We are formed and conditioned by our thoughts, perceptions, habits and behaviour. Sometimes our (subconscious) mind falls into certain repetitive patterns and loops, that we become very much accustomed with the routine. Hence, we say that we are happy and good enough to do those activities which fall within our perceived limits or routines. These perceived limits of ours within which we feel happy and comfortable are referred to as our safe zones or comfort zones.

These safe zones or comfort zones are merely perceptions wherein we have set patterns which we believe as the best and comfortable and those limits beyond which lie the painful or the impossible. Hence, it is a mindset which tells us that we are safe and comfortable doing certain activities within certain boundaries. These perceptions and mindset also induce certain fears within us which prevents us from going beyond the comfort zones or breaking our safe zones. However, the very fact is that all our great achievements in our life happen beyond our safe zones. If we are able to overcome the fear of the unknown, we will be able to easily cross over the comfort zone. We can overcome the fear of the unknown and break our safe zones by shattering our patterns and pushing up our limits.

Ways to break our safe zones

1. Get information and be aware about what is outside our safe zone.
2. Pen down the frightful things that prevents you from moving from our comfort zones.
3. Clearly find out the rewards of achieving something that lies beyond our safe zone.
4. Now, find out if our desire to achieve is beyond the fears that pull us back.
5. Focus and aim on what we want to achieve and reduce the distraction of fears.
6. Still, we can work out on other strategies to reduce and remove the obstacles called fears.
7. Plan and prepare and mobilise resources to reach our aim.
8. Plan incremental changes like pushing up the limits and changing existing patterns bit by bit, so that we can take baby steps forward.
9. Feel the discomfort, the failures in the very early stages and grow and learn from the pain and failures.
10. Enhance our bearable capabilities, our risk appetitive, our ability to persevere and build up our wish power and will power.
11. Stay focussed on our aims, derive motivation from the benefits of the achievements we foresee and find no excuses.
12. Make the process a fun and start again to win even if you fail.

Story

There’s a small story that clearly explains how your comfort zone works. “In a Japanese village the main source of income was fishing. In every morning all men would woke up and start their fishing adventure, while their wives would take the fish and set on the road to neighboring villages. Since the main activity in the village was fishing, the source of income was selling fish in neighboring villages. One day, they went as usual on the road full of dangers such as wild animals, robbers, and after they walked a long way they decided to stop in a clearing to spend the night there. It was an amazing meadow with singing birds and very nice smell of cherries. The women were lying to sleep, but noticed that they can’t fall asleep. Nobody understood why, until one of them said that they all should sleep with their baskets of fish near their heads. Due to the odour of the fish, and women being accustomed to the smell of fish they fell asleep instantly. That was their comfort zone, being surrounded by fish.

Activity

Write down three aims of yours which lies beyond your comfort zone.

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Quote

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”― Roy T. Bennet

Takeaways

1. These safe zones or comfort zones are merely perceptions wherein we have set patterns which we believe as the best and comfortable and those limits beyond which lie the painful or the impossible
2. Embrace the 12 point strategy to break free from our safe zone.