Life is a BOMB! - Get on board!

Once upon a time, that thing you now find easy and enjoyable was once uncomfortable.

Every single person on the planet has learnt this lesson, it sits in your data bank ready to access at any time. But let me just give you a little reminder.

You’ve seen inspirational quotes that encourage you to get out and do something strange - something you wouldn’t normally do - but getting out of your routine just takes so much work. There’s actually a lot of science that explains why it’s so hard to break out of your comfort zone, and why it’s good for you when you do it. With a little understanding and a few adjustments, you can break away from your routine and do great things.

It’s important to push the boundaries of your comfort zone, and when you do, it’s kind of a big deal. But what is the “comfort zone” exactly? Why is it that we tend to get comfortable with the familiar and our routines, but when we’re introduced to new and interesting things, the glimmer fades so quickly? Finally, what benefit do we derive from breaking out of our comfort zone, and how do we do it?

Let’s get started.

For me, it’s the idea of optimal anxiety. Anyone who’s ever pushed themselves to get to the next level or accomplish something knows that when you really challenge yourself, you can turn up amazing results. More than a few studies support the point. However, pushing too hard can actually cause a negative result, and reinforce the idea that challenging yourself is a bad idea. It’s our natural tendency to return to an anxiety-neutral, comfortable state. You can understand why it’s so hard to kick your brain out of your comfort zone.

Even so, your comfort zone is neither a good or bad thing. It’s a natural state that most people trend towards. Leaving it means increased risk and anxiety, which can have positive and negative results (which we’ll get to in a moment), but don’t demonise your comfort zone as something holding you back. We all need that head-space where we’re least anxious and stressed so we can process the benefits we get when we leave it.

“I have spent my entire life living outside of the comfort zone in order to be the best I can be”

For me joining the British Army at a young age, running around, using explosives, firing live rounds, was always out of what people thought was the ‘norm’. Getting married and having children young, going to Iraq and Afghanistan and making a huge move to Australia where we had no family was even more of a big leap, and in the near future will return there once more. I have travelled to the four corners of the globe and intend to extend these experiences to the masses.

All of these, are just a few of my life experiences. All of which I am too happy to share. Because one thing is extremely clear. Getting outside of your comfort zone enhances who we are as human beings. There are few things in this world that bring on that stressful feeling.

Life is the bomb! - Get onboard