Starting a new year can open the door for great things to happen in our leadership roles for 2013. However, we have to learn how to be comfortable when we are uncomfortable. In other words, we must learn how to get out of our comfort zone.
I admit … I’m nervous when I’m outside my comfort zone.
The comfort zone is an amazing place of security, comfort, safety, and protection. Stepping out this zone can be scary and lonely, and involves stretching and growing; this is the bit where physical pain comes into it. The best thing of course is the end result! This will be when mastery has finally been reached and with it increased inner strength and confidence.
This doesn’t just apply to the ‘big stuff’. This applies across the board no matter how big or small.
Below I’ve listed 5 easy things to help with becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. Starting with the most important:
1. Start by noticing what you notice. Each time you do something different notice what your reaction to it is and where this reaction manifests within your body.
2. Keep a journal or diary of feelings and reactions as you continue to grow through stepping out of your comfort zone. Write three pages in your journal or diary each morning about your ever expanding comfort zone. Write for at least one month then reflect on your pages, starting from page one, noticing any patterns, useful or not. Use a different coloured pen for things that worked for you in becoming more masterful. Again using a different coloured pen make note of what definitely did not work.
3. Ask yourself questions about growing and stretching:
“What needs to happen now to make it less painful for me?”
“What are the benefits for me in mastering this new thing (relationship, job, task etc)?”
“What am I learning from this experience?”
“What am I not learning from this experience?”
4. Turn negative self-talk into positive speak. The more often positive self talk is practiced the more comfortable it will become, until it’s fully integrated and natural.
5. Know that it takes time to become comfortable with something new and different. Unfortunately, there is no instant fix or ‘cure’ (I would’ve found it by now!). The quicker the mastery levels raise the quicker the return of a comfort zone.
Some suggestions to help deal with the uncomfortable may be to take up a meditation, breathwork, or some transformational coaching for inner peace.
The outcome of this effort will be living how you want to live, and knowing that you’ve achieved this through your own efforts. Much success to you in 2013 as you learn to become comfortable in the uncomfortable.
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