Finding the courage to leave your comfort zone and chase your passions.

Embracing discomfort isn’t something that humans are very adept at doing. Putting ourselves in new situations can often trigger unplanned stress and anxiety, which isn’t a useful reaction if we’re hoping to foster ground-breaking innovations and creative thinking. But it's often said that when you’re older, you look back on your life and question the things you didn’t do. Finding the courage to chase your passions is an empowering move towards being who you truly want to be and building the life you want to live.??

Leaving your comfort zone can be scary and isn’t without its challenges, but it can change your life. So what tips would I give to anyone who is looking to reinvent their lives and chase their passions?

Firstly, be curious. Ask yourself questions and focus on the vision and the journey of your next chapter. Is there something you really want to do, such as moving countries, starting a business, or changing jobs? Are there any opportunities that you currently know of that would allow you to do it? If not, take some time to research the steps that are involved, such as visa requirements for new countries or skill requirements for new jobs, and think about what would it take for you to make this change.

Then, set yourself goals that you can visualise. Write them down or make a vision board if that helps you, but make sure that you know what it is you want to achieve in very clear terms. You have probably come across SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals if you’ve been in an interview situation recently, but it can also help here with defining your objectives and establishing a plan to accomplish them. However, it’s important not to get too tied to a place or a timespan. As with anything in life, situations can change, and how your comfort zone looks now might differ in a year or two’s time. Putting yourself out there to seek new opportunities and chase your passions will foster personal growth regardless of its direction.??

And finally, think about how much discomfort you’re willing to embrace to reach your goals. Different dreams will have different thresholds, so it’s a good idea to identify any ways for you to test the boundaries that don’t seem too scary. For example, launching your own business could mean you have to change how you use social media. Enrolling in online courses can help you become more confident with new parts of your job, as can asking your close friends to support you with promoting and following a new account advertising your new venture.?

Alternatively, changing industries likely requires you to reach out to new people and build a wider, more targeted network through social media connections or by attending in-person networking events. Meeting new people can, for many of us, feel like a daunting task, but channeling any nerves you may be feeling into actions like creating a one-line introduction for yourself can help you embrace the discomfort and come out feeling more confident and more connected.??

Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t easy. But then again, it shouldn’t be. Challenge is what helps us to grow. Take the first step and be brave because when you look back, you’ll see how far you’ve come.?

For more insights on how the skillset of empathy can help you at work and home please visit www.empathyeverywhere.co or follow Mimi Nicklin - Empathy Advocate and Empathy Everywhere on LinkedIn, Mimi at @miminicklin on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok. Tune in to her top storytelling podcast via @mimiyouyoushow on Instagram or wherever you listen to your podcasts to hear the honest and truly inspiring stories of diverse individuals from around the world.