, they’re afraid to risk and fail.
They, too, undermine their belief in themselves. They have 0 tolerance for being wrong. And that’s the problem.
There’s nothing wrong with being wrong or not equaling up to our ideas of our level of what we want to achieve. Sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes we’re overcritical and say we’ve made mistakes even when we haven’t. But, that failure should never have happened, is a judgment. It prevents growth, self awareness, expanding consciousness and attempting new things.
Not equaling up to our high standards is part of our growth process, for if we acknowledge mistakes and honor them by learning from them, our path becomes an upward spiral, rather than a sedentary one. If we embrace, and not reject, a leap of faith, and remove the paradox of right and wrong, achievement or failure, we would free ourselves to experience our evolutionary destiny. Staying safe leads us on a long slow path downward. Don’t set standards so high they cannot be achieved.
Comfort Zones serve a purpose allowing us to rest and re-group at times in our lives, but we don’t want to become couch potatoes because we’re afraid of being wrong or failing. Faith in a new venture or resolution makes leaving the Comfort Zone an opportunity to make us stronger and gain self-empowerment.
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
What have you accepted in your life that took time, physically or mentally?
An unconditional acceptance of reality as good, nurturing and positive, rather than frightening, negative and destructive.
What do you appreciate about yourself and within your life?
My fairness, moral courage and fortitude.
What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What goals do you still have?
Getting my writing published. Future goal: to help clean up irrational fear from the world.
What is your not-so-perfect way? What imperfections and quirks create your Identity?
I am a unique individual, willing to sacrifice what I must, in order to pursue wisdom and my truth.
How would you complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love myself and my world.
