We all have high aspirations. However, it can be hard to turn those dreams and goals into a reality. The truth is many of us struggle to reach our goals. The reason frequently involves our apprehension about step out of our comfort zone.
It’s true that nothing ever happens in our comfort zone. It’s the place that keeps us in the “someday” mode of pushing our goals to the side until the time is right, for another day or when you have more skills, money, and time.
Unfortunately, “someday” never happens. Eventually the life you dreamed of becomes a memory, a wish-I-would-have thought. Our fear of trying something different, putting ourselves out there and going for it keeps us from taking action. We let our comfort zone keep us safe.
Your comfort zone keeps you paralyzed from attempting what you desire. You may have goals and dreams but are afraid of the what-if’s that might happen when you do try. Instead, it’s safer to stay where you’re comfortable instead of getting hurt or humiliated by attempting your goal.
You’re afraid of speaking to a large group of people so you don’t go to the next level in your career, even though it is what you desire. You keep to yourself and stay in your current position instead where you’re comfortable.
You don’t go after your desire to start your own business because you’re afraid of failing. You stay in a job that you hate instead. You don’t try new adventures because you have an aversion to meeting new people and looking foolish. So, you stay at home in your comfort zone.
Some of the reasons you stay in your comfort zone might be from
Fear of the unknown, uncertainty
Anxiety over change
Negative mindset, pessimistic outlook
Lack of clarity and focus
Fear of failing (or succeeding)
No matter what it looks like, your comfort zone keeps you trapped. You stop advancing professionally. You don’t grow and develop personally. You eat the same way, live in the same place, drive the same kind of car, and associate with the same people.
Your comfort zone lets you willingly pass up important opportunities. Because of this, you might lose touch with your relationships, your health may begin to have serious problems, and you end up living a life of mediocrity.
Your unwillingness to act and step out of your comfort zone for whatever reason directly impacts your goals. If you are afraid to take the next step, and never do, you’ll stay where you’re at. If you worry about what will happen if you go for your goal so you end up not going for it, then you won’t ever reach it.
When you see yourself struggling to achieve your goals it’s often because you are stuck in your comfort zone. You are afraid of change, of doing things differently and being someone different.
Phoenix Education 