The Comfort Zone can be like the Dead Zone when you’re neither Happy nor Unhappy.
At first escaping to comfort isn’t all bad— it’s helpful. Like a reward, we’re happy and feel relieved with the break from the anxiety and stresses of life. But when escaping becomes the place you live from... you are in the Comfort Zone.
The reward and happy feeling of Facebook, gaming, TV or whatever your escape, eventually wears off. It always does. Then you risk becoming caught in your comfort zone. If you don’t drop the activity to find something new the need for the happy feeling will force you to just do more of it. Longer periods of TV watching or longer, more often Facebook sessions etc.
You’re left feeling unfulfilled.
Neither happy nor unhappy.
Do you want a different experience?
The first step is to sit in the ‘need’ to escape. When you notice your urge to watch tv, have a smoke or check your phone stop…. notice your feelings and thoughts … take 5 deep breaths. Make the activity more conscious rather than an automatic behaviour. You’ll feel more in control and have taken power back to live the life you want.
Next step is to try something new. That something that’s been niggling at you but you’ve always found excuses to avoid. Follow your desire to learn or do something new.
Feel the discomfort of challenging yourself and the aliveness that results.
You don’t have to risk your life to get out of the Comfort Zone just take a step and stretch.
Remember comfort will always be there if you need a safety net.
Just take notice if you start living from there.
Find out more about Goal Setting to really give the boot to the Comfort Zone.
Liz Coleman, RTC, is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor based in Surrey, BC. She specializes in anxiety, anger, insecurity, and relationship problems. If you have any questions about this article or would like to schedule an appointment, please call Ms. Coleman at (604) 809-8947 or use the convenient form on her Contact page.