I believe the phrase “step out of your comfort zone” is not new to most people. Comfort zone has been associated with various perspectives in life that hold people back from moving forward. Perhaps, the big question to ask ourselves is, “what is the comfort zone?” Dr. Lucy Evans, in her book, Stepping Out, sees it as more than an actual place. She calls it a psychological, emotional, or behavioral construct that defines our daily life routine. It is that place that we feel safe and familiar with and wouldn’t mind remaining there. If this comfort zone is safe and even sets us free from anxiety and worry to a great degree, then why is it necessary to step out of it?
The Comfort zone blinds our eyes not to see the greater thing that is ahead of us. By trying to be in that zone with minimal risks and stress, there is that one thing that you will never attain. Always wanting to interact with what is familiar acts as a barrier to new experiences and developments. The Bible, which is our reference book, has a couple of lessons about stepping out. One of the comfort zones that we see is the material wealth that we possess. Wealth is good and makes us feel secure. However, it can be a barrier to eternity as the rich ruler from the bible faced. Jesus instructed the rich ruler to sell everything and give to the poor and he would have treasures in heaven. This means that the rich ruler had to step out of his comfort zone to follow Jesus.
Some of us could have education as our comfort zones, some friends, some jobs, some families, and the list goes on. These are bubbles that make us see as if there is no need to reach out further and seek expansion. Yes, you might be having a good pay cheque, but does it allow you to reach out and help those who might be calling for your help? You might be in a top position in your career but do you have time for your family and friends? It is the simple things that we often overlook that we need to tackle. Step out of that bubble!
