Everyone has a comfort zone and everyone loves their comfort zone because it brings them comfort (as the name suggests). The thing is, not everyone’s comfort zone is the same size, not does it have the same things within it. My comfort zone doesn’t have much variety in it and it shows through my repetitive routine, which I tend not to stray from. I sometimes like to envision myself in different scenarios that are way beyond my comfort zone, but when it comes down to it, I’d never do things like go up to a stranger and talk to them or ask my parents for money.

With many small places, it can become very suffocating very easily and sometimes damaging. I can’t even stick to my gym membership because I’m not comfortable walking in without feeling judged. It’s hard for me to do these things. I am trying to widen this cramped space that I live in, but it’s proving to be a little challenging. I’ve begun to post more things on my Instagram page to the point where I’m comfortable posting pictures of myself without feeling like other people think I’m self centered, but I still find it hard to ask people to take pictures of me. I’ve embarrassed myself on multiple occasions to the point where I’ve restricted myself from doing things, leading to the awkward semi-unsocial person I am.

Similarly, my small comfort zone may be an effect of my parents not letting me do a bunch of things when I was younger. I barely went out with my friends without supervision up until the age of 13 or 14 because they were worried. It is because of me having someone around all the time that I don’t think I got to develop much of my social skills. I get so panicked during professional calls with booking appointments to the point where I just avoid it all together.

Over the years I’ve noticed that it’s become more on an inconvenience than it used to be and that is likely because I’m growing older and that means more responsibility. This is exactly why I’ve been attempting to broaden my comfort zone a little more because currently I get frightened over the most trivial things such as buying things from 7-11 or ordering food at a restaurant. My parents have only let me go out alone for a year or so and it’s been great ever since. I’ve gotten to embarrass myself alone and learn from those experiences. It’s getting easier to ask for things at the restaurant or at the store when I can’t find things. Writing this now it sort of sounds like I’m a child who’s just facing the world where everyone feels normal in. I’ve grown so comfortable in my awkward skin that it’s essentially melded into my body and it’s hard to grow out of.

To combat this, I’ve put myself in positions I’d never thought I’d ever be in like being a part of the student council with the role of public relations and even doing a Tedx talk at a school nearby as I was part of the Tedx club at my school. Although the club is pretty much dead, I am now trying to start a speech club where I hope to do another Tedx talk (if I can find out) at the end of the year. I even started this blog as a way to push myself to be more out there and find new things to experience instead of sticking to what brings me comfort.

Growing out of your comfort zone isn’t easy, that’s for sure, but it can become less and less comforting as you are restrained by it constantly. The only way to not let that happen is to do new things, jump out of that cycle we’re so accustomed to and find joy in the things we never thought we would. I can’t personally say that my journey has been a success just yet, but upon doing new things I can definitely say that I’ve found so many more things in life to include in my comfort zone. Sure I still feel nervous going to the gym or getting involved in sports I know I’m not good at, but I’ve made attempts to do these things and others.

Do new things to improve yourself because you literally can’t stay cooped up in the fences you build for yourself all the time.

Cindy

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