5 Benefits of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

​Hello everyone!

We are finally keeping a consistent 80 degrees here in Rhode Island so let's hope it stays that way! 

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my story about this particular blog post which is about stepping OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. I love this topic because it honestly changed me and my outlook on life for the better.

Many of us (if not all of us) can completely relate to this. The comfort zone is a great place to be...nothing changes...you don't have to fear failure....and you don't have to fear looking stupid (but who actually knows what that looks like or what it means?)

It may be this picture below ;) One of my best I must say!

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​It is all great...until...you stop growing...you stop reaching new heights...you stop reaching for goals because that particular area of work (or whatever it may be) is comfortable and reliable. But what if you are just settling and not doing what you love?

YOU WERE MADE TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS. Yes, you. Your existence on this earth was no mistake. You have talents and gifts that others do not. So why hold them captive? Why keep them bottled up inside of you when you know you could possibly make a difference in something or someone?

The biggest regret you will have in life is not taking that chance whether it be playing a new instrument you have been longing to learn, starting up your own business, or just living adventurously. There is no other time than now... now is the best time to go for it.

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​Now...I could go on and on about this topic. But you didn't come here for that! :) We will save that for another post or video when I have the chance. 

This is not only about your career but about taking chances in life. Raise your hand if you have ever said NO to an opportunity because you were scared of the 'What ifs.' I know I am. Maybe you were scared about going on the dance floor for fear of looking silly (I look like an idiot 100% of the time while dancing!)....
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​...or maybe you had a fear of going on the trip because of X, Y, and Z. I am definitely guilty of this one.

But let me tell you from experience...I would not be where I am today if I did not push myself out of my comfort zone. I am forever grateful for this profession I chose because of that. I grew up as an introvert. I hated being in the public eye...hated even being seen and would for sure keep my mouth shut in fear that someone would criticize or lash back on what I was saying. Years of bullying helped with this one for sure. 

But all of that changed when I started to do the things that I feared most.

I pushed myself to volunteer, to reach out to people, to speak in front of crowds, etc. And none of that would have been possible if I had stayed in my little bubble of comfort. Remember in my bio where I said that I love talking in front of crowds or public speaking!? This is the reason why! I pushed myself to do that. I didn't think of what could go wrong. I just went for it. And every opportunity that presented itself to me to publicly speak or to speak in class I took because I knew it would help me grow more comfortable in that area.

​So what are you waiting for!?!?!?

5 reasons of why you need to get out of your comfort zone
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1) Your confidence in yourself will skyrocket!

• ​This is a given. Once you start to do the thing that scares you, and you do it more and more, it will start to become second nature. You will be more confident in yourself because you have been there before...you have done this before...it isn't as scary anymore. A great example is a baby learning how to walk. They fall down again and again, yet they get back up and it becomes second nature. I know this example is given many times but it is a perfect one for life lessons.

2) Great opportunities will come your way.

• ​If you challenge yourself, you may not be aware of the people that see or recognize what you are doing. Networking with individuals is a great example of this one. If you speak to various people, they will remember you. People may see the talent or gift that you hold and want to become a part of that or show it off to others. Let's say you are an introvert like I am and you decide to go to take part in something local (think of an example in your life...what is one social event/thing you are nervous, scared, or hesitant to take part in?) You just might make great connections and friends if you do that thing...and if you don't hey it was worth a try! But at least you went out and did it.

3) You may uncover hidden talents or gifts.

• ​Again, if I had not pushed myself to speak confidently and loudly in presentations or workshops, I may never have come to the realization that I LOVE public speaking. I honestly see this as a gift. You may uncover that you have a gift of connecting with people, or have a gift in educating children, or may have a hidden talent in music or sports, etc, etc. Something could be buried deep down inside of you that you never thought you had. It is worth a shot to try and find that out. 

4) Challenging yourself will help you grow in your career and your life.

• A great example of this is a person who lifts weights. If you constantly lift the same weight, for the same amount of repetitions, for the same amount of sets (you get the idea), your progress will become stagnant. Your muscles need a challenge and more weight in order to grow...just like your mind. You need a challenge in order to grow and progress in life and career. Now this doesn't have to be a life changing challenge or something that is so far fetched that it is not likely achievable. Even something small can make a huge difference. 

5) You will feel happier and more motivated.

• ​You will find your happiness. I know that I feel satisfied and motivated when I challenge myself. Some others out there would disagree...it may seem like a chore. But maybe you are not choosing the right goal. When you succeed in the things you sought out to do, you become more motivated. It can even be exhilarating. Just think of yourself getting to that place and reaching that goal. Once you reach it, I guarantee you will make a new one. 

Remember, everyone is different. If you love where you are at, then you don't have to change a thing! But if you are someone who feels stuck in life, just try your best. 

Life is not a race. We shouldn't try to go through it so quickly to get to the end or finish line. Rather think of it as a journey. Enjoy each moment you have and enjoy the process of changing your life. I am glad that I did.

Sports Nutrition Workshop at Rocky Silva's American Karate; Photo Credit to Alexander Paiva