Either you are someone who likes to push limits and always step outside them, or you like to add throw pillows and a nice blanket to the corners and get comfortable for a while. While I am the type to chase after adventure, I prefer to do it on my own terms. I like adventure as long as it remains within my comfort zone. Now, I completely understand the benefits to pushing yourself when it comes to certain situations, however, if that causes a state of pressure, fear which ultimately just creates resentment, then what is the point? Maybe the fact that something doesn’t feel right in the first place means it is not for you.

Often times, I try to put myself in social situations when I know there is a high probability that it will put me outside the comfy corner of my comfort zone. However, I like to remain the observer; that way I can try to analyze the situation before it even happens, so that nothing is unexpected (read: so that nothing is outside my comfort zone). I like to play it safe, I don’t particularly like to live on the wild side, but I crave spontaneity and exhilaration. It seems counter intuitive, doesn’t it? So, obviously, something has to change here. Thus, we come to intention setting.

I am not a goal-oriented person by any means. I am an intention setter. Instead of posing any harsh deadlines or specific achievements for myself, I much prefer to set an intention. Although this may be non-productive for some people, in my experience harsh goals lead to disappointment and unnecessary heartache when they are not completed. Though this may seem like it has nothing to do with comfort zones, I argue it does.

It would be easy to make a checklist of things that would take me out of my comfort zone (i.e. talk to the cute guy at work, drive somewhere without GPS for once, go to the new yoga studio by myself, the list continues). Sure, I will never know the outcomes of these scenarios until I check them off, but the more important part is that I won’t have worked through the underlying beliefs of what I can’t already do these things in the first place. See, I think the word intention redirects this to a more positive place. Instead of stressing out about walking into a place I have never been before, I can set the intention of taking care of myself and exercising in a way that is comfortable to me. This may or may not eventually lead me to taking a class at the new yoga studio.

As the summer kicks off, and I’m sure a lot of you have begun summer bucket lists and goals for the summer, I encourage you to set some intentions as well. They don’t have to be extremely deep of philosophical, but hey, if you want to dive right in, I say go for it. Find something that makes you uncomfortable (in a good way) and frame it in a way that makes the goal comfortable and doable without the pressure of a specific outcome. Sometimes it's not even entirely about accomplishing the goal itself, but living the intention behind the goal, that makes it worthwhile.