FREE YOURSELF FROM WHAT YOU “SHOULD” BE DOING
Many people are hesitant
to step out of their regular roles and routines. The idea of putting yourself
in a position to potentially fail can be frightening or stressful. But
sometimes what’s keeping you in one spot may not be your own self-interest. In
fact, other people’s wishes and the feeling that you “should” stay put may be
tamping down your own preferences. What’s holding you back may be
compliance, not comfort.
Every instance of stepping outside your comfort zone won’t lead to an incredible sense of discovery and liberation. But it may happen when you realize that what you thought was your comfort zone is, in actuality, your compliant zone — where you’ve learned to behave in ways that you were expected to behave, perhaps by your parents, or your extended family, or your culture. Over time, through repetition, and by dutifully fulfilling others’ expectations, you internalize these behaviours as your own, even if they don’t reflect who you are.
How can you tell when your comfort zone may be your compliant zone?
- Pinpoint your area of focus. Identify one specific thing to question, whether it’s something you’re unhappy with or something you want to grow or develop.
- Take a quick inventory of your personal values and passions. What are you passionate about? What drives you? What would you love to do, and what do you care about doing if there was nothing getting in your way?
Of course, there are certain tasks we simply must do in our jobs and lives in order to fulfil our regular roles and responsibilities. We might not want to network or make company-wide presentations, but we know we have to. We might not want to work all weekend, but we’re compelled by the boss’s orders. On a granular level, compliance is a core element of the working world. But when compliance systematically overrides your personal passion, that’s when it’s critical to examine on a broader level whether you’re living the life you want to lead.
Our habits and routines are hard to break for a reason: They ground us and bring predictability to our lives. But avoiding new situations can hold you back. Stepping outside your comfort zone can help you build new skills and gain confidence. And by identifying and escaping your compliant zone, you can discover your “true” self — the part of you that reflects your authentic passions and interests and leads to a more fulfilling life.
* By the way today is my dad or we call him Appa birthday!!!! love you and miss you so badly i hope to see you soon and have a great life and please be healthy!!!!
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