Is the fear of stepping out of your comfort zone keeping you away from that dream, which keeps you awake at night?
You just can't stop thinking about what you desire the most but are too afraid to take action?
If the answer to these two questions is YES, I can assure you one thing: that it will change today.
Stay with us till the end because we've got the 10 most effective ways that will help you step outside your comfort zone.
1. Take Small Steps
There is no denying the fact that it's normal for our minds to oppose change. Don't try to take the hardest step first. Instead, make a list of the things you want to work on and break them into tiny steps. Then consistently work towards achieving them.
Start off with something you feel is the easiest to do. If you want to act, try performing in front of the camera all by yourself at first. This will boost your confidence and prepare you for the next big step.
2. Be Fearless
Fear is what obstructs the way towards a dream. It makes you say no to every opportunity to help you get out of your comfort zone. It's time to eliminate your fear. It's your turn to rise and shine!
We need to understand that fear is nothing but a mere illusion that always tells us: You Can't Do It. Guess what? It's your time to prove your fears wrong.
You can only defeat your fears by facing them. Never make the mistake of running away from your fears because running away will only make you more vulnerable to them.
3. Believe in Yourself
As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Believe and you're halfway there."
Simply put, the journey of achieving anything substantial starts with you believing in your abilities. Believe is a powerful word that can do wonders for a person. It is also something you can develop over time- no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
If public speaking is your passion, but you're too afraid to step out of your comfort zone, start with something that will make you believe in your potential. One effective way would be to start by talking more in front of a group of friends.
4. Try Accountability
It's always beneficial to hold yourself accountable. It lets you keep track of your progress and keeps you focused. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a stressful journey. Hence, an external factor such as accountability can keep you in check.
One way to hold yourself accountable could be to enlist everything that you think will require you to step out of your comfort zone. Keep the list with you all the time and read it several times a day. This way you'll know exactly what's required of you to accomplish your goals.
Believe me when I say, this method worked really well for me.
5. Stay Positive
In some instances, you might feel you can't do it anymore. Giving up will feel like the easiest way out in some situations. But if you do accept failure, you will regret it for the rest of your life.
Accept that you will encounter many failures during the process, but there is nothing to be afraid of. Nothing lasts forever! The hard times too will vanish.
Don't allow negativity to outweigh your struggles and hard work. Instead, defeat the negativity in your mind by looking at the positive outcomes the journey can provide along the way.
6. Find an Advisor
Find a mentor that will motivate you to keep going no matter how hard it gets. The truth is, we all need someone who can look after us. Someone who can help us get back up when life knocks us down.
You can also learn from your mentor's valuable experience. Ask him/her questions you feel will help you grow. You can also vent to them because you know they will understand the problems you are facing.
A mentor can be your biggest support system who will celebrate your smallest accomplishments. They will push you to rise above your fears and step out of your comfort zone.
7. Try Doing New Things Regularly
Do the things you feel uncomfortable doing. Sing in public, talk to strangers, do something weird at a shopping mall. You won't feel the real difference unless you feel comfortable in awkward situations.
Tell yourself it's OK to try new things, and you will grow and gain confidence with every passing day. In fact, you will start to realize how important it is to try doing things you have never done before.
With time, you will feel completely at peace, even in embarrassing situations. You won't care what others think about you. You will start doing what you feel is right. And this is when the bubble of comfort zone begins to burst.
8. Reflect on How far You Have Come
At times you can become too overwhelmed with the journey. You might feel like you don't dare to continue. Something horrible might happen that can divert your attention from what you want to achieve.
In situations like these, do not hesitate to pause for a while. Give yourself some breathing space and reflect on some of your accomplishments.
Seeing how far you have come, how much time, effort, and energy you have invested will motivate you to strive for more.
9. Push for More
Never run away from widening your comfort zone. Try to go beyond the possible. Even if you get to your specified target, it's necessary to keep pushing the boundaries.
Hunt for a fresh opportunity. Do something you might never have thought you would do. Like taking the dance classes you were once too afraid to join. Or something similar that you have been reluctant to do in the past.
Never let anything stop you from going after what you desire. Be unconquerable!
10. Make Changes to Your Daily Routine
We set our routines according to our convenience and comfort zone. Try changing your daily schedule in tiny yet significant ways. Try taking an Uber drive instead of the local bus service. Eat your lunch at a slightly different time. Try talking to more people.
These steps don't seem essential, but they have a massive impact on helping us step outside our comfort zone.
Conclusion
It's all about taking small baby steps and continuing to move in the right direction. It doesn't matter how slow the journey seems. Gradually, you will be rewarded with fruitful results you have been striving hard for.
Stepping out of your comfort zone provides you with new opportunities to explore and learn. Don't miss out on them. No matter what and you are just right there!
