Comfortable.
I even like the word. It makes me feel…well…comfortable.
Just rolling that four-syllable-word around on my tongue conjures images of warm, fuzzy bedroom slippers and soft, cozy furniture.
When we think of “comfortable,” rarely do we picture a cold, sterile environment such as a hospital or waiting room. But then again, I guess it depends on your perspective.
For those who work in a hospital, perhaps that’s their comfort zone, their home away from home. They may love their jobs and what they do. Or they may not. The point being, they’ve been trained to handle emergencies and difficult situations whether they like them or not. Bright lights and needles and odd sorts of smells don’t fluster healthcare professionals the way they might the average Joe.
For some, maintaining a rigid schedule is a natural high. Doing the same thing the same way over and over breeds security, familiarity and peace of mind. Things that we’re used to become routine. Expected. Accepted. The norm.
Things that make me feel comfortable:
- My home
- My office
- Leftovers in the fridge
- Sitting in the same pew every Sunday
- The old bathrobe I wear around the house
- My momma’s kitchen
- My neatly organized pantry
- Our public library
- Family mealtime (which, at our home, is still quite traditional)
- My beloved Ozarks
Things that shift the furniture in my comfort zone:
- Malicious gossip
- Unkind words
- Heights
- An overcrowded amusement park
- Reality T.V. (I’m sorry, but yuck.)
- Greasy diners
- Closed minds
- A dead cell phone
- Camping (Loved it when I was little. Now? Not so much.)
- Our pastor’s Sunday sermons. (But it’s a good thing.)
As I’ve matured, I’ve learned that stepping out of our comfort zones can be a good thing. It stretches us. It grows us.
Buying new furniture for our comfort zones gives us courage. We adjust. We compensate. We experience new things. We learn different ways. We absorb knowledge. We begin to realize that comfort isn’t necessarily a bad thing–it’s just the known thing.
As I write, I find I’m taking baby steps out of my comfort zones. I’m tackling the uncomfortable. I’ve committed to stretching myself in 2012. It’s a bit scary, but I know I can trust you with this little tidbit of information because I’m going to challenge you to do the same thing.
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Can you name three things that take you out of your comfort zone? How are you going to tackle them?
Happy Friday and have a great weekend!
Blessings Always,
Comments 8
Traveling alone; Running in races; trying on bathing suits! Ha!
A wonderful post! 🙂
Author
Ohhh, yes. Those definitely stretch my comfort zone, too, Jess. But remember…we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (And sometimes, I have to pray extra hard concerning one of those…)
Three things that have taken me out of my comfort zone recently:
Attending my first Tai Chi class and experiencing that all arms-and-legs awkwardness seen in a young teen guy who just went through a growth spurt.
Learning that my debut novel is up for pre-order on a number of booksellers’ sites and realizing I’m going to have to do my part to promote it even though I tend to be quite reserved.
Attending Christmas parties where I didn’t know very many of the guests, which brought back my hide-in-the-corner high school wallflower memories.
Author
Keli, those are definitely comfort zone stretchers!
I’m trying to picture you in your Tai Chi class–I bet you’re awesome! And promotion for your new book? Piece of cake–you’re a natural. Just remember that you’re a “wallflower” no longer. You’re a lovely rosebud who’s just about to blossom.
What takes me out of my comfort zone? Hmm, anything involving extreme adventure. But my husband is determined to get me out of my box, bless his heart. 🙂
Author
Husbands are great at that aren’t they, Sarah? Maybe you should plan your trip to Europe now, in the name of research of course. How’s that for adventure?
I was curious what you were going to blog when you mentioned this topic the other day. Out of my comfort zone: Speaking in front of a group of people (getting better); shopping in the presence of a motivated sales person; waiting in the dentist’s office.
Author
I think many of us can relate to your comfort zone groans, Patti. Speaking in front of others is rarely at the top of anyone’s list (but God has a way of raising us up!) And who hasn’t felt your pain when waiting at the dentist or when shopping beneath a sales person’s hungry eyes? Perfect examples!
I think recognizing what makes us uncomfortable in the first place is an important first step to meeting our challenges head on.
You inspire me!