Comfortably uncomfortable
This is something that I have come across time and time again and am certainly guilty of myself as we all are. We all get comfortable and will prefer to stay within our comfort zone doing what we know; staying where we feel safe and not venturing outside our “safe” parameters.
We get the fight, fright or freeze instinctively kick in and listen to it on autopilot, preferring not to take a risk. Sometimes that instinct will have accompanying physical feelings churning in the stomach, hot sweats, a rash, shaking and even panic attacks or physical sickness.
This instinct is in place to keep us safe it is a legacy in our brains from our ancestry where we may have been attacked by saber tooth tigers or a woolly mammoth. These days the dangers are usually less severe, and risk of life is less common, although there are exceptions.
Using the 3 F’s
Learn to notice when your fight, fight or fear instinct is triggered when you get the butterflies in the stomach or the hot sweats stop for a minute. Take a moment to think, this instinct kicking in is usually telling you that something outside your comfort zone is ahead. First, check there is no threat to life or real danger and consider what is causing the FFF instinct to kick in; 9 times out of 10 it will be safe. Your FFF is telling you that there is an opportunity a chance to make progress, opportunity and progress are usually outside of your comfort zone. Practice using the FFF for you instead of against you and holding you back, the more aware and tuned in you become the more you will notice and be able to use them to progress. HeadGym have many techniques and strategies that can help with that push for shifting your comfort zone.
Here are just a couple of simple strategies you can use.
No
Saying no means, you can stay in your comfort zone, avoid the fear failure and rejection and avoidance becomes a carefully crafted skill. Ironically staying in your comfort zone can be very uncomfortable, many people I have worked with have chosen to stay “comfortably uncomfortable” for many years. What I mean by this is quite often people will be desperately unhappy, in a state of heightened anxiety or experiencing long term depression and rather than take the risk of stepping out of their “uncomfortable comfort zone” they stay put. Maybe some will pop out of the “uncomfortable comfort zone” for a short while only to retreat in again, this can become a pattern and can go on for years or even a lifetime.
Yes
Starting to say yes where previously your automatic response was no this can be the start of shifting the comfort zone this simple step can expand and deepen your life very quickly. Saying yes allows you to open your life to more happiness.
We have many more strategies and techniques for overcoming fears and combating any physical feelings that may be stopping you from shifting your comfort zone. You can join HeadGym free get tips, advice, and access to free webinars.