Getting out of one’s comfort zone is something that resonates deeply with me. Part of my new year’s resolution was to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
As I embark on a journey of self-awareness and spiritual growth, I find myself facing my own inner demons on a regular basis. Eventually, I realized that the cause of my own mental blocks and obstacles were actually myself. I finally understood the true meaning of “You are your greatest enemy”. All the self-doubt, lack of confidence and fear are all in our mind, they are not real, we make it real by feeding them with the belief that they are real. However, once we can get across that hurdle, you would realize that you could achieve anything you put your mind to.
The main reason we often linger around our comfort zone is simple because of fear; we fear so many things such as change because it can bring about uncertainty. We fear failure and having to endure the disappointment that follows suit. We fear new responsibilities because we think that we are inadequate. But why should we let fear stop us from growing and venturing further.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” And the reason behind this is in another inspiring quote where she explains why doing so will benefit you. “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
There is a “Do something you fear each day” challenge, where you simply do something that scares you each day. Some people set it for 30 days while those who are more ambitious would set it for as long as a year. You could set up a list for a week and it does not have to nerve-wrecking activities such as skydiving but something as simple as talking to a stranger if you are an introvert or finally scheduling that long overdue appointment to the dentist.
I have yet to start on this interesting project but there are occasions when I find myself pushing my own limits and just simply leaping out of my comfort zone. I am an introvert and I usually prefer to keep to myself, however, ever since I have started taking Grab Hitch rides. I find myself practicing my socializing skills and holding conversations with total strangers. Initially, it felt odd and unnatural but as I continued practicing, it now comes to me perfectly.
In the past, I used to feel intimated when talking to native English speakers because I had low self-esteem, I did not think that they would understand my English well and that I would somehow embarrass myself. However, things have changed and now I see everyone as equals regardless of what their country of origin is and whether if they are a native English speaker. I find myself being able to hold a quality conversation and actually enjoying it. It is little triumphs like this that motivates me to push on further into my journey. My next task would be to go on a solo trip overseas and I cannot wait to see what new insights I can gain about myself.