How’s your comfort zone doing? Is it a little smaller than you’d like? Maybe you’d like to expand it and make it a little bigger. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to do new things, acquire new skills and be able to do more? If you want those things, you’ll need to expand your comfort zone.
Expanding a comfort zone is always uncomfortable, but it pays off nicely. You’ll be able to do so much more. The discomfort is temporary. As you do those new things more and more, the anxiety and fear wears off.
In fact, maybe there are already some things you’ve thought you’d like to do. But thinking of doing those things is scary because, well, you’ve never done them before.
Maybe you’ve considered something like:
- leading a small group
- volunteering at a charitable organization
- offering to pray for someone in the moment
- speaking in front of a group
- writing a blog or a book
- starting a new program
- mentoring someone
It’s pretty normal to experience discomfort–usually some form of fear–when we do something new. It’s uncomfortable. That’s because we usually live within our comfort zone. But when we feel the discomfort and do it anyway, our comfort zone expands and the discomfort goes away.
Expanding the comfort zone is a great thing to do. OK, well, the expanding part doesn’t feel great, but the end result of an expanded comfort zone is totally worthwhile. You can build on one success after another and keep expanding it.
The larger our comfort zone, the more we are able to be of service to other people and able to have more and more of a positive impact. You’ll look back and remember how hard it was doing that new thing at first and after a while, it’ll be your norm to do that thing with relative ease.
It feels like I’m always expanding my comfort zone. In reality, it comes a little here and a little there. I need some breaks in between. But in general, I’m shooting to increase that comfort zone so I can be more and do more to be a blessing to other people.
I’m going through one of those comfort zone expansions right now. We’re starting a real radio show on today, August 31. I’m excited to be able to share the message encouraging people to be aware of their impact and to get focused on making a deliberate, positive impact. In a matter of time, I’ll be comfortable with being a radio show host. Until then, I’ve got a low-level anxious buzz going on. I’m looking forward to getting through this comfort zone expansion!
If you’d like to listen to the show, here’s what you need to know:
How to listen live, Wednesdays at 2 PM:
- on the air in Sacramento at Money 105.5 FM
- on your phone via the Money 105.5 app
- online at www.theimpacthour.com
How to ask questions:
- call the studio at (866) 576-1055
- post to the facebook group, “The Impact Hour” at www.facebook.com/groups/theimpacthour
Let us know what you’re doing to expand your own comfort zone.
