I Am In My Comfort Zone. And Staying There.

 

I really hate to step out of my comfort zone. I hate it when people encourage you to step outside.

I have heard people tell others...
 

“Just say no!”
“Just say what you think!”
“Be yourself!”

Okidoki.

“Uhm. How often do I have to say ‘no’? To everyone? I am not comfortable doing that.”
“Yeah right. Say what I think and get fired? No thanks!”
“I am me! Who else? Pinocio?”

Don't get me wrong. I love change. I love flow. I love experiencing new things. And I still love my comfort zone.

There is this illusion that if you jump outside your zone, you'll grow. By taking incredible risks, you reach for the stars. By taking the leap of faith, you get somewhere exotic and extraordinary.

The same leap of faith can get you in a boring, gray suburb.

Diving off a cliff might just feel like that. Stressful. Hurtful. Generally not good.

I like to stretch my comfort zone.

As I explained in "It's Not Easy Being Green. About Being Offbeat."

"Familiar.
Safe.
Associate.
Small Step.
Breath.
Getting comfortable in new.
Getting familiar in new.
Safe."

This zone provides you and me comfort. Hence the name.

If you feel relaxed and at ease, you'll perform better. It's about safety.

As perfectly described by Havi Brooks: "The more safety you have, the easier it is to mess around, take risks, play with being king or queen of your world."

This sounds like a paradox. By staying in your comfort zone, by operating from a safe structure, you'll feel more secure to take risks. But on your own conditions. Operating from within your own context.

In my final post from 2010 I discussed the concept of border control:

"Using personal development practices you can solve this by creating a bubble for yourself. Create a zone in which you feel comfortable. Creating boundaries with the language you use, the social cues you sent out, the identity you choose to express, the room you sit in, the music you play and the songs you sing."

If the surroundings are comfortable and safe enough, we are more likely to express and embrace our identity. Which allows us to be creative. Or at least diverse.

For everyone this bubble, this cocoon is different.

I have my writing room. It's the smallest room in the house. It holds all the books I own. And two racks of laundry. That is where I write. Even if no one is at home. I will still sit in that room with all the books. That's my comfort zone for writing.

"Go to the beach. You can write at that beautiful place."

I know. But I won't. I need my piles of books. I feel safe behind those piles when I write stupid posts like this.

As mentioned in the legendary Shabba Ranks post:

"Now, this has something to do with projects.

A project is a temporary structure within the host organization. This cocoon, yes - your project, allows you to do your thing without having too much interference from the outside world."

So. I stay within my comfort zone. I control my borders.

It's the only way I can take risks.

How does your comfort zone look like?

Bas de Baar is a writer who draws about people in transition. He loves to make visual maps and travel guides for the collaborators of our brave new world.