Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Start Improving Your Life

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This past summer, my friend texted me to see if my son was able to join her and her kids to go to a park. They were going to a nearby park to go in the creek, play some soccer, and some tennis. I was hesitant. It would be the first time I let my youngest son, who is 8, ride in the car with someone who wasn’t family. And I had only known this friend for about 6 months even though our kids had been school friends since they were six.

So, I was very apprehensive about this situation. As I was writing up the text back to her, it took me 5 times until I finally sent it. I kept changing what I wanted to say. First, I wrote no, it won’t work today. Then, I said we aren’t home. I finally told the truth that I didn’t think it would work since my son was still sleeping. She wrote me right back, saying she wasn’t leaving for over an hour if that helped. Well, it did help and I chose then to follow my gut.

 

 

I ended up letting him go. I tried to put my feelings aside and focus on how much fun my son would have if I said yes.

Then, as my friend was picking up my son to take him, she mentioned that her son was in Vacation Bible School (VBS) all week and if my son wanted to join them for that night she would take him with her.

I couldn’t answer her then. She had just shown up to pick up my son for the park, I couldn’t think beyond that. After they left for the park, I really struggled with this. The church was about 20 minutes away and I didn’t like the idea of my friend driving my son so far. I thought about driving him myself but the timing of it all just didn’t work out.

But I knew my son wanted to go.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Once my son came home from the park and I knew he was okay, I agreed to VBS that night.

Sometimes in life, we have to follow our gut even though it might scare us to commit. As much as my feelings were yelling at me to say no to the whole day, I followed my gut and said yes.

Everything turned out great. My son had the best day. I realized what a gracious family they were for taking my son for most of the day. I did something unexpected, something out of my comfort zone. And although it scared me, I am so glad that I said yes.

Challenge Yourself

Next time something challenges you or makes you uncomfortable, go for it. We are not always going to have successes in life but most times we will. And it’s at those times when we have those successes in life is when we grow a little.

Roy T. Bennett once said, “The comfort zone is a psychological state in which one feels familiar, safe, at ease, and secure. You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

I am still amazed at myself that I agreed to all of this with my son. I still don’t know why I said yes. Maybe it’s because she’s a mom, or because her son and my son are best buds, or maybe because she has 4 kids. Maybe it’s because of all of these reasons.

But I know, in the tiny growth that I felt after this experience, I am eternally grateful that I said yes.

Ruth Soukup, creator of the Living Well, Spending Less Blog and the Do it Scared Podcast has been such an inspiration to me. Her motto in life is “Do it Scared”.

Well, I did it scared letting my son go with my friend and I can’t wait to do something else that challenges me and makes me scared. That’s the only way I’ll grow.

What can you do that scares you a little? Do it and see how you feel. Enjoy that feeling and the tiny amount of growth you’ll feel.

Share your “Do it Scared” moments in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!