We become accustomed to a particular routine, lifestyle, people, and habits as our lives progress. They become so entrenched in our everyday lives that even a slight change can rattle us. This place is our comfort zone.

Now, the comfort zone is essential in many ways. It helps us feel secure and safe because it’s incredibly predictable. But imagine if the early humans stayed where they were without exploring outside their environment. What if early travellers never sailed to other lands and communicated with them?

Would we have the discoveries and inventions that we enjoy today?

That’s the thing about feeling safe all the time- it won’t help you grow.

Growing comes with embracing change. And embracing change comes with facing your fears.

If you want something in your life to change, you must deal with the fear of failure or disappointment.

Because the danger of the comfort zone is that it holds you back from achieving your highest potential, you have been given an infinite pool of talents and abilities. To tap into them, you must learn to be okay with the process of learning and trying again.

“The comfort zone is the great enemy of courage and confidence.”

-Brian Tracy

The struggles associated with change are worth the person you’ll become in the process- someone who is courageous and confident.

Now you might tell me, “But Henry, I don’t want anything to change in my life”.

Even then, you will have to learn how to deal with stepping out of your comfort zone because change is the only constant in life. And if you don’t bring in change, life will bring it to you. Covid had many people changing the way they do business out of compulsion. Those that resisted the change had to close down their business. Those who adapted and did something new thrived even more.

Unfortunate things happen even if we wish they didn’t. But what is going to be our attitude towards it? Are we going to say yes to change and evolve with it? Or resist and be at risk of falling behind?

My advice to anyone who feels stuck in their comfort zone is to do one thing every day that pushes them out of it a little- like enrolling for a class that’s full of new people or replacing an obsolete habit with a productive one. If you wake up earlier tomorrow and go for a run instead of sleeping in, I’d say you are doing a great job of stepping out of your comfort zone!

So be brave. Be courageous. And embrace the new.

Your highest self awaits your arrival.