Personal Growth Happens Outside Of Our Comfort Zone

As humans, we often to stick to what we know. It’s easy to stay in relationships or at jobs that don’t satisfy our needs, because it can feel overwhelming and uncomfortable to embark on a new path. However, by only staying in the comfort zone, we stifle our creativity and possibilities for growth. By choosing to live with uncertainty, we embrace the idea that we don’t have control of every aspect of our lives. Exploring the other side of our comfort zone can be beneficial for many reasons.

If we only open our ears and eyes to our own experiences, we are missing out on important human connections. Now more than ever, it is important to try and understand and connect with people who are different from you. Pick up a book that was written by an author who thinks differently than you or watch a film about a subject you have little knowledge on.

By embracing new ideas and being open to change, you can discover where your passions truly lie. Take an art class, join a new gym or volunteer at an organization you’ve always been curious about. You might discover a new hobby or career opportunity, and you’ll probably make a friend or two.

Learning how to adapt to change can help you grow. If you’re new in town, try out a local restaurant or start a conversation with a stranger. Enjoy the opportunities to explore a new place with a fresh perspective. It’s not very often that we get a clean slate. Embrace change instead of fearing it.

Novelist Arnold Bennett perhaps said it best: “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

Making big decisions in our lives that create positive change can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to become the best versions of ourselves. Go out and embrace being uncomfortable. Ask difficult questions and have open conversations with people, so you can better understand the world around you. Be open to new ideas and allow others to learn more about yours. If you can embrace being uncomfortable, you’ll find that others will often do the same.

Jeff Abell is the Teen Advisory Council Program Coordinator at Youth Resources.