Perhaps it’s being in a foreign country where no one speaks your language. Or maybe it makes you uncomfortable to be in weather that is either very hot or very cold. Maybe there are times when you are wanting to speak truth to someone but are afraid. What makes you uncomfortable?
How do we break the bond of being uncomfortable and forge ahead into a territory of knowing that everything will be ok once you make the first step? If I had not stepped outside my comfort zone five years ago and decided to stay home, then I would not have experienced new friendships, new foods and a new way to think about life.
Stepping outside the box has helped me to expand my way of thinking when I go back to my comfortable box and each time I step outside my comfort zone, my comfort zone expands. Trying new foods is always something I am open to. I always say that I will try something at least once. Whether I eat it again is a different story. Let’s take pigs ears. I was encouraged (more like coerced) to try this delicacy. I saw a small piece and dipped it into some horseradish, opened my mouth and allowed my molars to break up the rubbery, mushy, somewhat textured sliver of ear. Then the taste of the pig met my tongue with an explosion of distaste. I did not spit the morsels out onto the table, but my mouth was experiencing a new kind of high. What to do? What to do? Swallow. Ah, yes. The taste would be gone. No. It lingered until someone said, “drink something!” My brain said, “Yes! Anything to make this go away.” My friends giggled the whole time. Ok, it was really more like laughing out loud – there were no giggles. They were having way too much fun at my expense. But I didn’t die and I didn’t get sick and I had a good time with my friends.
What would help you to step outside your comfort zone?
Jumping into the unknown it's never easy. But once you get the courage to do so, it becomes known and that's the best part of that experience. I used to only step out of my comfort zone out of necessity but I have learned that because I don't know something doesn't mean it's bad for me. You live and learn (or at least try to) but you're so right about stepping outside of that comfort zone it will expand ur comfy box. I like that.
ReplyDeleteps. My step dad is from puerto rico, watching him eat pig ears with such delight it's quite tempting to join him.
Tania