Most people who meet me see me as quiet, withdrawn, fully encapsulated inside my little bubble. Safe inside my comfort zone. I can’t say I blame them for drawing this conclusion because 99% of the time, that’s exactly where I am. However, there are three key components to life that I think can only be gained by venturing out of the safe zone.
Having New and Amazing Experiences
This should be a pretty obvious outcome. While you can still have new experiences while being in your comfort zone, it’s much easier to have them stepping outside of it. Plus, being outside the comfort zone leads to some pretty incredible moments.
One aspect of my comfort zone is keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground, unless I’m swimming. I do not like heights. I’ve never minded the upwards climb, but getting back down has always posed an issue because it requires the ability to acknowledge just how high up I am and the shaking usually ensues not long after. So, when my dad asked if I wanted to go coasteering on the coast of England, my automatic answer was NO.
Coasteering (author’s definition): climbing up and then proceeding to jump off cliffs into the ocean. A task usually undertaken with a competent guide.
However, having been given a day to think it over, I came to realize I would probably regret not attempting it before declining the opportunity so the answer changed to sure.
I was right in some aspects, it was absolutely terrifying. But, by the end of the day I still managed to do the highest jump which was about 40 feet. I loved the adrenaline of it, and while I still don’t like heights I don’t regret the experience, it still remains one of my favorite memories of my time spent in England.
Developing New Skills and/or Hobbies
Whenever you stretch your comfort zone boundaries just a little bit more, things can often surprise you. A couple of years ago I got the opportunity to try out scuba diving, and at the time I would have never even imagined what would come out of it.
My dad was already a certified scuba diver when he asked if I would be interested in learning too. I agreed a little reluctantly because I’m probably the weakest swimmer out of my siblings. All the way through the certification process, I still couldn’t see what my dad loved about diving. At most, I was willing to say it was okay. Mostly because the whole breathing underwater thing felt utterly abnormal and it was not an overly comfortable experience for me.
I get cold easily, and apparently water speeds up this process, I have no sense of direction on land so I’m practically a lost soul underwater, and trying to manage all of the gear required for diving just felt like a task overload. But I pushed through it.
Fast-forward a couple years and I’m on the e-board for a scuba diving club on campus, some of my best friends are my fellow scuba divers, and I frequently use my spring break to go on purely scuba diving vacations. However, I would have had none of these opportunities or this amazing hobby if I hadn’t been willing to push the limits of my comfort zone time and time again.
Increasing Confidence
Perhaps one aspect of pushing your self-set boundaries that remains the most understated is just how much it can increase your confidence. When you always stay within the same limits, you lose so much opportunity for growth.
My freshman year, I was able to join a faculty-led study abroad program. It would last just under two weeks, it was going to be held in France (which is not known for being receptive to English speakers), and to put the icing on the cake, this was going to be the first year the course was running. I was part of the guinea pig group.
Now, to be fair, I have traveled quite a bit growing up but, this would be my first time traveling out of country completely alone. While the rest of the group was traveling together, I had different flights booked. Why? I had decided to go big or go home.
Not only was I going on this study abroad, but I was extending my trip to visit a friend in Germany, followed by visiting family in England. This meant that I had to navigate all of the flights, buses, and other transportations systems on my own. With my already mentioned non-existent sense of direction. Oh! I also didn’t have an international phone plan so my only methods of contact were through wifi.
Thankfully, all went well despite a few minor hiccups along the way. And now, I’m much more confident not just in traveling but in being able to handle any situation because I managed to get myself all over Europe without any major mishaps.
While I can usually be found snugly tucked away in my safe zone, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting out of the bubble. Leaving the comfort zone can do so much for you, from gaining new experience to exponentially increasing your confidence. So the next time an opportunity comes knocking, consider opening the door and stepping over the threshold.