I’m not one of those people that has ever felt the need to challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone. I’ve even mentioned in a previous blog post how helpful the comfort zone can be for trauma survivors. Mine has helped me survive the chaos of life and the ripple effects of trauma by giving me an element of predictability. Something I desperately needed to keep myself from giving up and succumbing to the exhaustion of managing such intense life experiences.
As I enter into the last half of 2023 I find myself wanting and needing to exit my comfort zone, and it terrifies and excites me. I’m terrified because this is the first time in my life that I’ve been ready to make this exit. I know life will always be life and throw curve balls in the unpredictable way it does, yet I’m still ready to say goodbye…for now to this place of comfort that helped me survive. I’m ready to walk into the next chapter of my career, as well as this new chapter of challenging myself.
I love my comfort zone and I appreciate what it has done for me, so this isn’t a post where I will drop philosophical statements about why staying in your comfort zone doesn't serve you or how it hinders you from growing. This post is to give myself space to thank my comfort zone.
I want to thank it for giving me a place to rest my mind after so many emotional hits to the heart. I want to thank it for giving me stability when I felt like I was living life with a never ending earthquake. I want to thank it for giving me time to grow and heal as much as I could within this time frame. I want to thank it for giving me space to just be and not feel this desire to push myself towards excellence. I want to thank it for reminding me that I can slow my life down and not feel the need to keep up with the daily grind that this country tries to put us into. And lastly, I want to thank it for giving me space to exhale.
I’m opening the door to my comfort zone and stepping forward so I can become the professional I want to be. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to show myself that while I’m still walking on shaky ground, I can still take this step forward.
Some days will be better than others, and for those days I may need a hug from my comfort zone for a day or two. So, while I’m opening the door and taking my exit, I give myself permission to keep the door open so that I can return and make adjustments accordingly. Having the ability to change my mind is a level of comfort that has been such a great asset to obtain during my years living in my comfort zone. It has given me the strength to say this isn’t working, so I’m going to change my mind and do something else. This has been huge for a recovering protectionist that saw her production as her identity because it has shown me that the pressure I was putting on myself wasn’t necessary, and I can stop and pivot whenever I want.
Giving myself permission to change my mind is a gift I didn’t know how much I needed until I spent these years in my comfort zone. You have the right to change your mind. You have the right to grow. You have the right to say I thought I wanted this, and I don't anymore. Embracing this has given me the confidence I needed to finally exit my comfort zone. To finally say to myself, I’m ready to challenge myself more. I’m ready to see what I can accomplish using the strengths I gained while being in my comfort zone. I’m just excited to see myself stand firmly in my light.
Now, my anxiety on the other hand? Baby girl is NOT here for this and alarm bells have been going off in my head since Friday when the reality of what I’m embarking on hit me. And I have to acknowledge that. While my comfort zone was helpful, it has created a level of comfort that my anxiety needed and is afraid to lose. After the sudden deaths of my mom, brother, and one of my best friends…my anxiety has gotten worse. So I know coping and managing it is going to take some calculated effort on my part. I have to get serious about my self-care while trying not to trigger my recovering perfectionist side.
The first step in this process is writing this blog post. Before I sat down to go through the list of self-care essentials I need to incorporate into my daily life, I wanted to get all of these thoughts out so that I could remind myself why I’m doing this. Remind myself that this isn’t me shutting out my comfort zone or looking at it as some kind of hindrance on my ability to accomplish my goals. This is a written thank you to my comfort zone while also serving as a pat on the back to myself as I say to myself, it’s time to exit.
~Until Next Time
-Brina B
Note: This blog post doesn't serve as professional help. If you are in need of help, visit the resources page of the website.