All This Talk About Leaving Your Comfort Zone

There is a lot of talk about going outside of your comfort zone. I hear people say that you can only truly experience God, when you go outside of your comfort zone. That good things usually happen, outside of your comfort zone. Why going outside of your comfort zone, is so important… and more. Lots more.

I get the quotes on my facebook page, and the comments on my twitter feed. And something inside of me usually revolts, and shouts, “no!”

Because I disagree.

Although, I do think it’s very important to shake things up in our lives sometimes, so that we don’t get stuck in a rut, and so that we can continue to feel excitement for things – I don’t necessarily agree that you have to go outside of your comfort zone to do that.

I’ll tell you why.

God made us as we are. He made us with our unique personalities, our “bents,” and our giftings. For a reason.

The Bible says to, “Come as you are.” It doesn’t say, to come as someone else. And if you have to go outside of your comfort zone to do something, maybe that’s not what you should be doing!

I do think there are times where God stirs something in our souls, and convicts us to move in a way that maybe we wouldn’t have 5 or 10 years ago. To me, that’s different. We also change. We change with what we go through in life, and how things affect us. So that change, may influence us to do something that maybe would have been outside of our comfort zone previously. BUT, and it’s a big “BUT” for me…. I think those are the exceptions.

For me, I feel like I truly flourish and grow when I’m working WITHIN my comfort zone. When I’m doing something I’m truly gifted at, something I love. That’s when I feel true joy and happiness. I can push myself to be better without having to stress about it, because it’s something I know I want to improve at, or an area I want to grow in. And it’s all IN my comfort zone.

An introvert will never be an extrovert. They weren’t made that way.

A smart technological geek will never be a sports athlete. 

We have our giftings for a reason. And we should seek to grow, learn, improve, and stretch ourselves inside of those areas of giftings. WITHOUT FEELING GUILT about it.

I see the heart of those who try to push us outside of our comfort zones. We all desire to see people reach for more in life, instead of sitting in the “afraid” and “alone at home” zone. But, to me, there are just some flaws in this way of thinking. Unless you are convicted, and truly stirred to move in a certain way for your life, the puzzle pieces just won’t fit. Everything will feel wrong, and the attempt at doing something that is not you, will be a disaster.

So, learn what your comfort zone is. It’s probably a bigger circle than you think. Explore the things that bring you joy, and the things that you are good at; and work on expanding them little by little. And I think you will find that your comfort zone expands in the process.

In the meantime, just enjoy being YOU. You are a gift. And you were created as you are for a reason. Don’t let anyone talk you into being someone else; someone that THEY think you should be.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Leave me a comment below, and let me know if you agree or disagree.