Refusing to leave your comfort zone is normally how you get stuck in life. Here's how to break free:
- Be aware of what your comfort zone is. What makes you uncomfortable? Approaching people? Doing something physical? Taking a difficult class? Being ignored or sounding stupid? You need to get clarity on the things you're trying to overcome in order to overcome them.
- Start sneaking into your discomfort zone. Do something that is the total opposite of you. If you're an artsy-craftsy type of person, try something hardcore like climbing a mountain. If you're scared to break up with someone because you're afraid of being alone, face the discomfort so you can learn to be in a relationship out of desire, not desperation. Don't do what you think you'll be able to do - do what makes you think to yourself, "I can't do this; I must be out of my mind." Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- See failure as a learning experience. The most successful people will all tell you the same thing - their magnitude of success is directly proportional to how many times they've failed. Failure is the only way we really learn. Unsuccessful people experience a hint of failure and give it up instead of asking, "OK, what do I do to change." Because the world isn't going to change for you - YOU have to change.
