How often do you step outside your comfort zone?
On the radio this week the DJs were discussing music they didn’t like. They all agreed to step outside of their comfort zones and give the music they didn’t like a try. They listened to a few tracks on air and decided whether or not they like it.
It made me think – how often do I step outside my comfort zone?
When I think of ‘stepping outside your comfort zone’ I usually imagine exhilarating challenges such as bungee jumping, white water rafting or confronting phobias – arachnophobes having spiders put on them for example. The type of experiences that really make you ‘feel the fear’ – and the sort of things that I’ve never done. These are often seen as positive, life affirming experiences once someone has done them, but how much do they really learn from them?
When we experience extreme stress or panic our rational thought processes are overridden by the adrenaline being pumped around our body. This affects decision making which means that although we feel exhilarated doing scary things we are unlikely to learn much from it.
Stepping outside your comfort zone does not have to be scary. It can be as simple as listening to music you wouldn’t normally listen to. The DJs tried to forget their feelings about the music and approach it with an open mind. Even if afterwards they still did not like the music, they experienced something they never normally would have – and they now KNEW they didn’t like it rather than thinking they didn’t.
I find I do this a lot. I like to challenge how I think and feel – so I’ll watch a type of film or read a book that I wouldn’t normally like. It means I learn about something and sometimes my preconceived opinions completely change. It may not be as exciting as abseiling down the side of a mountain, but it is just as effective for personal development.
What do you do to step outside your comfort zone?
By Emma Webb
