I love my comfort zone. Did you ever, as a kid, have that favorite stuffed animal that went with you everywhere because it made you feel safe? That is a similar feeling we get when we stay in our comfort zones. It’s the comfort of knowing that by doing our same routine, wearing the same things, and acting the same way, can make everything okay and safe. It’s a bubble we put ourselves in so that we don’t have to deal with the stress and the pushback from anything or anyone. But that isn’t reality. God called us for a bigger purpose, and He made us to be so much more and to do so much more than the limitations we put on ourselves.
My dad told me that if I wanted to go for something in life, I should do it. Reach for the stars, but be careful. LOL Anyone who knows my dad knows that he wanted to be his kids’ biggest supporter, but he also wanted us to be the safest kids in the world.
I love my dad, but if I don’t push past my insecurities, go beyond my comfort zone, and be ok with failing, I won’t learn and become the best version of myself. I don’t want to live my life afraid of not doing everything right or afraid of not making the right steps that others think I should take. What matters most to me is my faith in God and living the fullest life He intended for me.
I have created a list of some things that allow me to step out of my comfort zone. To risk a little embarrassment, to be a little more fun, and a little less scared. If you dare, give it a try. You never know how it will shape your life.
Mix up your daily routine- I gave myself permission to not go to a Pilates class and study my Bible instead. I chose to drink my cold brew coffee first instead of waiting until midday. I got into bed at 5PM because I wanted the comfort of my blankets while I read my book.
Celebrate a random National Day Holiday- As I write this post, today is National No Dirty Dishes day. I guess this is where you eat on paper plates and use disposable utensils so you don’t have to worry about doing the dishes. Sounds like a plan for supper. It’s fun to celebrate! Give it a try.
Call a friend up and meet for coffee or tea- We live in a world of technology. We text or email, or zoom, not allowing ourselves to connect on a personal level with people we care about. Face to face are the most genuine moments we have with people. To hug them, and express how much we appreciate them is needed and should be exercised as much as possible.
Get your ears pierced—This was something I feared for a long time, but I was tired of living under other people’s rules and judgments. I wanted to, and so I did. At 40 years old, I made the decision to pierce my ears. I asked my girls if they wanted to do it, and they braved it with me, and we made it a mama-daughter date. We are so glad we did.
Dance, wiggle, or move to your favorite song- Allow yourself to be caught up in the moment of feeling silly, laughing at yourself, and loving the thought of being like a child again. Let your body feel what it did when you were five, knowing that life is joyful.
Volunteer—I love to help, but it wasn’t always easy for me to step out of my schedule to help. But when we give our precious time to someone or some place that needs it more, it can be so much more rewarding than if we had spent the time alone.
Try a new food- We can often get stuck in a rut with our food. We make the same things or eat the same types of food, but what if you pick something from the grocery store that you normally don’t eat, find a recipe, and try it? I did this with my kids. They got to pick a veggie or fruit they had never heard of or tried before. This is how we learned as a family some enjoyable foods out there that have great nutritional value.
Study a new language—As a family, we decided to learn Spanish this year. We downloaded an app and actively held each other accountable to our lessons. It has been a great way for our family to connect and learn. Just recently, we met some sweet ladies who didn’t know English. We were able to have a functional conversation with them. It was so rewarding to be able to communicate because we stepped out of our comfort zone to learn another language.
Try wearing different colors. Many of us have wardrobes in the colors we love. I grew up with blacks and grays and eventually moved to earth tones, which I still love to this day. However, now and then, I try to be daring and wear bright pink or bright purple. It is a fun way for me to express a little boldness and enjoy a pop of color here and there. Get out those red shoes, bright blue jacket, or pink overalls. It’s okay to have fun.
Find a mentor- The moment I put my ego aside, I could see that I was lacking in so many areas of my life. My question was, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Funny, I thought we should already have this figured out as adults. But in reality, we constantly evolve into different people with different perspectives. We can either feed this evolution with negative people who dictate our lives with legalistic views or positive ones that show us what it is to live life to its fullest, with love. We all have our preferences, but finding a mentor can help shape you into the person you want to become. What do you want to be when you grow up?
