10 Ways To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Overcome Your Fear

10 Ways To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Overcome Your Fear

*Written by Dr Laide Okubena*

This is a time and season, several people are losing jobs, companies are laying off workers, big brands and companies all over the world are shutting down and closing operations.
The ability to take risks by stepping outside your comfort zone is the primary way by which we grow and get out this crisis or current pandemic of covid-19. But we are often afraid to take that first step.
In truth, comfort zones are not really about comfort, they are about fear. Break the chains of fear to get outside. Once you do, you will learn to enjoy the process of taking risks and growing in the process.
Here are 10 ways to help you step out of your comfort zone and get closer to success.
1. *Become Aware of What’s Outside of Your Comfort Zone*
What are the things that you believe are worth doing but, are afraid of doing yourself because of the potential for disappointment or failure?
Draw a circle and write those things down outside the circle. This process will not only allow you to clearly identify your discomforts but, your comforts. Write identified comforts inside the circle.
Are you scared of making cold calls, talking to strangers , following up on that prospect  or even closing or learning new skills?
2. *Become Clear About What You Are Aiming to Overcome and Visualise yourself successful and taking Action*
Take the list of discomforts and go deeper. Remember, the primary emotion you are trying to overcome is fear.
How does this fear apply uniquely to each situation? Be very specific.
Are you afraid of walking up to people and introducing yourself in social situations? Why? Is it because you are insecure about the sound of your voice? Are you insecure about your look? Or, are you afraid of being ignored?
Always Visualise yourself becoming Successful at that task and seeing yourself  taking action. Start seeing yourself closing deals , making those cold calls,  see yourself doing those impossible things , see yourself learning those valuable skills.
3. *Get Comfortable with Discomfort*
One way to get outside of your comfort zone is to literally expand it. Make it a goal to avoid running away from discomfort.
Let’s stay with the theme of meeting people in social settings. If you start feeling a little panicked when talking to someone you’ve just met, try to stay with it a little longer than you normally would before retreating to comfort. If you stay long enough and practice often enough, it will start to become less uncomfortable.
You can learn how to do virtual meetings on zoom meetings or if covid-19 prevents you from meeting physically or social distancing.
4. *See Failure as a Teacher*
Many of us are so afraid of failure that we would rather do nothing than take a shot at our dreams.
You may have had low sales or even poor sales or even none last quarter , you can learn from the failures and see how you can bounce back from the setbacks.
Did you experience loss of your Job or loss of income due to the lockdown, how are you coping and adapting to the new changes in the new  global economy.
5. *Take Baby Steps*
Don’t try to jump outside your comfort zone, you will likely become overwhelmed and jump right back in.
Take small steps toward the fear you are trying to overcome. If you want to do public speaking, start by taking every opportunity to speak to small groups of people. You can even practice with family and friends.
Are you a newbie , don't expect to be Successful overnight or in one week, take baby steps.
You want to learn a new skill , start by Reading books on the skill page by page , chapter by chapter.  Attending a conference or training or watching video trainings on it on YouTube or Zoom meetings/ training.
6. *Hang out with Risk Takers*
There is no substitute for this step. If you want to become better at something, you must start hanging out with the people who are doing what you want to do and start emulating them. Almost inevitably, their influence will start to have an effect on your behaviour.
7. *Be Honest with Yourself When You Are Trying to Make Excuses*
Don’t say “Oh, I just don’t have the time for this right now.” Instead, be honest and say “I am afraid to do this.”
Don’t make excuses, just be honest. You will be in a better place to confront what is truly bothering you and increase your chance of moving forward.
8. *Identify How Stepping out Will Benefit You*
What will the ability to engage in public speaking do for your personal and professional growth? Keep these potential benefits in mind as motivations to push through fear.
9. *Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously*
Learn to laugh at yourself when you make mistakes. Risk taking will inevitably involve failure and setbacks that will sometimes make you look foolish to others. Be happy to roll with the punches when others poke fun.
10. *Focus on the Fun*
Enjoy the process of stepping outside your safe boundaries. Enjoy the fun of discovering things about yourself that you may not have been aware of previously.
*Tasks of the day*
1. Take one small step outside of your own personal comfort zone this week today.
It maybe a bit uncomfortable the more you flex that muscle and the easier it will be for you to bigger steps and bigger risks to accelerate your progress towards your goals and take your life to the Next level.

Take the first step and I’m sure you’ll make it!