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Tips & Strategies for Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone

one thing at a timeTips for moving out of your comfort zone.

Now that you have a better idea of the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and into the realm of possibility, it’s time to get to work and make that happen. In this post, I’m sharing some tips and strategies that will help you do just that. Read through them and pick one or two to try. Come back and try something new whenever you need a little boost or feel like you’re getting a little too comfortable.

Imagine It

We talked earlier about the fact that we step out of our comfort zone by stretching it into the realm of possibility. In other words, we have to see it, or imagine it before we can make it happen. This is why it’s so important to set aside some time to dream and imagine what’s possible. The best way to make sure that happens is to set aside some time for this purpose.

Tip #1:  Find a comfortable and quiet spot and just start letting your imagination run wild. Think about what could be possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re dreaming and plotting about relationships, your living situation, your job, your business, or vacations and hobbies. Make sure you take the time to imagine what may be possible. That’s how you create and start to approach the realm of possibility.

Just Try It And Dip In Your Toes

New opportunities present themselves to us all the time and often in new and unexpected ways. When that happens, instead of retreating back to your comfort zone, tell yourself that it’s okay to just try it. You don’t have to commit. You don’t have to jump in all the way. Just dip in your toes. For example, instead of committing to an evening of dinner and drinks with the blind date your friend wants to set up with, meet for coffee. Instead of quitting your job and running your own business, give it a try by freelancing in your free time while continuing to work your day job until you’re sure this is something you want to do. If there is an opening for a speech at your meeting, put your name down.  Challenge yourself.  Commit to your personal growth.

Tip #2  This idea applies to so many different areas. Whenever you feel yourself getting scared or overwhelmed with new possibilities, tell yourself it’s okay to just give it a try. It may be just what you need to get you to start stretching that comfort zone a little bit.  Toastmasters meetings are the perfect place to stretch yourself.  The meetings are a safe place to learn and grow.  Many people think that you have to be really good at public speaking to join Toastmasters, but in actual fact, Toastmasters is the place where you learn all the aspects of public speaking from using gestures and body language, to vocal variety and working with props, as well as how to project your voice in various situations.

Say Yes And Learn As You Go

One of my favorite motivational quotes comes from Sir Richard Branson and it offers great advice for getting way out of your comfort zone.

Tip #3:  Here it is: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”

I had a friend who did this when she was offered a job that required a car.  She said yes, she had one, then bought one after she was hired. So often we get stuck with this get goingidea of perfection. We think that we have to know everything there is to know about something before we get started. We feel that we have to know how to do a job before we can take it. We are afraid of failure and won’t let ourselves start a new project until we are sure we have at least the basics covered.

Yet that’s not how we learn as children. We don’t take a class on walking or riding a bike. Instead we give it a try and learn as we go.

Why not give yourself that same option. Start getting in the habit of saying yes when opportunity presents itself. Then figure out what you need to know to do the job, finish the project, and get stuff done. It’s a great strategy for constantly pushing your comfort zone and moving further and further into the realm of possibility.

Allbert Einstein success and failure quotes. Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. | Quotes on Failure and Success -- http://www.developgoodhabits.com/quotes-failure-success/

Will you fail every now and then? Of course, but you’ll also learn a lot and you’ll get better at what you’re doing. In the end, that should always be the end goal.

Tip #4:  Give yourself permission to fail and say “yes” more often.  Remember, the mo

re often you fail, the closer you get to succeeding.

Think about what Albert Einstein said. “Failure is success in progress”

 

 

 

To failing forward…

Fran Watson

www.franwatson.ca

 

 

 

P.S.  Let me know how you are doing in the comments below.

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