Happy September! Fall is a few weeks away, and things are starting to pick up. Case in point, a local church launched a new monthly young adults event this past Tuesday, and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to put myself out there and check it out. It’s easy for me to stick to what I know and my small bubble, but I’m trying to work on that. Especially this month where we’re focusing on self-improvement!
So, I texted a couple of friends to shore up some reinforcements. After all, it’s easier to take risks when you’re not alone, right? Even though I was willing to step out of my comfort zone a little, going alone would be a little too stressful! And to be honest, I was still a little scared going with someone I knew. But I’m so glad I went, and now I don’t have to regret not going or beating myself up about not being brave enough to attend. Thanks to stepping out of my comfort zone, I gained a few rewards!
I made new connections.
Obviously, a benefit of going somewhere new is meeting new people! You get to experience different personalities and perspectives. It’s easy to get stuck in your own bubble, but to grow it’s good to be able to see things from different points of view.
I built my confidence.
Going to a new place and enjoying the experience reminded me that I can do uncomfortable things and be okay. I showed up and nothing scary happened. I was able to make conversation and prove to myself that I could. Most times I can talk myself out of doing certain things because I worry about failing or being rejected. But this small success helped me see that my worst case scenarios probably aren’t realistic, and I can remember this for the next opportunity that comes along. I don’t have to freak out and overthink as much next time because I know I can do it.
How about you? What can you do this week to get out of your comfort zone? To stretch your boundaries? Let us know!
