The Comfort Zone
The comfort zones. Yes I certainly like being there. Mum used to make sure I was in that zone as often as she could, yes I did blackmail her by crying or, pull a tantrum when I had to eat what was good for me.
Well that time is long gone now. I can not cry to get what I want, if I want it, I have to step out of my comfort zones. Things sure got complicated, I have to take risks now, challenge myself and do what needs to be done to get what I want or need. I have to learn new things on a daily basis to accomplish the things.
Here at WA, the tools for learning new way's of accomplishing what I want, are all set out for me. One lesson at a time to help me on my journey to success.
Reminds me of a story I once read, how sometimes we get so used to being in that comfort zone that we fear trying new things. Well here goes the story, hope I can remember it accurately:
A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains.
All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.
As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all.
Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.
The trainer replied;
“When they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was that over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.
Elephants are intelligent, yet they were programmed from a young age that this small rope was controlling their freedom. I am sure in time one of them wizened up and broke the small rope and everyone of the other elephants followed him.
We all have to break away from being in this comfort zone if we want to be successful. I fear rejection because of being rejected by all these beautiful women. I know it is shocking, a good-looking guy like me being rejected by a beautiful woman. This is in no way a permanent thing, it is perhaps changing my approach, learning from the past rejections and moving on.
I was comfortable working for someone else for the longest period. I had a guaranteed paycheck, benefits and even vacation time. It took me some time to realize how much more money the companies I worked for were making. I took a risk and bought my own business, this was me stepping out of my comfort zones. It was tough at first and everyday I had to work harder, learn more. My days got longer, I could not go on a vacation. That was just the first year and a bit.
Buying my own business was an investment in myself and it paid off. I bought a second shop, bigger than the first. I was in a new kind of comfort zones. Yes, it was hard work, but it paid off.
Here at WA, I once again stepped out of my comfort zones. I knew nothing about building websites, online marketing and so on. Today I have my own website, I have affiliate's wanting to sell their merchandise on my site. I am involved with an incredible community of friends, I call my second family.
Guess, I am rambling. The whole point is, there is nothing holding us back from being successful. No small little rope tied to our legs holding us back. Our determination, our willingness to take risks, learn new skills every day and to borrow a phrase from my friend Joe, "Git her done".
I wish everyone success,
Michael
Recent Comments
33
Thank you Michael.
It is so easy to stay in the "Comfort Zone" & not break out of it for fear of failure, or other reasons.
It is a lot easier to work in a regular JOB, & be paid by the company or organisation, than venture out into an unknown world. Maybe it is also security & being scared to try.
Denis
Hi Denis, thank you for commenting.
Venturing into un-chartered territory is always scary, but sometimes essential.
Best wishes,
Michael
Great post!
It is true that getting out of our comfort zone can be difficult and disturbing. I see this everyday with the autistic children I work with. They are in their world and when I intervene to help them out of their world that they find comfortable they can have very violent reactions or cry for hours. But when the cure comes after several months and years of work, they are so good in their minds that they never want to return to their comfort zones. The comfort zones are sometimes a decoy, we are not always comfortable in our comfort zone, but sometimes we are just afraid that things change because it is the unknown that awaits us.
Ingrid
Hi Ingrid, thank you for commenting.
Never thought of the comfort zone as being some sort of a decoy, but it makes total sense.
Great comment Ingrid, thank you for sharing.
Best wishes,
Michael
Bookmarked!
Loved the elephant analogy and the images are perfection.
I spend more time out of my comfort zone than I do in it.
I use that last image and give it to all my new Personal Training clients. I tell them to go and put it on the refrigerator.
Making a living, making a difference.
Mark
Hi Mark, thank you for commenting, and sharing the last image with your clients. I kind of like it too.
Michael
Well said Michael. It is ironic that at this moment when I started reading your blog, i was listening to some Jimmy Cliff music.
Music feeds my soul, and the song that was being played is sitting in Limbo and the exact line was "sitting in Limbo and have some time to search my soul". Saying this to say your blog is kind of soul searching.
Thanks for this uplifting post reminding us of the great opportunity we have here at WA. The dice is really for us to roll.
Hi Mazie, thank you for commenting. We have to get out of that limbo zone. Life sometimes is like rolling the dice and hoping for the best.
Michael
Thank you so much for sharing with us that wonderful post. Congratulation to you keep up the good work. WA give us the appropriate training to release our self from the rope like attitude. But only if we used it.
Hi Fitzgerald, thank you for commenting. Much appreciated. You are so right, it is up to us to use the training to achieve success.
Best wishes,
Michael
This is a great blog! We all have our comfort zones, and its scary to step out of them.. but also exhilarating...
I came to Spain 6 years ago with my 11 year old son, stepping so far out of my comfort zone I thought I would suffocate. We packed the car up with everything, and drove from the UK to the ferry from Southampton to Santander .. 24 hours later we are driving through Spain from north to south to our apartment ready for him to start at a new tennis academy. It wasn't just moving to a different country but also a leap of faith that this academy would be the greatest thing to happen to my son and help him reach his dreams of being a pro tennis player. he's now 17 yrs old, 500 in the world as a junior, and next year we do the journey in reverse, before he leaves for the USA and a tennis scholarship to university. He will be that pro player! First though, God willing, he will play at Junior Wimbledon next summer....
So many comfort zones have been broken down over the last 6 years but I knew, looking at my 11 year old boy way back then, that I had to do it, I had to step across that line for him, to give him that chance of his dream.
I have done things that 10 years ago I would never have thought possible.
I love the note - A dream written down with a date becomes a goal..... so true !
Thank you Michael !
Hi Helen, thank you for commenting.
What an awesome story, leaving the UK for Spain, to help achieve your son's dreams. Truly inspirational.
I will make it a point to watch him at Wimbledon next summer as I know he will. You will have to give a heads up, so we can watch a dream become a reality.
Best wishes,
Michael
Thanks Michael!
Don't worry, Ill be writing a blog about it so EVERYONE knows ! Thats not something I will keep to myself !
Thankyou !
I like my comfort zone but I realize it is holding me back, I am trying to overcome that.
Jerry
Hi Jerry, you are not alone. I was reading a comment from Ingrid where she mentions that the comfort zone perhaps is just a decoy. Thought they were wise words.
You joined WA, that is stepping out of your comfort zone.
Best wishes,
Michael
See more comments
Hey Lesabre,
Using wisdom helps us to overcome limitations as we huddle in our comfort zones.
Tell me who does not want freedom and/or to be loved genuinely?
We all do.But, our fears keep as immobilized....stuck in a huddling space or as you cleverly stated, the comfort zone.
A good friend taught me that, "Fear is a bad advisor." - Fleeky
And she is so right. Fear takes you down the road of negativity which is darkness and out of the path of positivity which is light.
I was there . So, I know better now. You know what is the secret? Good people like yourself do not have to seek anyone, THEY. ARE SENT. Do I need to say more? Done. :-))
Have lovely day Sir.
Blessings always,
Maxine
Hi Maxine, thank you for commenting.
Fleeky is a smart lady with many words of wisdom, like you.
You are a special, wonderful person Maxine and I appreciate your friendship.
Blessings and best wishes,
Michael