“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – Anonymous

As humans, it is natural for us to want comfort. Whether it’s comfort at home, comfort in our routine or comfort in the food we eat, we look for it everywhere. We want to feel safe and sound and be reassured that we are in the right place doing the right thing. What better way to do that than to always do the same thing? This gives us a sense of security in our lives. We feel at ease when there is a “usual” to follow and our next move is known. However, if we continue to stay in this place of security, we miss out on a world of opportunities.

Letting the fear of the unknown constrict us is one of the worst things we can do for our personal growth. How can we reach our potential if we never reach for anything new at all? It is scary; breaking through barriers in life are always a little nerve racking when we can’t see the other side. But we need to break them down in order to see the other side. This is how we expand ourselves. We can learn what we can and can’t handle rather than just assuming we can’t handle any of it.

We can learn about the world around us too. Traveling to new places gives us new perspectives. Reading new books stretches our vocabulary. Driving or walking a new route lets us see things we wouldn’t have otherwise. By straying away from our typical routine and habits, we are introduced to a range of ideas to consider and paths to take. Chatting with someone new, joining a new organization or club or even just spontaneously changing up your order at a restaurant are all simple but effective beginning steps to reaching outside of our comfort zone and getting a taste (sometimes literally) of what else is out there.

In truth, I believe there is comfort to be found in the exploration of new things. It is comforting to know your options and the other possibilities that are available to you. It is relieving to discover how big the world is and yet how small it can seem at times. Breaking free from the norm, even for a little while, may be just what you need to realize that the comfort zone you were sitting in isn’t so comfortable after all.