“I’ve learned in my life that it’s important to be able to step outside your comfort zone and be challenged with something you’re not familiar or accustomed to. That challenge will allow you to see what you can do.” – J.R. Martinez

Your comfort zone is a place where your routine lies. All aspects and feelings in your life that are regular are all a part of your own comfort zone. Everyone’s comfort zone varies, which makes life very interesting when interacting with different people throughout life. Your comfort zone is as straightforward as it gets – it is a place where you feel comfortable. Not much anxiety and stress is integrated in your comfort zone, so this is a place where people tend to stay a good amount of their life. It provides mental security, which is very important to some people. Although you may feel comfortable within your zone, the key to life is to not always stay in that zone. It is to branch out, and reach far beyond your comfort zone. If you remain in the same routine for your whole life, you will never be able to learn, experience and grow. There are many benefits that can occur when you step outside of your comfort zone. Learning new skills, increased productivity, dealing with change, and learning to challenge yourself are just some of the many benefits that can arise when you break free from your comfort zone. All in all, when you break out of your comfort zone for the first time, you are more inclined to do it again. This is the most important part of taking risks and pushing you to try new things. Life is constantly changing and sometimes you must adapt to your surroundings. Once you overcome a new challenge, you will always have the knowledge and experience and these will enable you to grow and you will be able to overcome challenges much easier in the future. If you do not witness challenge in your life, you simply will not grow as much. My challenge to you is to: Get out there and try new things. Take that job, go on that trip, move to your dream destination, or start dating that person. You never know what life has in store for you once you step out of your comfort zone, but its usually great things that you could never imagine in the bubble of the comfort zone.

Marty and Claudia, Life Circles