Learning To Get Outside Your Comfort Zone
One of the things I have learned while rock climbing is that what often seems impossible for us to accomplish is more in our own mind than it is in reality.
I remember my first real outdoor rock climbing experience at the Delaware Water Gap. On that very first trip, it had rained earlier in the day and the rock face was still wet and even muddy in some places. This was a completely new experience and well outside my comfort zone. I am actually a bit scared of heights.
I started off pretty easy and began to get excited as I climbed. I must have climbed about 50 feet before I came to a section that seemed impassable. I was holding onto this one spot with everything I had. The rock was wet, and it felt like I could fail at any moment. I thought there was no physical way I could achieve the next move to continue climbing. It required me to lift my left leg up while extending out and then standing up on a ledge to my left that was at chest height. All I had to do was get my foot up on that hold, and then reach for the next hold above it. But to do this required letting go of the rock face. Right now, I was comfortable and safe., but this move would put me in a vulnerable position. If I didn’t do it right, I would miss and fall, which was still terrifying even though I was hooked into a rope and harness.
I struggled with this fear while holding onto the rock for what seemed like an eternity. I can’t do this, I thought. Thoughts of fear and failure raced through my mind over and over. I even thought about just giving up. Look how far I already came today, I thought to myself, This is a good start. Then I started to think about my vision, and the promise I made to myself. I wanted to climb to the top, to be able to say I had done this. I wanted to be able to say I was a climber, and I focused my mind on the end goal and got up the courage to do it.
With all those positive images running through my mind, I put my leg out and made the move, reaching for the next hold above me. It is hard to describe, but it was amazing. I did something that I was convinced was impossible for me to do. Something that had seemed so impossible, so outside of my comfort zone and difficult for me, what looked so far away and so dangerous, turned out to be a very easy move.
The danger was real. Yes, I could fall several feet, even hooked in and with a person on belay. Yet knowing all this, I was still afraid to fail, that I could still be injured. The fear in my mind was multiplying the risks in my reasoning. Only when I suppressed it, replaced it with my vision, and focused my attention on my goal that I got up the courage to step outside of my comfort zone.
That day, I did step outside of my comfort zone, and I grew a little. I became more confident in my abilities. Not just in rock climbing, (I am still a very new rock climber) but my confidence in myself was increased. I realized I had the ability to overcome.
Every one of us has so much potential inside of us. We just have to push ourselves outside of where we are comfortable. When you get outside of your comfort zone, you will grow.
Mike on Twitter
Mike! I saw your comment on Untemplater about not wanting to be a vagabond, and I can totally relate. In fact, I JUST finished writing a post about exactly that (along with my other lifestyle design goals). I also find it interesting that we are both rock climbers.
My post on lifestyle design goals isn’t up yet, but I’ll be posting it in the next 24 hours. Please check out my site or follow me on Twitter –> @dropshipmaven
Hi Lauren, I actually recently commented on your blog. Congratulations on getting married.
About the vagabonds, I can relate. I have already talked to a few older people who feel the same way. I’m still fairly young, only 27, but recently married. However I have no desire to live in a 3rd world country and own 5 things that I keep in a bag. I like my toys and my gadgets.
I’m still a new climber myself, I did a lot of it last summer, I think I am more excited about mountaineering than climbing though. My friend Joe Baker is a great climber and a guide and he took me a lot this summer, and he see’s mountains and thinks “That would be awesome to climb”, me, I just think, that’s neat, I wonder whats up top, lol.
Hey! I decided to go ahead and publish that post. Check it out –> http://dropshipmaven.com/my-10-lifestyle-design-goals/
If there’s one thing most of us are afraid to do, then that’s leaving their comfort zones. We don’t want to experience any challenge or discomfort in the name of improving ourselves. Furthermore, our minds hate the suggestion of change. This are the very reason few succeed in life. It is wise of you to take heed of the call of your true abilities. Everyone of us are capable for great achievements, but most of us believe that it’s impossible.
Hi Michael,
I found you through a comment you made on one of the blogs I visit. First, you were in DE? I reside here
This post is very real to me, as I need to start pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone. I need to step outside of those bounds and not let fear control me.
As for your comment above, I can relate. I want to travel but not give up my home base. In fact, I’m planning a move to the West Coast in June (really like it there), but if I get a home, I want to keep it that way. I wouldn’t mind, however, planning three month long vacations a year though!
Anyway, great blog, keep up the hard work. I’ll have to catch up at some point! If you have a minute, please drop by my site as well. Thanks!
I traveled all over the country for 3 months this summer nonstop. It was a lot of fun, but the truth is, I was glad to come home. Getting outside your comfort zone is a real part of facing our fears and over coming them. Thanks for the responses guys.
This post really speaks to me. As a kid I was always shy, but for some reason – nothing scared me. Weird, right? I only had a few close friends, but I had no problem riding my unicycle to ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ in the talent show. As I’ve gotten older, my shyness has faded – but I notice I need to constantly re-commit myself to doing things outside my comfort zone. I am an aspiring actress, so auditions help out with that. But I’ve been doing it for awhile – so I needed an even greater challenge. Speaking publicly was my next goal. I joined Toastmasters a couple months ago and I was visibly nervous for my first speech. I still get nervous – but I’m almost all the way relaxed now when giving a speech. Now I need to find that next thing that will challenge my comfort zone. It’s a never ending process.
@thedailycubicle
Always got to keep pushing yourself. Sometimes I get to comfortable and when I start to get comfortable is usually about when I start to backslide.