For many of us, half of the battle is in taking a step out of our comfort zones. At some point this year, I realized that too often I was standing figuratively still. I was existing day to day, dreaming of when I would do video full time, but rarely taking action to make that happen. I then realized that life could pass me by simply because I stayed in the groove of comfort. In my case, I had to face that I did not know a clear path forward. All I knew was I should start moving, in any direction at all. If I went backwards, at least I could learn from it. I had to be ok with letting my foot off the break and just being along for the ride.
Tips for breaking out of the comfort zone:
List of Risks
One of the things I did this year to encourage growth was to scratch down a list of reasonable risks I could take to keep myself moving in a positive direction. The list floats around my desk, hopefully catching my eye when I’m stagnant. Some items are things that can be done to no end (one reminds me to pitch on a new project, maybe one more challenging than usual) while others ask me to do something for the first time (sign an NDA which I’ve never done and find oddly intimidating).
Inch Out of Your Comfort Zone
I think we all know areas we personally struggle in but wish we didn’t. I find that taking small, but personally daring steps to combat that deficiency keeps me growing and on my toes. You don’t have to take a massive step or terrorize yourself, just do something small. Face a fear as small as you need. If you’re worried about rejection, maybe you choose to send that email or write that pitch anyway. Slowly but surely, these things add up and help you to have more confidence to tackle new tasks that no longer seem so daunting.
Don’t Overthink It
I know it’s not easy, but don’t let what other people think get in your way. So often we let those imagined opinions determine our path, but we don’t actually know what people are thinking. Even if we did, oh well, you definitely shouldn’t let them stop you from pursuing your passion.
Stop Seeing a Lack of Success as Failure
Sometimes, we want to give up when we go through what seems like a progress drought. I had to stop seeing all of the “no’s” as negatives. Everything is experience and a chance to expand your knowledge and to better yourself. Try to appreciate all experiences for what you can gain, whether that be new techniques or just time spent practicing.
Just Move
Sometimes, we feel like we’ve taken a few steps back, or, at the most, horizontally. Maybe you’re like me and you’re waiting for the perfect move, playing life like a game of chess. But the fact is that all movement is forward movement in the big picture. Every experience, whether perceived as success or failure gives you skills for the next step. Waiting for perfect circumstances is holding you back more than setting you up for success. Know that horizontal and backwards movement is still movement. You learn what does and doesn’t work, and what you do and don’t like. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not failure, rejection, or embarrassment. It’s getting to a ripe old age and realizing you never even tried.
Love this post and want to read Part 1? Click here to read "Small Goals to Reach Big Goals: Don't Give Up."
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
