5 Ways The Comfort Zone Is Ruining Your Life

Do you feel satisfied with your accomplishments in life?

Are you where you want to be? A surprising amount of people will say “no” to these questions - and you might be one of them. People who haven’t made satisfactory progress in life often fail to reach their goals - because they’re stuck inside their comfort zones. It’s much easier to keep doing the same things and stay within the confines of familiarity. Breaking out of your comfort zone means choosing discomfort and uncertainty. However, if you want to achieve your goals and make lasting progress in life, you need to choose growth instead of comfort in some situations. Here are 5 ways your comfort zone is holding you back.

Number 1 - You Won’t Discover Your True Self We often choose to remain within our comfort zones because it’s safe and easy. When things are familiar, the future is predictable. There’s no risk and no fear. This might sound like a great thing - but without fear, challenge, and risk, you’re unlikely to understand yourself on a deep level. When you choose to take on a challenge, face your fears and overcome them, you’re choosing to engage in an active learning experience where the subject matter is you. And although these situations are often scary, you need to practice stepping out of your familiar space - if you want to learn more about who you are. When you take risks, you discover more about what makes you tick, what your strengths are, and what you need to work on. As you take this journey of self-discovery, you’ll find your true self - a version of you with deep wisdom and power that you didn’t even know was there. Once you step outside of your comfort zone, you’ll begin to connect with your hidden self - opening doors along the way that lead to personal growth, positive change, deep love, and a fuller understanding. Without discomfort, you’ll never know this progress.

Number 2 - Your Ability To Learn Is Limited Research has proven that once the human brain knows how to do something, it becomes an automated task - and when this happens, the areas in your brain responsible for learning, essentially cease working. This means, familiarity directly translates to stagnation; and unfamiliarity equals learning. When you prioritize knowledge and growth, you’ll find that your life is full of abilities you didn’t know you have. All you need to do to unlock your skills is step out of comfortability. Imagine this as an example: Every year you go on vacation - you go to the same place, at the same time of year. You always stay in the same hotel - where you know the area, the restaurants, and even some people. This familiar vacation spot is in your comfort zone. And, even though it’s a nice time, you don’t learn anything new when you visit. Now, imagine taking a vacation to a new city - or even an entirely new country… You’ll find yourself inspired to learn new words in a new language, understand different customs, and check out a map. While you’re there, you’ll have fresh and unexpected experiences that challenge you. On this vacation, newness and unfamiliarity breed knowledge - about yourself and the world around you. When you leave your comfort zone, the boundaries of what you can and want to experience expand past what you know. With a larger perspective, you’ll gain a newfound sense of motivation to do, experience, and understand new things.

Number 3 - You Sacrifice Or Postpone Goals Most people who live in their comfort zone want something more. They wish for a better life, but when faced with difficult situations, they take a step back. You’ve probably experienced this scenario yourself. When you’re presented with a challenge, you might avoid facing it by staying in your comfort zone. Even though this option is easier emotionally, postponing your goals only makes them harder to achieve down the road. If you want to make your dreams come true, you need to explore the unknown. Your dreams are important, and you can accomplish them. Yes, there will be obstacles, but the only way to achieve success is to find the courage to move past them.

Number 4 - Routine Is Making You Lazy When you think of comfort, you might imagine a cozy, warm space with blankets and a hot drink. It’s pleasant, for sure - but comfort is a double-edged sword - that typically results in the consequences of contentment, boredom, and laziness. Routines can help give structure to your life, and your nightly Netflix ritual might be satisfying. But your habits could also be holding you back from opening up and discovering your hidden talents. When you trap yourself in your comfort zone for too long, you’ll transform into a zombie - a mere cog in the machine without meaning or fulfillment in life. When you lose your drive to learn, to do, and to achieve, you lose the ability to create meaning in your life. And while it’s nice to feel comfortable, it often leads to wasted potential.

Number 5 - You Could Lose Your Individuality When you live your entire life inside your comfort zone, you easily become lost in the crowd. Without an inner guiding light, you become just another sheep walking with the herd. When you break away from the masses, it might feel uncomfortable - but that is the space where you can find fulfillment through growth and connection. Unless you retain your individuality, you won’t make a difference in the world, capitalize on your potential, or learn new things.

Once you release yourself from the prison of comfortability, you’ll start to see new and better opportunities - and you’ll be able to take advantage of them. Other people will notice how you move forward through life with intention, and they will look up to you for guidance and inspiration. Instead of being just another follower, you empower yourself to carve your own path - and lead others toward their greatness, as well. So many people trap themselves within the confines of their comfort zones. For some, it’s merely a habit. Others never leave because they let their irrational fears dictate their lives.

These people condemn themselves to a reality full of frustration and regret. Don’t let that be you. Although it seems scary to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to take the first steps. If you practice pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone, you’ll become comfortable with the unfamiliar. Then, you can jump into drastically different experiences and delight in the opportunity to become a better version of yourself. So, how is your comfort zone holding you back from the life you desire? And what will you do today to move closer to achieving your goals? Share your thoughts in the comments below.