Breaking Down Boxes
Are you ready for a change? Are you feeling “stuck” inside your comfort zone? Today I want to talk to you about making that change and stepping out of that zone of comfort. But first, let me tell you where this idea is coming from.
If you’re like me, your front porch was THE place for boxes this Christmas. I had so many deliveries through the holiday season. And the older my kids get, the bigger the boxes get!
As I was breaking them down for the recycle truck, I thought to myself, isn’t that something that we should do more often in our own lives? Break the box that we’ve erected around ourselves – that cocoon of safety – and do away with it? Step outside that comfort zone?
New Year, New Goals
Doing this means having a willingness to do or say or act in a different way. How perfect is that timing? It’s a new year! Right now, we all probably want to discover a new side of ourselves.
Let me assure you that this doesn’t need to be a giant change. You don’t have to decide one day to quit your job or climb Mount Everest or move across the country, or anything of that magnitude. Those are big decisions. It’s all about the little things!
I tell my coaching clients and my team from my business that this is a baby step process. If we try to do too much at once, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. Doing little things at a time will help us reach the big prize eventually. There’s a saying – “you don’t want to eat the elephant in one bite” – instead, you want to eat it one bite at a time.
It’s about deciding that every day is an adventure, and knowing you can do one little thing differently.
Be Vulnerable
If you find yourself saying or thinking things like, “that’s not how I do it” or “we don’t do things like that”…that is a sign that you might not be willing to think differently. You’re so comfortable in your zone that you don’t want to leave it. It’s about being willing to be vulnerable. It’s about pushing past our limits and going for things. It’s about a willingness to act in the face of fear or the unknown.
Here’s the deal – if you do have these huge plans, do one little thing at a time. If you want to do the Iron Man, get to the gym and start practicing. If you want to change jobs, spend some time every night looking for opportunities. Touch up your resume. If you want to move across the country, research it first.
My Tips To Get Out Of Your Zone
Now, the beauty of it is, I’ve got tips on how to help you get out of your zone. They’re very simple tips, and I want to share them with you.
1. I say this in my videos all the time…you must have a tribe of friends who won’t just tell you what you want to hear. They are the people willing to pick out your blind spots and tell you things you NEED to hear. Declare what you want to do to step out of your zone of comfort to those friends. There’s nothing like an accountability partner. They remind you of why you said you were going to do something in the first place.
2. Write down and identify what your comfort zones are. That’s the teacher in me! You all know by now that I’m all about writing things down. Then, on the other side of the paper, write the “getting out of your comfort zone” response. You’ll see how scary it can be. In essence, put two columns on a piece of paper, and write what you think now and what you’re willing to think in the future.
Do Scary Things
3. Do one scary thing a day. It doesn’t even have to be scary, actually – just do one different thing every day. I promise you, when you step out of that cocoon of safety, that’s where the good things happen. That’s where you will grow the most.
I started a business 7 years ago that was definitely out of my comfort zone. I thought I’d be a teacher for the rest of my life. When I was given this opportunity and I started to do this business, I realized I CAN actually do it! I can be vulnerable. I can try new things. And I started to GROW. I got so many compliments because of it. People really noticed my newfound confidence.
Connect The Dots
4. The fourth thing, which kind of ties it all together, is to connect the dots. Begin writing out your passions and dreams, and what you’re good at. I’m passionate about coaching people and mindset. About finding our purpose. We’re here to bring value to our world and pay it forward.
So, connect the dots. What are you good at? What excites you? What makes you feel good? You will not experience those things unless you step out of your zone of comfort. Start breaking down that box!
Here’s the deal. You have a choice. You can stay in your comfort zone and just dabble with life. OR you can take the leap and step outside the box.
Find Your Wings
I’m leaving you with this quote…
“First you jump off the cliff. Then you build your wings on the way down.”
We often want our wings before we even learn how to fly. But I’m telling you, your wings will appear, and you’ll be amazed at what you can do when you leave your zone of comfort.
I know there are millions of people out there who have stepped outside that comfort zone and changed. They became that butterfly they were always meant to be. I want to hear about it! Please, tell me your story in the comments. Tell me about a time you did something out of your norm. I’m cheering for you!
If you got any value out of this, or if you know someone who needs that little confidence boost to get out of their comfort zone, please share it with them. Please pay it forward. This world would be a better place if we all took the time to pay our life lessons forward to one another and help each other out!
Thanks Lynn, this is really helpful and practical advice.