5 Simple Actions to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.  So if you are feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is a beginning, not an ending"~Neale Donald Walsch

For a decade I tiptoed around the edges of my comfort zone.  I wanted amazing things to happen in my life.  I had big dreams of building my own wellness program and retreat center.  I would take "mini" courageous actions, such as starting my own private practice, or joining a group practice.  I ventured out on a business with a friend where we began creating and providing retreat style continuing education credits for licensed therapists.  I would spend endless hours researching how to write a business plan.  Only to turn around and spend endless hours researching nonprofit applications and grants. 

All of it ended in a return to my comfort zone.  I returned to the 'safety' of climbing the corporate ladder, with the steady paycheck and benefits that allowed me to support my family.  I was the breadwinner of the family and felt it was my obligation to maintain steady income.  It was crazy and reckless of me to even think about quitting my cushy corporate job making 6 figures, wasn't it?!  That's what my family and society tells me anyways.  

I had an intense fear of going "all in" with my dreams.  I doubted myself at every turn.  I stayed in a state of fear of the unknown.  It kept me stagnant.  I had an intense fear of going against the social norm, not to mention going against my family's expectations. 

The messages I received from my family when I would talk about my big dreams included:

"What about health insurance"

"What about paid vacation"

"How are you going to support your family on such an unstable and inconsistent income"

"Are you really sure about this, I mean, you've tried so many other things and haven't followed through"

"You make really good money right now...are you sure you want to give that all up"

"Owning your own business is a lot of work...and you have 3 young children to think about"

I absolutely know that all of these statements came from two places within those loving people in my life: true care about me and my wellbeing, and their own limiting beliefs and fears.

It wasn't until my father had unexpectedly passed in 2019 at the young age of 57 that I started to buck the entire system of these limiting beliefs and fears.  With his passing, it was a serious wake up call that life is too precious to not live out my dreams.  Just three months after he passed, I began dreaming again.  And I began making moves and plans for my dreams.  I was in the "exploration stage" of understanding and creating my Life Purpose. I felt alive with excitement and possibilities.  I also was all over the place with my thoughts and possibilities for my business.  I needed guidance.  And that is when the Universe brought me to my Coach and Tribe, but that is a discussion for another day.  

If you are reading this, you can likely relate to my experience.  You have this pull within you that there is something more to life.  Your growth doesn't necessarily have to be in career.  Since we are multidimensional, your expansion could be in the dimension of relationships, joy, fun, spiritual, financial, or health.  What I have found is that it all boils down to creating your most Purpose Filled Life.  This is where all dimensions of your life are fulfilled to their greatest degree.

I can already hear you doubting this possibility, just as I did.  I believed that I had to sacrifice at least one, if not several, of those dimensions, just to fill one of them.  For instance, I believed I had to sacrifice my family time and joy to fulfill my career and purpose in life.  That was a HUGE self limiting belief and utter lie.  

Stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't have to be a grand gesture.  It's actually made up of daily actions that lead to the larger leap. It's the daily courageous actions that actually give you the confidence and courage to take the leap of faith into your most expansive and extraordinary life.

Here are some actions you can take today to move outside your comfort zone:

1. Make changes to your daily routine. This might be the easiest change to make.  Instead of going out for lunch, bring a healthy lunch.  Take a walk during your break.  Talk to a friend during your break.  Wake up just 15 minutes earlier for some extra time to yourself.  
2. Learn something new.  I have been a Licensed Psychotherapist for 15+ years.  I have learned and practiced different forms of Meditation and Mindfulness within my personal and professional life for a decade.  It was not until the past few years that I really allowed myself to explore energy work.  And my life has drastically changed from this choice!  Learning something new could look like expanding and challenging your current knowledge. It could look like something completely new, like learning a new language until you are fluent (something a woman in my coaching program chose to do).  
3. A physical or mental change.  You could join a new fitness program.  If you already go to the gym/exercise daily, try integrating yoga or meditation into your routine.  You may choose to try a new meal plan or recipe.  You can take the first step by exploring options around you!
4. Get creative.  Implement creativity into your life.  It could be through gardening, painting, writing, creating new meals, knitting, etc.  The list can go on and on.  If you are having difficulty coming up with your own creative projects, just google "hobbies" and you will have endless amounts of lists!
5. Face a fear.  This is a tad of a bigger action step.  If you have a fear of public speaking, research a Toastmasters in your area and join a meeting.  If you are afraid to create your first LIVE IG or FB post (like I once was!), just get on there and knock it out.   It might be helpful to make a list of what fears come up when you think about expanding in your personal and professional life.  You will have more clarity of the steps you need to take and what you might be up against as you take your courageous actions of expansion. 

Remember.  All of this begins with one single step.  When we look at the bigger picture, we tend to become overwhelmed and not taking any action at all.  For instance, many people who have the dream of running a marathon don't take that first step because they think the distance is too much/too long. 

If you have a goal in mind already, break it down into manageable daily actions.  As you take these actions, your attitude will change.  You will have more confidence to continue taking actions, and before you know it, you will be making amazing changes in your life!

To begin your journey into your most Purpose Filled Life, be sure to join me August 9th for the 5 Days to Align with your Next Level Life Purpose Workshop and begin creating your extraordinary life!

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step"~Loa Tzu