It’s the end of the 2019 calendar year, and the beginning of the rest of our lives. We’re embarking on a new decade in the next few weeks: the roaring 20s. While I’m no psychic, I am in tune with what’s going on in my life and I’m here to share the good news about what really happens when you step outside of your comfort zone!
But first, let’s define exactly what “comfort zone” really means. In my experience, your comfort zone is anyone, or anything that makes you feel comfortable. Ever heard of “comfort food?” Oh how I love pizza! You know that feeling you get when you go home, and you’re back in the house you grew up in? That’s what you call comfort! What about your friends, familiar friends you’ve known for your entire life. The friends that never challenge your way of thinking or being, but they simply accept you as you are– even if who you are is all jacked up! That, my friend, is comfort! Let’s not get it twisted, there’s nothing extremely wrong with comfort, but it’s just hard to grow from it.
Today, I’d like to shed light on what happens when you leave your comfort zone! I’m living proof that something transformative and worthwhile happens, and it can only happen outside of your comfort zone. When I left my comfort zone almost a decade ago, I experienced a ton of personal growth. But, I didn’t realize how much I allowed my comfort zone to follow me to my destiny! The same friends, the same family drama, the same timeline of people I barely know on social media– were following me into my new chapter in life. So, I decided to let that go. This has been a process, dating way back to summer 2018. Fast forward to now, and we’re jumping into 2020 with a new attitude!
Here are 7 things you experience outside of your comfort zone
You learn how to walk by faith.
We hear it all the time, “walk by faith!” But when you’re outside of your comfort zone, this is the only way to walk. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. When you’re outside of your comfort zone, you tune out the noise of the world, and you tune in to God’s voice and the truth about your life’s path. You stop looking to the left and right, or behind you. You simply walk, by faith, knowing that everything is happening for a reason.
You see why you had to leave in the first place.
In hindsight, is often the best perspective. When you’re outside of your comfort zone, you’re able to observe yourself and your life in a more holistic way. See, there’s such a thing as groupthink and certain regions carry a certain spirit or energy. But what happens when you simply stop going back to these areas? You’re able to calibrate your most authentic energy, without interference from anyone else. You also unveil why you chose to leave in the first place and you confidently become who you’re supposed to be!
You find the best version of yourself.
Now this is the icing on the cake: can you imagine meeting the best version of yourself?! Look at you! You’re the bomb, dot com! But you won’t be able to see this version of yourself, unless you’re outside of your comfort zone. The best version of yourself is begging you to break free from the past, and to walk into your superpowers! The biggest sign that you’ve leveled up is how they receive the new you. If they seem jealous, or envious– they probably are. Shake that negative energy off and simply walk into your best self! It takes a lot of work to improve yourself, but that hard work pays off in the long run… keep growing!
You become more in tune with your life’s calling.
They say do what you love. What do you love? Love is such a powerful force in the world, and it goes far beyond male and female relationships. Love is something you are. I am love. My life is love. I love what I do. Living outside of your comfort zone is a call to action to find out what you love, so that you may become more in tune with your life’s calling. This is do or die. Don’t waste another day of this lifetime, doing what you hate. Be love to find love, and live a life filled with love!
You easily see what disrupts your peace.
Since we are all creators of our reality, it’s important to remember you’re the author and director of your life’s story! Imagine your life is a spaceship and anything you allow on your spaceship is putting your peace at risk. When you’re outside of your comfort zone, you’re able to easily detect what disrupts your peace. In fact, your comfort zone could be the most disruptive element in your life, if you’re willing to accept the ugly truth. This is the first year of my entire life that I did not travel BACK to my home state. And guess what? This year has been the most transformative year of my entire life! I’ve let the past go, and I’ve been at complete peace since then. Try it, it works!
You smile and laugh more.
This Thanksgiving, I found myself full of tears of joy. I had never felt so content with what I was experiencing, in that present moment. I was completely engulfed with the now, and I was so, so happy. I am so happy. That is something I’ve been experiencing more and more lately. You no longer look outside of yourself for a reason to smile or laugh. You become the reason to smile and laugh! You begin to look at your life as a multi-dimensional experience, that is solely yours and yours alone.
You learn how to be comfortably, uncomfortable.
Life teaches us how to grow from our life experiences. The moment you think you’ve “made it,” life has a funny way to humble us and to bring us back to our inner selves. Living outside of my comfort zone has taught me how to roll with the punches, while simply letting go of my need to be in control! We do not have control. We do not have authority over anyone else’s life! All we can do is simply learn how to be comfortable, with life’s many discomforts. Whether you are feeling under the weather, or you’re in a slow season with business; there’s no need to freak out and lose it! Everything is happening in your favor, so it’s important to be flexible with whatever comes your way.
As we enter 2020, I challenge you to take small steps towards living outside of your comfort zone. The best version of yourself is waiting for you to wake up from the world you’ve been existing in, and to re-introduce yourself as the whole, love-filled, creative, peaceful person that you are!
What have you learned while living outside of your comfort zone?
Giselle Avenue 