New Leaves

The other day I was at a grocery store, one that I don’t usually shop at, and came across a former work colleague. I worked with them several years ago. We chatted for several minutes, and during the conversation, she mentioned, “You look good.” I shared that I was happier than when I worked with them, and that might have an influence on why I looked better. She shared that leaving was a good choice, as the work situation had gotten worse since I left.

Afterward, I reflected back on the job and my decision to leave. The job was a dream role and offered the highest salary I ever had in my career. Before I started the role, I wondered if I was up for the challenge. Was I experienced enough? Was I intelligent enough? One thing I knew was that when I accepted the job, it was out of my comfort zone.

Trying new things is uncomfortable. It’s always easier to learn the rules and stay within your comfort zone than to take a big leap of faith, test your fears, and try the unfamiliar. This is why so many people stay at jobs or in relationships they’re not happy with because the fear that things could be worse is greater than the known. In my case, I tried something new and it didn’t work out. I ended up leaving my dream job because it wasn’t a good fit for my values, but I have no regrets for giving it a try.

For the last nine months, I’ve been doing new things out of my comfort zone. I want to keep growing, and in order to do that, I know I have to keep doing things that are unfamiliar. Growth happens when you do things you haven’t done before, as it causes you to be more aware of yourself. When I stretch in new ways, I have to figure things out and make adjustments, and I’ve noticed as I age, making adjustments gets harder and harder.

A side effect of doing things outside of your comfort zone is that it can help you prepare for hard situations you can’t control. By training your mind to get through the challenges you choose, you can push through difficult circumstances and unexpected things that you don’t necessarily choose.

Stretching outside of my comfort zone is frankly uncomfortable. But if I want to live a life with fulfillment, passion, and purpose, it’s just what I need to do.