The Blessing is Outside of the Comfort Zone

Do something everyday that scares you.

I don't recall exactly where I read that advice; probably in some personal development book.

I would argue that living in the country, where I have seen both an actual rat and Bernie Sanders (my cat, not the human) walk into my house with AN ACTUAL LIVING SNAKE, delivers on that intention daily, but I don't think that's what the author had in mind.

I think the premise was more along the lines of pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone because growth happens when we're uncomfortable.

I can't say that I was actively looking for ways to make myself suffer challenge myself when I signed up for a stand up comedy class a few weeks back, but nonetheless, here we are.

On the first night, the teacher asked a student who had been in his class before to stand up and do a mini set. We all settled in with our notebooks to take notes while she performed.

Then, the teacher asked the next person to stand up and do the same.

By the time he got to the third person, terror was setting in. I leaned to the person next to me, asking if we were all going to have to get up and talk.

"I think so," she said, then looked at me. "Just lead with that look on your face and you'll be fine."

Here's the thing: I thought I was going to go to this class and just take notes and learn about stand up comedy. Sure there might be a performance at some point, but I thought that would come later.

My clumsy segue here is that I think that's how we approach not just new things, but change in general. In the model of change, this is considered the preparation phase.

I'm a huge fan of acquiring knowledge. Taking classes, reading books, listening to podcasts - I'm constantly interested in knowing more.

But I struggle sometimes with actually taking action with some of that knowledge because it requires me to make a change - and change is uncomfortable.

Yet when I think about some of the greatest breakthroughs I've had in my life, they have happened as a result of surviving discomfort. Going away for college, traveling the country with my softball team...

Heck, I even turned down the coaching job that changed my life initially, because I was so uncomfortable with the idea of teaching a large group fitness class.

I can't imagine what my life would look like today if I hadn't taken that risk.

Don't get me wrong - it took months before I started to feel more comfortable teaching those classes. And it was also the best thing that ever happened to me (I know most of you on this list as a direct result of accepting that job...)

When it was my turn to stand up at that first comedy class, I told the story of the rat in my house. Which was funnier when the rat was no longer in my house.

I've been terrified each time I've had to stand up in my first three classes, and I've survived each time.

The blessing, and growth, happens outside of your comfort zone.