You need to give a presentation in class, but your knees buckle before you even reach the front of the classroom. You want to make new friends, but you would rather step on a lego than make small talk with strangers. Speaking up in class would improve your grade, but you're afraid of saying the wrong thing. Situations like these are terrifying, but unfortunately, they are also omnipresent. The natural response is avoidance because it is the easy way out. Who wants to feel anxious when they don't have to?

But the problem is that these situations, while unpleasant and uncomfortable, are 100% necessary. As we learn and grow, we are constantly faced with situations where we need to adapt our behavior. It's simply the reality of the world we live in today. And without the skill and courage to take the leap, we can miss out on countless opportunities. I challenge you to take the plunge in order to expand your comfort zone. Here are four reasons why.

1. Taking risks is what helps us grow.

A young child in a beginner's gymnastics class will succeed more than a teenager in the same class. The young child is a natural risk taker, whereas the teenager has grown to fear -- to fear falling, to fear being laughed at, and to fear failure. As we grow, we start holding ourselves back and attempting fewer things. This comes at a high cost to our tremendous potential for lifelong growth and transformation. Stepping out of your comfort zone will allow you to grow.

2. Getting out of our comfort zones increases our productivity.

People tend to use being busy as a sham to stay in their comfort zones and avoid new challenges. But comfort thwarts productivity. That little bit of discomfort that arises from having to cope with expectations and deadlines tends to encourage productivity, as people are generally more driven when they're walking on a tightrope. Pushing our boundaries helps us think and work smarter in order to hit our stride much sooner.

3. We gain new perspectives.

Limits only exist in the mind. Comfort zones are psychological. But once we get comfortable stepping outside of our comfort zones, we automatically are able to gain new perspectives. Since we are open to exploring and discovering new things, we broaden our horizons to unimaginable levels.

4. We perform at our peak!

Stepping outside the comfort zone is a significant and almost universal factor that facilitates personal growth. We can truly evolve in our personal and professional lives if we learn to kick habit and routine. The more inclined we are to achieving heights, the more willing we must be to take risks at attempting something we may not achieve at. Psychologists have found that a healthy amount of anxiety (key word being healthy) can help us perform at our peak because when we challenge ourselves, we truly rise to the occasion.

Comfort zones are lovely and home-y. It is natural to want to remain in them, because they are so, so comfortable. But do you want to stay exactly where you are in your personal and professional life forever, or do you want to grow?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Don't miss out.