The Only Way to Break Free from Your Comfort Zone

This isn't an article about failing and failing forward.  Much of what you hear about how to get out of your comfort zone these days is around seeking failure, pushing yourself in ways that you haven't before, and learning from the mistakes you make.  Those are all helpful in getting out of your comfort zone, but there is something more important.  It starts before you do any of that.

Whether you realize it or not, you are comfortable in your life.  I can say this because most people haven't taken the time to "kick their own ass" in while.  When is the last time you sat back and critiqued yourself and your performance?  I'm not talking about getting down on yourself.  Heaven knows the majority of people do way to much of that unnecessarily and inflict negative pain on themselves.

Instead, what I am talking about is positive pain.  I'm talking about stepping back, asking if you are truly pushing things to edge of your potential, and whipping your butt back into shape in this area.  The reason pushing yourself to fail and the traditional "get out of your comfort zone" advice doesn't work for a lot of people is because they haven't made the choice within to truly get out of their comfort zone in the first place.  They haven't made the choice to embrace and endure the positive pain they need to go through to really break free.

Just about everything you want in your life is outside your current comfort zone.  But, instead of continuously talking about it or lamenting about it - make the choice.

For example, maybe you are currently working 8 hours a week on the side on your dream and you know it's not enough to get you there, but "that's all the time I have..."  B.S.  If you know you need to be working 20 hours a week to make it happen, do it.  Make the choice.  Embrace the pain.  If you are used to sleeping 8 hours a day, you may have to start going on 6.  If you are used to living a certain lifestyle, you may have to sacrifice it in the short term, for an even better lifestyle long term.

It all comes down to choice.  Either you really want it or your don't.  Most people say they want things when they really don't because they aren't willing to do what it takes to get them.  In reality, the things they want are not worthy of what it will take to get them.  And that is OK.  Get those things off your mind and ask yourself what is really worthy of what it will take.  Then focus intently, almost obsessively on going after them.  Make the choice - not excuses, embrace the positive pain and changes you will have to make for things to happen, and then act.  Go. Now.