Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

Published by Laurie on Tagged Midlife, Mindset

I’ve been a little stressed lately trying to get this site some online presence. I come home from work, make dinner, then go upstairs to the computer, before I know it, I need to get to bed. I really only have a few precious hours each evening, and that’s only if I don’t do the laundry, vacuum the house (that’s really important, I have 5 cats and a dog). Yet, just surfing the web, reading, researching, and looking for (free) advice can take an entire evening.

I come to bed, a little discouraged that I didn’t get more accomplished and my husband tells me I’m frustrated because I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone, and he’s right. Anything out of the norm stresses me out. I am definitely a creature of habit.

But now I’m no longer on auto-pilot. I’m actually immersed in something. I’m not staring at the clock wishing time would pass, instead I look up and hours have passed. All kinds of things keep popping up beyond my control that I’ve had no prior experience with.

So what is my “norm”?
Wake up, go to work, go to exercise class, come home, make dinner, clean up, go to bed. How’s that for comfort. When I really think about it, you could say my comfort zone consists of hating my job, obsessively cleaning my house, being in debt, driving my kids around, stressing over my bills, no wonder nothing is changing in my life. My comfort zone isn’t comfortable at all. I spend all my time doing things I don’t want to do.

Well, I have no one to blame but myself. These things don’t give me comfort. I’ve become accustomed to them and have taken ownership of the misery they create. I’ve actually identified myself with that feeling. Part of my comfort zone is complaining about how much nothing ever changes. How awful is that?

From now on, I’m going to step out of my element more often and embrace all that’s new and different. (like winning the lottery, that would be really different, and just watch how fast I embrace that one) but seriously I’m 44 years old, I’ve been in this comfort zone way too long. I think it’s about time I step out of it and slip into something a little less comfortable.

Bookmark to: