| Expanding your comfort zone isn't quite the same | | | | to enjoy playing it either. You also need to |
| as building self-confidence. However, the two do | | | | consider honestly whether or not you are a team |
| fit together rather nicely. The one begets the | | | | player. You might be better off learning to rock |
| other. So many people feel stuck in a rut... bored | | | | climb rather then to play flag football. Whatever |
| from a routine that is safe and comfortable but | | | | you choose, commit yourself to learning it |
| not very exciting. Fear of falling flat on your face | | | | completely and be safe.4) Compliment three |
| or of looking foolish stops you from reaching out | | | | strangers each day for a week. This isn't the |
| beyond that cozy little life you've created for | | | | same as public speaking. This is private speaking. |
| yourself. If your goal is to expand your comfort | | | | In order to do this one correctly, you have to |
| zone, then you must think positive while doing | | | | become fully aware of the people around you. |
| these. Remember that nothing really bad can | | | | You'd be amazed at just how many strangers |
| happen to you if you are smart in how you go | | | | you pass every day. You also have to think of |
| about trying new things. It's all just new | | | | genuinely nice things to say. It's not enough to |
| adventures. Become like a curious child and have | | | | simply speak to three strangers, but to |
| some fun.1) Join Toastmasters or take a theater | | | | compliment them forces you to think about the |
| class. The idea here is that you force yourself into | | | | person before you speak to them. We can |
| public speaking. By learning how to project your | | | | randomly say, "Nice weather we're having" to |
| voice and how to think clearly while on stage, you | | | | everyone we meet. That's not really connecting |
| will be able to better conduct yourself in business | | | | and concentrating on another human being. Force |
| and when getting your point across to others. | | | | yourself outside of your comfort zone so as to |
| This will build a lot of self-confidence, which will | | | | tell strangers that you noticed something good |
| help you to really push your comfort zone in | | | | about them. You will make their day and your |
| regards to speaking out in front of others. | | | | own. You may even find yourself with some new |
| Everyone is always terrified at first. Public | | | | friends by the end of the week.5) Volunteer at an |
| speaking is the number one phobia in America. | | | | elderly care center, a children's cancer clinic, or an |
| You will be shocked to discover just how much | | | | AIDS hospice center . They will love you for just |
| fun this can be. You'll get bit by the acting bug or | | | | showing up and in conversing with them you'll |
| the public speaking bug before you know it. It will | | | | learn all about people's real regrets in life. People |
| most likely become a new hobby that you'll love | | | | never say, "I really did experience too many |
| dearly.2) Drive home a different route every day | | | | adventures." Instead, they almost always |
| for a week and shop at completely new grocery | | | | comment on all of the adventures they denied |
| store. By breaking out of your normal daily | | | | themselves. They talk of how if they had it to do |
| routine, you become aware of just how much | | | | all over again... how they'd be more spontaneous |
| time you spend tucked away safely within your | | | | and loving. There's nothing quite like seeing folks |
| comfort zone. Breaking out of your rut can be as | | | | at the end of their life to make you really |
| simple as trying a new restaurant or rearranging | | | | appreciate your own. Spend some time giving of |
| the furniture at home. You can trade bedrooms | | | | yourself to those who don't have a lot of time |
| with one of your roommates or move into a new | | | | left and you'll soon come to realize how much the |
| home. Go on vacation to a completely unfamiliar | | | | world has to offer. Perhaps you will want to take |
| location. The idea here is to change your physical | | | | a bigger bite out of life before it's too late?All of |
| environment and to mix up your overall sensory | | | | these ideas are variations on the same theme. |
| experiences. By forcing yourself into new | | | | You are to practice becoming spontaneous. The |
| locations, you not only become aware of how | | | | whole point of a too tight comfort zone is that |
| attached you are to your favorite old haunts, but | | | | you do not give yourself room to be free, playful, |
| you also force yourself to see the world from a | | | | and spontaneous. You are too self-censoring and |
| new angle.3) Learn a new sport. This one has to | | | | too routine for your own happiness. Once you've |
| be done with respect to your age and physical | | | | tried a few things on this list, then make a list of |
| health. For some it could be an extreme sport like | | | | 100 things that you want to accomplish before |
| sky diving. For others it could be learning to play | | | | you die and start doing them. Have a wonderful |
| tennis or to play golf. The idea is that you again | | | | time with this concept. There's no reason to |
| force yourself into meeting other people while | | | | expand your comfort zone so as to take on |
| pushing yourself physically into unknown territories. | | | | more work duties or more responsibilities. You will |
| You should obviously pick something that you'll | | | | have enough of that thrust upon you in life. You're |
| enjoy doing and that won't hurt. If you have bad | | | | going to do this one for your own happiness and |
| knees don't take up running or high impact | | | | nobody else's. Give yourself permission to expand |
| aerobics. If you are bored out of your mind while | | | | your wings so you can fly a little higher and a little |
| watching baseball, then you probably aren't going | | | | further to see what else is out there. |