"If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you" !!! Move outside Your comfort zone to excel and learn in life !!!

I came across this really cool article in Harvard Business Review (HBR) https://hbr-org.cdn.ampproject.org/ by Andy Molinsky?on how is it important for us to take SMALL ACTIONS to come out of our comfort zone gain confidence to attempt new Ideas.

Important points discussed in this article are

• First, be honest with yourself.?When you turned down that opportunity to speak at a big industry conference, was it really because you didn’t have the time, or were you scared to step on a stage and present?
• Then, make the behavior your own.?Very few people struggle in every single version of a formidable work situation. You might have a hard time making small talk generally, but find it easier if the topic is something you know a lot about. Or you may have a hard time networking, except when it’s in a really small setting.
• Finally, take the plunge.?In order to step outside your comfort zone, you have to do it, even if it’s uncomfortable. Put mechanisms in place that will force you to dive in, and you might discover that what you initially feared isn’t as bad as you thought

No one likes to move beyond his or her comfort zone, but that’s really where the magic happens. It’s where we can grow, learn, and develop in a way that expands our horizons beyond what we thought was possible.

There are four different levels of challenge and learning :

• The comfort zone?is where we feel safe and in control. We know what to expect and we are not challenged.
• The fear zone?is the area where we feel uncomfortable and anxious. We are outside of our comfort zone and we are not sure what to expect.
• The learning zone?is where we are challenged but not overwhelmed. We are learning new things and we are growing.
• The growth zone?is where we are stretched to our limits. We are learning and proliferating, which can be challenging and uncomfortable. Spending time in all four zones is essential to grow and learn. If you want to grow and learn, stepping outside your comfort zone and into the fear zone and learning zone is very essential .

Here are few tips for moving from the comfort zone to the growth zone:

• Set small goals that are challenging but achievable.
• Break down significant goals into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Take risks and try new things.
• Surround yourself with supportive people.
• Be patient and don't give up.

How you can step outside of your comfort zone

So, what’s the best way to go about this?

First, pinpoint the types of skills you’d like to learn. For example, perhaps you’ve always avoided public speaking and would finally like to master it. Or maybe you declined opportunities to lead projects but want to develop your leadership skills. Or perhaps you want to be able to code but are afraid of failure.

Then, find ways to start with small steps, as Harvard Business Review advises. Practice speaking in front of a group of your colleagues a few times before agreeing to speak at a large conference. Oversee a few small assignments before volunteering to head up a more involved, larger project.

How stepping outside your comfort zone benefits your career

Clearly, if you make the effort to step outside of your comfort zone, you can learn new skills that can help you advance in your career. At the same time, having more tools in your toolbox and knowing how to use them can help build your confidence, which can be fundamental when it comes to seeking out new opportunities and tackling new obstacles.

We are all masters of our comfort zone's so it should be no surprise that we (meaning you, me and the world) resists being curious and stepping outside of it like the plague. Take this famous quote:

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"

It sounds powerful, maybe promising and filled with potential, right? Not entirely, and here's why. After twenty years of working with people from all over the world and all walks of life, I realized this:

• It's not always that people don't want to step outside their comfort zones, it's that they don't know where it ends and it's the fear of not knowing where it is, what it looks like and how to get there that keeps many people complacent.

Think of it like this: People approach finding the "end" of their zone like walking out into a swimming pool or ocean, only to slowly start shuffling their feet or tip-toeing outward not sure of when that exact moment will be where they slip and feel that cliff or edge and lose balance. That fear keeps people safe.

Technology has made great advancements in our world and the answers are now within seconds away from us but with such bombardment of technology, we are simply no longer thinking critically and as a result we have gotten lazy and our curiosity quotient has dropped significantly.

So much is missed and so much of life is missed out on by not raising your hand, your voice or your platform. It doesn’t have to be this way. Finding what peaks your curiosity is the first part. Here are 7 benefits to stepping outside your comfort zone:

1. Opportunity to grow: Challenging yourself can help you reach your peak performance level.?You can’t expect to evolve and reach new heights if you only stick to your normal habits and routine lifestyle. Learning new skills and lessons will help you throughout your life.
2. Learn about yourself: Taking risks will help you grow as an individual and will teach you about your interests, passions, talents, strengths and weaknesses. Every time you accomplish something you didn’t think you were capable of, you become more confident, knowledgeable and skilled.
3. ?Expanding yourself and your creativity: When you try something new, you may find a new hobby or talent that you didn’t know that you had. New and challenging situations require you to find your own creativity in order to reach a solution.
4. ?Increase your self-confidence: Tackling the unknown and proving to yourself you can push past your boundaries and limiting self-beliefs builds your self-confidence and self-esteem. Insecurity loves to feed on your habit?of not trying.?If you stop thinking and start acting, you will realize what's possible.
5. ?Learn to deal with challenges: Life is unpredictable and it’s important to have the skills and confidence to face them head on. Knowing that you were able to overcome something you thought was insurmountable will build your confidence and reinforce your independence of who you are. c
6. Life becomes lively: When your life stops being a scene from the movie Groundhog Day, everything shows up different. Life becomes more interesting and worth living. Risks may look like adventures and obstacles could look like opportunities. When you are happier on the inside, your appreciation for what's around you increase. Surprise yourself daily.
7. Build new relationships: Trying something new helps you to meet all sorts of new people you may not have met otherwise staying in your comfort zone. In order to have good relationships with others, you must have a good relationship with yourself.?If you are not happy with who you are or what you do, it will be challenging to value the good qualities of the people around you. Stepping out of your comfort zone, discovering who you are and overcoming yours fears will ultimately result in better relationships with others. Drama decreases as your confidence and life's perspective increases.