"But you need to tell me how you feel about the fight we had the other day!" I exclaimed at my twelve year old brother. "How in the world would you expect people to understand how you feel unless you tell them?"
"I just can't! I am not expressive and I prefer keeping stuff to myself. So don't ask me to speak whatever goes through my mind. Because am never going to!" he retorted irritatedly. I sighed and left the room. My brother had always been a social recluse as a kid, who stuck to his gaming and art, had bare minimum friends and never had much of a social circle. Now, six years later, he has a growing circle of friends, enjoys travelling and he also blogs out his opinions.
Yes, my brother has finally come out of his comfort zone. He has thought it wise to explore options outside his area of comfort by starting to be more expressive and social. Am pretty sure, there are many of out out there who are struggling with the same inhibitions he did.
For those who don't know, a comfort zone is a place, situation or a particular method of thinking, ideology or way of living that people stick to, simply because they feel at home in it. People find it easier to do things inside a protected atmosphere, because breaking of their personal shell keeps them at risk or they feel it threatens their happiness and peace.
But how long will it be before you actually get real and decide to come out of your comfort zones? You really must discover that there is a huge, exciting world out there, waiting to be delved into, to be explored. For starters, try learning a new hobby that you never considered. You don't dance? Never danced? Great! Go ahead and join a dance class. Do you always go out with the same gang of buddies? If yes, then try befriending new people. Sometimes making new friends with a person who doesn't speak the same language as you, or doesn't belong to the same culture as you will delight your social skills in more ways than one. You just have to be open to trying new stuff.
You have no idea how much good breaking out of your comfort zone will do. Most importantly, your perception about your physical strengths, your determination and emotional intelligence will change. You will only realise that you are a way more talented and strongly driven individual than you thought you earlier were. Trying to do new stuff will only make you assess your talents and vulnerabilities in a new light.
Do something you were earlier scared to do. Chances are you will overcome your inhibitions and fear, and this will not only add up to an enriching experience but also give you another story to share with friends and family. Moreover when you start to do better in an area that isn't your forte, people around you will respect you and admire you even more for it.
Oh! And did I tell you about the ego boost? I remember that I once hated this subject cost accounting during college because I sucked at it. But when I took up the challenge to do better and prove myself wrong, I improved by the dozens. A year later, as I explained the same concepts and intricacies of the same subject to my friends, it gave me the kind of bigger and stronger confidence in my own abilities, that am sure no other subject could give.
To sum it all up, comfort zones are great. But they are also cliched and boring. Everyone can excel in something that is their area of expertise or forte. If you would instead take a leap of faith and do the things that you've never thought of doing, that would be the ultimate experience. Breaking out of your mould and leaving your comfort zone won't be easy. But hey! Who said it would be? After all, it is the difficult things in life that are worth living and fighting for.
