As the phrase ‘comfort zone’ suggests, this is a place where you feel most at ease. You might be surprised to find out that some of the most incredible and joyful things happen just outside of that zone! Just a little push can lead to a whole new world of happy experiences.
The thrill and slight rush of adrenaline you get when doing something you might not normally do will make you feel truly alive. I have three incredible experiences of doing things outside of my comfort zone that stand out in my mind. Maybe one of these will inspire you to seek out the adventure waiting just outside your own comfort zone!
1. Public speaking: I was never an amazing public speaker. I would get nervous and sweaty and my knees would start to shake. But I wanted to get better. So my senior year of college, I enrolled myself into a public speaking course. I learned more in that one class than I did in all of my other classes combined that semester. I learned how to effectively speak in public, and more importantly, I learned a lot about myself. Pushing myself to get better at public speaking did wonders for my confidence and happiness!
2. Skydiving: Somehow this was less terrifying than public speaking, but still way outside of my natural comfort zone for sure! For my 21st birthday and my brother’s 18th birthday, we made a last-minute decision to jump out of a plane together. So we drove 2 hours to the nearest skydiving school and gave it a whirl! Words honestly cannot describe how absolutely crazy, exciting, terrifying and beautiful free-falling from 13,000 feet is; it’s almost peaceful. I highly recommend giving it a shot! It’s truly a once in a lifetime experience.
3. Travel somewhere alone: At the tail end of my semester abroad, I realized I hadn’t been to Edinburgh, Scotland, which had been on my list for years. My friends in London couldn’t go so I booked a train ticket and went by myself. It was probably one of the top 5 travel experiences I’ve ever had. So freeing and empowering. But you don’t have to be in Europe to take part in this type of adventure! Go to a museum, restaurant or a park alone. You might surprise yourself with how much you enjoy the independence and freedom.
Pictured above: A photo I took after hiking up Arthur’s Seat on my solo journey to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Would you go skydiving or travel alone? Tell us about your happiest experience outside of your comfort zone in the comments!