Everyone has a favourite food which reminds their childhood, it makes them happy, and at the same time, it is bad for their health. Nowadays, we call it comfort food, and when we are worried and sad, we look for this kind of food, and when we taste it, we feel satisfied, and sometimes we have a sense of happiness. Likewise, it happens in our lives; We love our comfort zone as we feel safe, but we cannot grow in this stage. Sometimes, we prefer to stack in our lives instead of moving away from our comfort zone. The main human trait is a habit; people get used to situations that occur repeatedly and need significant effort to escape from them.
However, if we are not satisfied with our lives or want to grow up, we must escape from our comfort zone in order to make a change. The development process is usually complicated as we move to the unknown, and our survival instinct warns us that we are in danger.
The process forward to growth is intricate as there are different steps to cross. The first feeling is fear, and it is ok!!! We feel nervous because we think we will fail or there is the possibility of not coping with the obstacles. Through this step, we make excuses to delay our actions, we care about others’ opinions, and in general, we feel insecure about our decision to get out of our comfort zone.
When is this concerning and does not lead to growth?
Stress supplies our development because we push ourselves to go to the next mile, and through this, we develop new areas. Specifically, we feel nervous as we become aware of the difficulties we must cope with, and we aim in finding solutions to fulfil our lives. Consequently, it is healthy to feel nervous when we handle the unknown, but when is it a warning?
Different levels of stress inform our body that something changes and there is a possibility of being dangerous for our survival. The first stage is the warning when your heart rate rises, the second is when you resist doing things, and the third is when you feel exhausted. The two first stages are healthy, but the last one can cause illness.
How can you overcome the high-level stress?
The good news is there are a million ways to handle this stage, but again it requires practice with yourself. Sometimes, how we approach a situation or what we say to ourselves becomes a reality. For instance, when you set a goal, and even the circumstances are complicated; it’s easy to say that I will do it when it’s the right time. Instead, you must acknowledge the barriers, plan and check the most realistic scenario in achieving your goals.
Let’s talk about the practical part:
- Make small changes that will have a difference in your routine
- Be open to new experiences, try food or music you haven’t tried before
- Think about the benefits that you will have in your development
- Don’t overwhelm yourself!
Don’t forget that each path is unique; it doesn’t matter how long it will take or how far it will go. The significant step is to act. Some people will not feel fear, and they will go to the next step immediately. It doesn’t mean that other people who are afraid are doing something wrong. It happens because everyone is in a different stage of their life. It is worth mentioning that, the process is about you and not for others, your self-growth is an adventurous, exciting journey.
MSc Business PsychologyQualified MOE Coach,
Panagiota Gidopoulou
