Comfort Zones
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
– T.S. Eliot
Are comfort zones truly zones of comfort?
Do you really feel comfortable sitting in your comfort zones?
If you look within and ask yourself this question, you will realize that it is not!
The truth is that, “comfort zones are uncomfortable zones”.
Every minute that you spend inside your comfort zones, you are trying to answer questions:
- Will my tomorrow be as comfortable as today?
- How do I ensure that I can stay in this comfort zone forever?
- What if tomorrow I am forced out of this bubble?
These are just some of the questions that might be going through your mind.
Your are struggling to find answers to these hundreds of questions.
But why?
Shouldn’t you be feeling good inside your comfort zones?
It is because, comfort zones are dangerously comfortable!
So much that it will keep poking you and tell you that you are looking at an imminent disaster.
It is that natural instinct which warns you much ahead of a possible disaster.
It is then left to your choice to decide what you want to do – get out or, stay there and struggle!
The Mouse in the Cheese Jar
Heard about the story of that mouse in the jar?
No!
Then let me tell you the story.
This friend of ours, a mouse once out in search of food, falls into a jar full of cheese.
It was a big jar and a lot of cheese slices.
His first thoughts – he will eat a slice and then jump out of the jar and go his way.
But then he feels, “There is so much food in here, why work on searching for food?”
It seems like paradise.
Endless food without effort?
The mouse couldn’t believe its luck.
The jar became its world, his “𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗭𝗢𝗡𝗘”!
One slice a day, the mouse lived without worry,
- enjoying each bite
- oblivious to the future
Slowly the stock was running out.
Desperation sets in.
He had to get out of the jar now.
But because the cheese slices were almost over and the jar was big, he wasn’t able to get out of the jar.
He jumped and scratched the walls, but to no avail.
He couldn’t get out of the jar.
He had no choice but to stay in there.
A few days after he ate the final slice in the jar, he died inside the jar!
Our lives are very similar to this story of the mouse.
We come across comfort zones and settle in.
It seems like we have everything.
Why leave when everything we need is right here?
Somewhere deep inside we realize we are in discomfort.
But we don’t want to get out!
We want to stay there because we are feeling comfortable.
- Less work
- Regular salaries
- Satisfactory lifestyles
We convince ourselves that we are comfortable, even if we feel discomfort in between.
Getting out of Comfort Zones!
Here’s the issue: comfort zones are misnomers.
They’re traps.
If you go deep and get caught, there is no way you will be able to get out.
And by the time you realize it will be too late!
If you are like me, then you don’t want to get caught in the trap.
You want to get out and live a life of fulfillment.
So how do you do it?
Here’s a 5-step process that you can use to get out of your comfort zones –
Recognize the trap
It all starts with acknowledging that you are in a trap and that you want to get out.
Comfort feels good, but it’s finite.
After some time you will start becoming complacent.
So recognize the trap before it traps you.
Evaluate your situation
How would you know if you are stuck in a comfort zone?
Ask yourselves these questions:
- Are you growing, or are you stagnant?
Comfort often means you are stuck.
And if you feel you are stuck then you are definitely in need of action.
Plan your exit
Now that you have figured out the trap and decided that you want to get out, ask yourself, “What skills, networks, and resources do you need to move forward?”
Identify them and start working on them.
When you start doing new things – learning, networking, gathering information etc. you automatically start pushing yourself out of your comfort zones.
You are doing uncomfortable things and that is what is required to get out of the trap.
Take small incremental steps
Remember that escape isn’t immediate.
It will depend upon how deep you are into the trap.
If you have gone too far, then breaking free can take some time.
Don’t get frustrated. Don’t be impatient.
Start with small, manageable changes – changes that can make you do those uncomfortable things that can help you grow in life.
Commit to continual growth
This is the most difficult part in the entire journey.
When you are pushing yourself hard and doing things that aren’t really comfortable, your inner self will keep telling you to stop and go back to your comfort zone.
The tendency of quitting and going back is very high.
Now that you are slowly getting out of the trap—Avoid falling back into the trap.
Keep pushing yourself. Keep challenging yourself.
Keep growing!
The Secret to staying safe of Comfort Zones!
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
– Neale Donald Walsch
Stepping out of comfort zones isn’t limited only to professional life.
You might want to challenge yourself in personal aspects as well — be it learning a new hobby, traveling solo, or engaging in community service.
These experiences will help lead a meaningful life and at the same time will help you enhance your adaptability.
Another important point to keep in mind is the sight of our long term goals. Often, we get so caught up in daily routines that we lose sight of our long-term goals.
Regularly visualize where you want to be in 5, 10, or even 20 years.
This is a practice that will not only keep you motivated but will also help align your daily actions with your larger ambitions. This makes it easier to step out of your comfort zone when necessary.
Periodically assess your skills and identify any gaps that might be a challenge to your progress.
Consider online courses, workshops, and reading materials to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in your field.
Continuous learning is crucial for maintaining momentum and avoiding stagnation.
Conclusion:
“Growth and comfort do not coexist.”
– Ginni Rometty
Remember, the earlier you are able to identify that you are falling into the trap of “comfort zones”, the easier it will be for you to get out.
Tesla let go of 10,000 employees. Dell reduced their workforce by 14,000 only in 2024. The same is the case with most other companies.
Our 9-5 guarantees us a monthly income. But that guarantee is not really a guarantee.
You might be feeling comfortable where you are right now.
Like the mouse, you might feel secure today.
But what about tomorrow?
When resources run dry, will you be ready, or will you find yourself scrambling at the bottom of an empty jar?
Start your side hustle today and work on growing it so that it can be your ladder to get out of the comfort zone.
Push beyond the familiar.
Challenge your boundaries.
I put in about 18 hours every month to create this newsletter, starting from researching to writing and editing it.
So, If you enjoyed reading this Newsletter, I would sincerely appreciate it if you could recommend it to others. You can send them to https://theloudspeakeronline.com to subscribe to it for FREE!
What am I reading?
I picked up this book “The Unfair Advantage” by Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba, last week.
I have only started reading it, but am liking the concept being discussed.
You might be able to relate to it.
Have you ever felt, after looking at somebody very successful, that they had an unfair advantage like their parents being from affluent families, or, they being born intelligent or, such other.
We all come across such feelings.
But is there really something called as an “unfair advantage”?
That is what this book explores.
You should read it.
You will get a different perspective.
Go ahead and check it out!
My YouTube Channel
There were a lot of questions that I got on the channel where people were asking me about how to use Audacity in podcasting, where to download it from, what are the settings etc.
So I created this very simple video on how to use Audacity for Podcasting.
If you too want to learn about it, then you can watch this video here –
==> Click here to check it out!
Whenever you are ready, here’s how I can help!
If you are liking my articles and other content pieces that I am publishing and are looking for any additional step, then here are 2 ways I can help:
Consultation calls:
You can book a consultation call on any of the following topics:
- Podcasting strategy and getting started with a podcast
- Content creation a a business and getting started
- Podcast Monetization
You can book a consultation call here!
Join my Community:
I am building a community of individuals who want to break free from the stereotypes and build a thriving business using content.
This community will be a good medium to get support while supporting others.
If you are interested, just reply to this email and I will send you the details to join.
That’s it for this week!
Do let me know your thoughts, feedback, and opinions about this newsletter.
If you have a question or, simply enjoy reading this, I would sincerely appreciate it if you could write a recommendation for me on LinkedIn. You can use this link to do that.
If you are comfortable writing a review for the newsletter, you can do that here. Your support would be sincerely appreciated.
