We have all the things we don´t like doing — risks and actions we don´t want to take out of fear that they will fail. Changes we don´t want to make. Dreams that we don´t pursue because it is uncomfortable. But with comfort, there comes no growth.
So what needs to happen that you seek discomfort, you may ask?
You first have to understand what it means to be in a comfort zone and why it can become dangerous. Then you can think about how to seek discomfort.
What comfort zone means?
Why school is bad and toxic?
When you experience safety and ease and find yourself in an environment that is under control, it is in your comfort zone. It also is when your anxiety and vulnerability are at a minimum level. The area where it feels familiar and in order. Your regular habits and routines are as well a part of this zone.
But comfort is different for everyone, and based on your thoughts, actions, experiences, and skillsets; it will change over time. With little effort and when you are easily satisfied with moderate results, you stay in the circle of comfort, which often shrinks over time and does not expands.
However, if you feel anxious, stressed, and uncomfortable when you are doing something, it is outside of your comfort zone.
Why comfort zone is dangerous
The longer you stay in your comfort zone in life, the more dangerous it can become. Because when something happens that seeks to threaten your progress and happiness…
You settle.
When you, at some point in life, grow tired and settle, you may face the worst fate of all. While you are still alive, you stand still you live as if you are dead. It is when you only exist without discovering the things that bring you true happiness. You never take chances out of your comfort and life, a life full of regret and grumpiness.
What makes you feel too comfortable can ruin you, so never settle when you don´t have truly lived a life full of adventures, archiving goals, and taking chances.
Even if you are already settled, and you are unsatisfied with your situation, it is not too late to seek discomfort. But only you can make a difference in life when you change things for the better.
What are the benefits of leaving your comfort zone?
As the quote of Neale Donald Walsch says, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
You can only grow if you make progress, which is about moving forward, and to do this, you have to step out of your comfort zone.
When you go outside yourself, you can reach more goals and achievements. You learn more about others and yourself. It brings you more people in life that really appreciate you. You can become more open to people and better understand if you should keep someone in your life or not.
Because if the person only brings negativity and just wants to take advantage of you, you should cut them out of your life. These are the people that have settled and are unhappy with their life; they bring you down and keep you from making progress and moving forward. The more toxic people are in your life, the higher the chance that you will become one. So it is better to keep yourself around people that really help and support you and bring happiness and positivity to your life.
Another advantage of stepping out of your comfort zone is you feel better and healthier. You also are more willing to improve yourself in different areas and learn new skills.
You discover your purpose in life and truly live a life worth remembering.
How to seek discomfort?
First, you have to ask yourself what person in your life contributed to shaping and conditioning your comfort zone. Because of these influences, you have to overcome them. You should also change routines and behaviors that are related to the situation you want to get out of your comfort zone.
Fear is often a big part of what keeps you away from taking the step you have to make to experience the wonders of seeking discomfort. The end goal you want to archive is what you fear most. But you should begin by pushing yourself to make a little step that is easy and brings you closer to your end goal.
The further you go, the more confidence you get to make bigger steps. You have to convince yourself that the action is worth doing and is important to you. Make adjustments slightly so it feels more comfortable and in control. Keep in mind irrational thoughts won’t help you. But if you take deep breaths and motivate yourself by saying something positive like it is going to be fine, it will help you to make the first step.
For example, a cold shower could really benefit your health, and you feel more awake in the morning. Of course, you don´t want to decrease the water to a freezing temperature when you love the water warm and comfortable. However, if you start with a small step, like lowering the temperature to lukewarm, you have already made the first move toward your goal. And when you decrease the temperature every time you shower, your body and mind adapt more to the colder water.
If you reach your end goal and you can finally get the fresh and energizing feeling of a cold shower. You may get comfortable with this temperature and may never go back to a warm shower.
You see that little steps make the journey easier, and when you reward yourself for every action you take, your fear will also fade away faster. Don´t overthink every step but improve and learn through your mistakes. Discomfort shouldn´t always be a sign that there is something wrong no it is a sign you are open to trying something new and different.
The best is to remind yourself when was the last time you successfully sought discomfort. When you think about the breakthrough you may have, it can motivate you to get out of your comfort zone to take action. Surround yourself with people that encourage more to step out of your boundaries. Of course, don´t do things that are too dangerous and are a harm to yourself and others but do things that help you to become your best self.
Why isn´t comfort always bad?
Sometimes you are not ready and prepared to leave your comfort zone because it may bring drastic consequences. So you first have to make sure you plan before you face the changes you want to make.
Another reason is comfort and fear can also save you before you do something stupid which is too dangerous and doesn´t benefit you.
You don´t have to seek discomfort all the time; after all, you also need time to relax and decrease your stress. But don´t get too comfortable. The best way is that you make stepping outside of your comfort zone a habit by doing it regularly. Because you shouldn´t settle before you explore your full potential and archiving the important goals you want to reach.
How to make the most out of your life?
Comfort is easy and a big part of your life, but it keeps you away from truly living a life worth remembering.
Don´t you want to find your passion, archive your goals, be more open-minded, and surround yourself with people who make you happy and push you out of your comfort zone?
If so, go on and make your first steps to seek discomfort and explore your full potential. Don´t know where to start, then check out the Youtube channel YesTheory where the motto is to seek discomfort.
Remember, life starts where the comfort zone ends, so don´t get too comfortable! You don´t want to be one of the older people who are grumpy and have settled unhappily no. You want to be someone where the room lights up when you tell your stories.
Share the first step you want to take to get out of your comfort zone.
Hey Patrick! This is something we need to hear every other day as we live in an era when we seem to like comfort way too much, and we are used to that to the point, that we don’t want to move from that for whatever it is.
One of my favorite verse about comfort zone say: “You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” And that is what a lot of us are not willing to do. Great post overall and I enjoyed it!
-Heku
Thank you, Heku, for your comment. This verse summarized the meaning of seeking discomfort really well. And it would help a lot if more people get out of their comfort zone because this can benefit everyone.
When I was reading the title of this I thought maybe there was some mistake. Thank you this was really an eye opener. I at times feel myself get too comfortable to work, too comfortable to get started and that is always the decline of my business.
It all starts with stepping out of that comfort zone. I remember one person once said poverty is the state where you are no longer advancing in anything, it is the comfort zone. This really motivated me in terms of business I was beginning to slack.
I am glad I could help you. It’s true the first step is often the hardest. But the more you seek discomfort, the easier it gets. It is also useful to do important tasks first when you work on your business. So you see more progress which can improve your motivation.
Life offers your many opportunities, but those opportunities lie in so many different scenarios, and most of them are likely to involve discomforts..ever since I learnt work out of my comfort zone I have achieved lot and lots of things that I didn’t expect i would achieve in my comfort zone…being in a state of discomfort opens you up to all the opportunities that you have been missing
Exactly when you don´t seek new opportunities you stand still and you will be missing out on life.