Ask Bob Lampard

Expanding Your Comfort Zone - Simple, Effective Strategies

It can be a good thing when you find your comfort zone. Everyone likes a place where they can feel safe. However, sometimes your comfort zone will limit you. You might be missing out on opportunities without even knowing that you’re missing out!

Expanding your comfort zone can bring a whole new world of excitement, passion, experiences, friends, financial opportunities, and knowledge into your life. To take advantage of these benefits, the first thing you must do is embrace change.

Life is full of changes. When you get into the habit of finding the good in every change, you become more comfortable with the idea of change itself, and look forward to the new adventures that lie ahead. With this mindset, you’re ready, willing, and able to expand your comfort zone.

Try these effective techniques to help you break free of the limits of your comfort zone:

1.      Think positive thoughts. When you’re living in a bubble, and that bubble breaks, you’ll most likely feel fear. When you’re scared, focus on thinking more positive thoughts. Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, think about what could go right. Have faith that this new opportunity will bring you to a new, comforting place.

2.      Use your imagination. By only staying where you’re familiar, you’re actually limiting your imagination. Starting from now, try to exercise your mind. Stretch it to envision doing new things you never considered before.

·        Try some new activities. Invariably, you’ll find some you enjoy and these will be added to your repertoire of experiences you find comfortable, thus expanding your comfort zone.

3.      Take small steps. One of the most important tips when it comes to expanding your comfort zone is to tread lightly. If you expect too much too soon, you may shock yourself and go running back to your bubble. Feel free to take even the smallest of steps.

·        Each step forward is just that: a step forward. These steps will add up to something big as long as you keep trying.

4.      Do something new. You don’t have to do anything terribly exciting or even have any expectations about the results. Just do something you’ve never done before. Even trying a new restaurant or taking a different route to work will help. Do something differently each day, and soon you’ll be looking forward to your daily adventure!

5.      Accept help. If you ask your friends and family for help, they’ll likely be there for you. Have them help you if you’re feeling uncomfortable in a new situation. They might just alleviate your stress while you’re expanding your comfort zone.

6.      Meet new people. Be open to accepting new friends and acquaintances. Strike up casual conversations with people around you. You never know when you might be able to form a new relationship with someone. Your new friends will help you expand your comfort zone by bringing their friends and new ideas into your life.

Remember that there are no set rules. Your main goal is to be happy with your life. If you’re happy in your comfort zone, you don’t have to expand it aggressively against your wishes. However, if staying within your own bubble may cause you regret because of missed opportunities, then try these easy strategies to help you grab all the gusto you can out of life!

Bob Lampard

Have you ever decided that it was time for a change? At first, there is recognition of the need to change. Either you realize it, or someone else indicates it to you. But, just recognizing that a change is needed does not change anything.

Like everything else, change starts in your mind first, and that’s where the battle will take place. Your mind will object to changes. “No! I don’t want to exercise every day. I don’t have enough time! What if I overdo it?” The mind objects to leaving the comfortable environment that it is so accustomed to.

The reason that change is difficult for most people is that we all like to be comfortable, and change interrupts our comfortable routine; it interrupts our comfort zone. Even if our comfortable routine is not bringing us the results in life that we really desire, we choose to remain in the routine, instead of making the decision to change.

It doesn’t matter whether the changes are little changes or big changes, your mind will always have some objections to it.

Keep in mind these two things whenever you really desire to change something in your life. First, consistently remind yourself of the goal or reason for the change. For example, say “I’m going to exercise every day so that I can be healthier, have more energy, and live longer,” or, “I’m going to spend the time and money to take this course so that I can improve my skills and have more to offer.”

You need to keep reminding yourself of the reason why. If you don’t, your mind will come back with all kinds of reasons why you don’t need to change anything! Your mind will object by telling you that everything is just fine the way it is! But you must take charge of your mind! Make your mind focus on the goal.

And here’s the second thing. Be patient. If you’re consistent and persistent, the change will come.

If you take a pot of boiling water off the stove and put in four ice cubes, is that water cool enough to drink? No. But if you keep adding ice cubes, over and over, eventually that boiling water will change to ice cold water.

Change takes time. And many times our minds will get impatient during a period of change. There will be thoughts like, “Oh this isn’t working, it’s just not happening.” Or, “I don’t see the point in continuing with this.” In other words, the mind is suggesting that you ought to quit and go back to where things were nice and comfortable where things were easy and there wasn’t so much to do!

When those kind of thoughts pop up, you need to remind yourself of why you have decided to put in this time and effort. In other words, remind yourself of why you desire this change. Remind yourself that change takes time, and that if you’re consistent and persistent, you will see the results that you really desire.

And always remember that change is a part of life. Realizing that makes life exciting! With God’s help, you can indeed make the change! Don’t be afraid of change, embrace it!

The time and effort required for change may vary, but the outcome of reaching the desired destination will far outweigh all the time and effort once you arrive!

Comfort zones are just another resting place on the road of life. They are a place to regroup and expand your foundation. They give you a launching pad for the next exciting adventure of life!
If you’re current routine is not bringing you the results that you desire, then it’s time to move out of your comfort zone! If it’s time for a change in your life!
By Michael A Verdicchio

Michael A. Verdicchio is a husband, father, minister, author, and broadcaster. He has been the voice on numerous productions over the years. Michael has a free newsletter called, THE PEP LETTER, at www.christianinspirationalgifts.com/pepletter.html .

Bob Lampard