If you feel like you are stuck in a rut, this post is for you! Writer Cheryl Rhody has an appetite for ambition, a vivid imagination, and an enthusiasm for public relations, marketing, digital media and ultimately brand amplification. You can connect with her on Linkedin!
Personal Development: How To Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Let’s face it. We are creatures of habit and often find ourselves getting quite comfortable in our daily routines. While the security of the predictable can be quite soothing, more often than not we are actually in a rut.
The hardest part in letting go of the proverbial “safety blanket” is to first recognize it as an obstacle to growth and development. These bumps in the road can be as obvious as getting out of a bad relationship or making a major cross-country career change to those that require smaller leaps of faith, such as trying a different restaurant or picking up a new hobby.
No matter how big or small the change, the only thing that matters is that you have to take action and start somewhere! In my personal experience, the more often I take myself out of my “comfort zone” on a daily basis, the easier it gets for me to ultimately make those seemingly dreadful “life-changing” decisions.
Moving out of your comfort zone is easier than you think! The recipe for thinking outside of your box is simple: Add a dash of creativity, a hint of curiosity, a pinch of courage and mix well.
Here are a few of my favorite exercises in creativity that help me step out of my comfort zone.
Try on a New Pair of Shoes
Not literally, of course. Take a look at your situation from a variety of unique and diverse perspectives. Try to envision yourself in someone else’s shoes. How would that person act? What choice would they make? By viewing the situation in a different light, you can often spot out choices or solutions you would have normally overlooked as being possibilities.
[Related Post: How To Reduce Stress at Work & Be More Productive]
Think in Reverse
Instead of viewing something from beginning to end, think backward! Ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish? By having an end goal in sight, the puzzle pieces often fall more easily into place.
Map Out a Plan of Action
You wouldn’t go on a road trip with a map, right? Navigating your way through life shouldn’t be any different! Start by making a list of personal qualities, ambitions, goals, fears, desired characteristics and what makes you ultimately happy. It will be much easier to reach your destination if you know where you are going and what you’re looking for in life.
Explore New Environments
Change your scenery! Go outside, explore a new city, travel a different route — just switch things up! A new backdrop can spark your imagination and provide you with a different perspective.
Be Child-like
Barriers and obstacles often don’t exist to children because they have yet to encounter them. Make it a habit to question things and discover new better solutions. Think about what potential obstacles stand in your way, then remove them from the equation. You might just find that they aren’t truly standing in your way after all!
Try, Then Try Again
