Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

In relation to my last post about getting to your happy place, part of why I do what I do is so that I can travel. I love seeing different parts of the world and exploring new places, especially if it involves beaches and water (see Get to your Happy Place). It puts me into a different mind-set and gets my creative juices flowing. Travel also almost always gets me outside of my comfort zone. And it's important to get out of your comfort zone for growth, gaining new perspectives and learning new things.

That's where the growth happens - we don't grow when we're in our comfort zone. It feels good and we may be happy, but we don't grow. Only when you're outside of the normal, everyday rhythm of your life will true change happen. Travel gives me that. It pushes me outside my comfort zone of the day to day and sends me into the unknown. It can be both scary and exhilarating. And it definitely makes me grow.

New Perspectives - being in a new place or situation makes us really look at our surroundings. We aren't on auto-pilot and it shocks us into seeing things from a different perspective. This is especially important in a business culture that is constantly changing and evolving. Being able to hold different perspectives and adapt is a way to stay ahead of the curve.

Learning new things - constant vigilance! As Mad-Eye Moody would say (I know you Harry Potter fans will get my reference, otherwise, carry on.) Learning new things is important to continued success. Great leaders hold this as a key ingredient and a daily practise. Constantly learning and opening up the synapses in your brain to new information keeps you fresh and on point.

Pushing past our normal level of comfort forces us to change. To become something 'more than'. To see things differently and learn along the way. Get out there. Stretch yourself to a level of discomfort that will make you grow.