Is Your Comfort Zone Holding You Back?

Maybe your comfort zone is the reason you are struggling to achieve your goals. We all have high aspirations. However, it can be hard to turn those dreams and goals into reality. The truth is, for one reason or other, many of us struggle to reach our goals. Yet for many others, the reason frequently involves our apprehension about stepping out of our comfort zone.

 Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Neale Donald Walsch

But what is the definition of \’Comfort Zone\’?

The truth really is that nothing meaningful ever happens in our comfort zone. It’s the place that keeps us in the “someday” mode of pushing our goals to the side until the time is right, for another day or when you have more skills, money, and time.

I went to an English language source to get some understanding and some examples.

Definition of comfort zone in English:

A situation where one feels safe or at ease.

1. Some examples of this meaning are as follows: ‘the trip is an attempt to take the students out of their comfort zone’
   More example sentences
2. \’Finally, my journey has taken me well and truly out of my comfort zone and into unknown territory.\’
3. \’Not that he is complaining at the situation, believing life outside the comfort zone can only be a good thing.’
4. \’Everyone is comfortable in their comfort zone and do not usually want to get out of it.’
5. ‘When we leave our comfort zone for places that might have the equipment we are accustomed to, things quickly can go wrong.’
6. ‘As a member of the congregation, I found myself being asked to re-evaluate the comfort zone in which I live my life.’
7. ‘Stepping outside your comfort zone helps you confront your fears and show you that life\’s full of possibility.
8. ‘You may need to step outside your comfort zone to do it though, but if it\’s important to you then anything is possible.’
9. ‘The environmental requirements within the comfort zone differ for each stage of the life cycle.’
10. ‘Virtually everyone enjoys the feeling they get when leaving their comfort zone results in success.’
11. ‘You encourage us to go beyond our comfort zone, to take the risk of change for the better, because we are worth it.’
12. ‘Reaching beyond the comfort zone can take a lot of coaxing and frustration.’
13. ‘It stirs us to strive for the goal, achieve the target and aspire to something beyond our comfort zone.’
14. ‘And sometimes its necessary to venture beyond the comfort zone to risk the road less planned and predictable.’
15. ‘The simplest way to go beyond your comfort zone is to learn a new skill.’
    Click here to view original web page at comfort zone

So there you have it. A list of examples of comfort zone situations of feeling safe or at ease. Do you identify with any of them? I personally do. For instance point 7 in the list above. I had to confidently step out in boldness in order to confront my fears and bring out my potential. That\’s when I saw the many possibilities that lay in front of me.

Point 14 above is so very true too. As it is necessary to venture beyond the comfort zone. You must be willing to take the risk and take the road less planned and unpredictable. Bring out that pace setter from within you. Yes there\’s a pathfinder inside of you waiting to manifest your purpose. 

If you are contemplating getting out of your comfort zone, it has to be done sooner than later. Unfortunately, “someday” never happens. Otherwise the life you dreamed of becomes a memory, a ‘wish-I-would-have’ thought.

what comfort zone means

Our fear of trying something different, putting ourselves out there and going for it keeps us from taking action. We let our comfort zone keep us feeling safe. The simplest way to go beyond your comfort zone is to learn a new skill.

Your comfort zone keeps you paralyzed from attempting what you desire. You may have goals and dreams but are afraid of the many what-if’s that might happen when you do try. Instead, it’s safer to stay where you’re feeling comfortable instead of getting hurt or humiliated by attempting your goal.

Maybe you’re afraid of speaking to a large group of people so you don’t go after the next level in your career, even though it is what you desire. You keep to yourself and stay in your current position instead, where you’re comfortable.

Maybe you don’t go after your desire to start your own business because you’re afraid of failing. And yet you stay in a job that you hate with a passion instead. 

Maybe you don’t try new ventures because you have an aversion to meeting new people and looking foolish. So you stay at home in your comfort zone.

Some of the reasons you stay in your comfort zone might be from fear of the unknown, uncertainty. You have anxiety over change. Negative mindset. Pessimistic outlook. Lack of clarity and focus. Fear of failing or succeeding. No matter what it looks like, your comfort zone is keeping you trapped. It is holding you back. You end up struggling to achieve your goals.

You stop advancing professionally. You don’t grow and develop personally. You eat the same way. Live in the same place. Drive the same kind of car, and associate with the same ‘ol..’ people.

Your comfort zone lets you willingly pass up important opportunities. And because of this, you may even lose touch with your relationships. Your health may begin to have serious problems, and you end up living a life of mediocrity.

Your unwillingness to take action and step out of your comfort zone for whatever reason directly impacts your goals. If you are afraid to take the next step, and never do, you’ll stay where you’re at. If you worry what will happen if you go for your goal, you end up not going for it, then you won’t ever reach it.

When you see yourself struggling to achieve your goals it’s often because you are stuck in your comfort zone. You are afraid of change. Afraid of doing things differently and being someone different.

If you are a child of God and you find yourself in a struggling situation, then you have been listening to wrong voices. Call upon the name of the Lord once again. If you don\’t yet have a personal relationship with this God of Love, you too can call upon His name. The word says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Your answer lies in God\’s word. Take a hold of yourself. You are a child of the most high. Pick up your Bible once again. Meditate on the scriptures and before long, your focus will be clear. Your direction is no longer misty. Remember you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

I end here today. I encourage you to read these related posts Life’s Terrible When Fear Holds You Back  and Your Life Starts Today. 

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