- create: Aspiring to inspire
- Finnish Sayings
- Pumpkin Patterns
- Model Greenbelt
- Recipes For Hope
- Babette's Feast
- Design Services
- coach: groups and individuals
- Wheel Of Life
- Purpose Test
- Comfort Zone
- 10 Questions
- Stroke Of Insight
- Action Learning
Archive:
Categories:
recent Content by image: Click to open
Most read. Go with the popular choice:
Hidden Gems. Give an old post a chance:
Five Rules For Surviving Outside Your Comfort Zone
by Bruce 17/02/07
Please bookmark this post at Facebook or Twitter:
I’m starting this post with a confession/apology to any client who I’ve glibly encouraged to step outside of their comfort zone. Three weeks ago I sat part way down a vertical sheet of ice thwacking it with my ski pole. I then broke down in frustration and tears vowing to end my 2 day old experiment with the ‘fun’ of skiing. I was way outside my comfort zone – which is, incidentally, the only place that change takes place.
This diagram represents your comfort zone. It is made up of three distinct areas: A, B and C. Getting to know and understand what defines your version of these zones is an important aspect of self-understanding.
Your comfort zone is Zone A in this diagram. What words do you link with comfort? Positive words like ease, stability, security, relaxation perhaps? What about words like sameness, boredom and stagnation. Your comfort Zone A has positive and negative associations.
Zone B is immediately outside your comfort zone. It has definite negative associations: obviously discomfort, stress, uncertainty, fear, struggle and vulnerability. But it also has a positive aspect: challenge, adventure, excitement, learning and most importantly, change.
Zone C is when you’ve gone too far and there isn’t really a positive aspect other than survival.
To survive in Zone B here are my life coach top tips:
- Recognise that little in this zone will feel, um, comfortable. You are supposed to feel out of your depth and experience some stress.
- Set step-by-step plans for any activity outside your comfort zone and get immediate feedback about any progress you make. This will help you measure progress, learning and change.
- Try and find a level of challenge that is just higher than your skill but not so far that you end up in Zone C. This is a recognized component of flow states.
- From time to time decide to step outside of your comfort zone rather than allow life to do it for you. That way you can control the experience and keep your confidence topped up. Read this post for more explanation.
- Work with someone who can provide impartial advice and guideance. You don’t necessarily want to get straight back into your comfort zone, which might be the solution offered by a close friend.
As it turned out, by the end of the week, I was well and truly hooked by skiing. And I had a object experiential lesson in the fine balance required to survive outside of my comfort zone. Hopefully I’ll be a better coach for it.
Please bookmark this post at Facebook or Twitter:
If you have used this free resource
please take two minutes to:
– Leave a comment below or,
– Link to embody from your blog or site or,
– Email a friend about embody.
Embody is not funded to produce these resources so your help in spreading the word is appreciated. Thanks, Bruce.
Great post!! (And GREAT name—my son is Bruce).
I have just used this site for coaching as I am outside my comfort zone (through choice). It has reminded me that my glass is half full, not half empty - thanks.
nice words and webpage
Nice posting - useful to present with students.
I have been looking for new activities on comfort zones to use in my groups, so far this has worked well. Thank You
A really helpful explanation of comfort zones and associated feelings, backed up by a great practical example. Thanks
I’ve had the opportunity to experiment this model in a SIETAR conference 2 weeks ago: it’s simple and yet very useful and practical.
Thank you for sharing this model. I will surelly use it in my futur coaching sessions.
Thank you for a wonderful site that I happened on today while preparing for an upcoming renewal weekend my husband and I facilitate for people in 12 Step recovery. We are Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselors in NJ.
Dear Bruce-
Thank you for this treasure
of a site. I found it by looking for a certain kind of stool- a meditation stool,as it turns out, but I couldn’t
remember the proper name. No
matter- at last I found it, and I found your site. These stools are also wonderful for
pregnant women-I’ll pass this
on to the prenatal classes in town, and to some midwives in
our area. Thanks again….
Thanks you for your explanations, I have used in my counselling and coaching.
super post - will try and put into practice! Many thanks
Great summary and personal example, am looking for content for a presentation on comfort zones (and tools to use to self manage when getting out of them). Thank you.