Imagine your level of comfort as a sphere. You are at the center, and your “comfort zone” surrounds you. You are happy here in the center; you are protected here. There are no risks in the comfort zone, and even the worst of outcomes doesn’t seem so bad. Your natural instinct is to defend yourself, so you deny yourself from unfamiliar opportunities and simply stick to what you know.
When put into perspective, the comfort zone is very limiting. There is no freedom or flexibility here, and no room for upward improvement and growth. Without some risk, there would not be any fulfilment or progress. If you strive to gain that extra satisfaction, there is a sphere beyond the comfort zone called the “optimal performance zone”. This is the space where you let go of fear and risk and do things you regularly avoid. As you adapt to a new reality, your comfort zone grows.
Everyone has a limit on how far out of their comfort zone they can get before feeling too anxious and uncomfortable. Outside the “optimal performance zone” is the “danger zone”. Recognizing when you are peaking optimal performance and nearing a danger state is crucial, as it will help you to avoid high levels of anxiety.
In a holistic way, stepping outside the comfort zone can teach you a lot about the limits of your perspective and it gives you a more open mind to further your growth and learning. It allows for character development and shows you ways to persevere when in tough situations.
References
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23045774
http://www.jstor.org/stable/44677689
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20697880
BH-0072