Going Beyond Normal: How to Expand Your Comfort Zone

How comfortable are you with approaching strangers? Are you able to take a risk and not think twice or are you getting nauseous just thinking about it? We all know that in order to accomplish more, we need to expand our comfort zone and challenge ourselves. So why is it so difficult to do?

I used to be afraid to leave my comfort zone. About 5 years ago I realized that there was a direct correlation between my comfort zone and my level of success. Once I understood that staying in my comfortable guaranteed a mediocre life, I began to look for ways to challenge myself and expand my zone.

For me, getting out of my comfort zone is an essential part of life. Now, I tend to find the things that are difficult or challenging. I get bored easily which has helped me take on more challenges. I still have my comfort zone that I sometimes fall back into, but now I able to recognize when it begins to happen.

Face the Fear

Most of the things we fear are things that have not happened yet or are unlikely to happen. It’s amazing how much of an affect something that hasn’t happen can have on a person. If you tend to be afraid of the unknown, creating a best case and worst case scenario list is a great way to dissolve that fear. Here is how it works.

Write down the things that you are afraid of. Then write down the worst case scenario of that fear. Then, on another piece of paper write the best case scenario. For example, if you are having doubts about an upcoming presentation at work, the worst case scenario may be,

“I am going to get up there in front of everybody and completely forget what to say. I will begin to panic a sweat profusely. In my panic, I will try to run but will trip, fall and everyone in the audience will laugh uncontrollably. Word about my embarrassment spreads across my city and state.

My failure was so funny that it was broadcasted on the Local News and videos of it are all over the Internet. I will then be so embarrassed that I will have to quit my job and move to a remote location in Siberia.”

The best case scenario may be,

“I am going to get up there and nail the presentation. I deliver all the information with effectiveness and every bit of humor I use is a hit. I do so well that I get a standing ovation. Someone in the audience knows a television producer and they tell the producer about how well I did. The producer contacts me and offers me my own talk show in prime time. I use the show to launch a multi-billion dollar Media Company. You can now see me around town hanging out with my best friends Will Smith and Bill Gates.”

Both scenarios are unlikely but writing them makes the situation less scary.

Getting out of Your Comfort Zone

1. Identify Your Comfort Zone-The thing or situation that makes you comfortable should be clear to you. Know the boundaries of what you can and cannot do. For example, if you are looking to improve your social life, identify how comfortable you are starting conversations with strangers in public as opposed to meeting people online. Once you know where your level of comfort is, you can begin to push those boundaries.

2. Don’t Worry About What People Think-As long as you base your actions solely on what other people think, you will never be able to expand your comfort zone. It is difficult to do something when people are telling you that you shouldn’t. But if you can learn to not worry about what other people think, you are on the road to progress.

Some of the world’s most innovative ideas and inventions where called crazy by people who were unable to envision their potential. Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper in 1903 but no manufacturer wanted it because they felt that the wipers moving back and forth would distract the driver. Apparently, driving in the rain and snow was not that big of a deal back then.

3. Move towards the unknown-Making a move towards an uncomfortable situation is the beginning of growth. It means that you are ready to experience a new result. One of the common excuses that people use for not doing something is because they have never done it before. Begin to actively look for something that you have not done and take the opportunity to experience it.

4. Taking Bigger Risk-Every once in a while it is good to take a leap. Taking bigger risks is a great way to add excitement into your life. It is especially more rewarding when the risk pays off. Try to find an area of your life where you tend to play it safe and take some risks in that area.

For the Really Brave

Some of you out there may be saying,

“C’mon Ralph, I thought this article was going to challenge me. These suggestions are good, but I’m looking for something to really expand my comfort zone. Aren’t you Mr. ’I wake up at 3 a.m.’? Give me something really challenging!”

Well, if that is you, here are some challenges that should satisfy your craving for expanding your comfort zone or at least get you started. Note: I have done all of these challenges myself.

1. Embarrass Yourself-Go to a mall or busy part of your city. Walk normally and then trip or fall on purpose. You will get some people that will help you up and you may get some people that will laugh but you will find that surviving embarrassment is possible.

This one was tough for me to do. Nobody likes to be embarrassed-especially on purpose. But strangely, after I did it, I felt more confident. I think it was the fact that being embarrassed is not the worst thing in the world.

2. Tweet out Loud- Go to a public place and get on your Smartphone and begin to tweet. Instead of making it public online, make it public in public. For example, while you are eating your sandwich at subway, say out loud, “At Subway eating a 6” turkey and swiss, mmmmm.”

3. Instant Friends-The challenge here is to go to a coffee shop or bookstore and sit with a group of people you do not know. The key is to invite yourself to sit down and jump into the conversation. There were a few times where I have tried this I have actually made some friends. As long as you are not too intrusive and do not seem as though you are trying to get them to join a pyramid scheme, most people are surprisingly receptive.

4. Cold Call-Cold calling for business is a very scary thing. It is difficult to call strangers and ask them to buy something. The chances of getting rejection are extremely high. I have had to do some cold calling for my business. To be honest, the more I do it, the easier it gets. If you don’t have a business, make up a company name and a product and then create a sales pitch. Then, cold call a few small businesses or homes and try to sell them that product or service. If you’ve never cold called before, hearing ‘no’ may hurt your feelings but after a while, you will lose the fear of rejection. Note: If you are making up a company, make sure that the product you are offering is not a good one. Because after all, you don’t really have anything to sell.

5. Wing it at an Open Mic-Sign up to present a speech or poem at an Open Mic Night event. Then show up without having anything prepared. Just get up there a say something worth listening to. If you are a Toastmaster, this may be a bit easier for you to do since you may have been trained in impromptu speaking. But even if you are, this is a huge thing to be able to do.

So, in what ways do you challenge yourself?