7 Myths About Your Comfort Zone

Remaining in your Comfort Zone is like zorbing through life. While you might feel safe and secure inside the bubble, you are unknowingly participating in an extreme sport.

What’s Zorbing you ask? Zorbing is a daring activity where people get inside a large plastic bubble and roll around on flat ground or down a hill. It was created about ten years ago by two creative souls from New Zealand, Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akerscame. While their original vision for global franchises didn’t take off as planned, the idea of doing various activities in a giant plastic bubble has grown. There are now locations worldwide where you can roll down hills, “walk on water”, play soccer, or even have “bumper bubble fights,” all in the safety of your own private plastic bubble.

Are you ready for zorbing? If you are into extreme sports, new experiences, or have a passion for adventure, you might be inspired to find the nearest location and make plans to go zorbing in the near future.

For others, zorbing would be an experience outside of their comfort zone.

There seem to be two kinds of people in the world: risk takers are those who prefer safety. Of course, it isn’t quite that black and white. The question is: Are you willing to step outside your comfort zone in the areas of your life where it matters?

In order to successfully reach your goals or be all that God created you to be, it will inevitably require you to venture outside what’s comfortable.

Struggling to step outside of your safety bubble? Perhaps you are clinging to some of these misconceptions about your comfort zone. Consider the following myths:

Myth #1: My Comfort Zone Is Safe.

Safety is often confused with familiarity. Just because you know your comfort zone well and have learned how to carefully navigate within the boundary of your bubble does not necessarily mean it is safe.

The reality is that remaining in your comfort zone might actually be the riskiest choice. That false sense of safety might be holding you back; keeping you from all God has for you. Fulfillment, peace, and joy – those are all outside your comfort zone!

Myth #2: My Comfort Zone Is Predictable

Routines and habits are good – you know I’m a fan! However, sticking to predictable ways of doing life is no guarantee that it will remain that way. The pandemic has demonstrated that! Consider the possibility that your routines and habits are preventing you from creating the new habits and ways of doing life or work that are necessary to reach your goals; all that God has for you!

The truth is that no one really knows what the future holds. Life is always changing requiring you to also change and adapt. There is no guarantee that it will be predictable inside or outside of your comfort zone.

Myth #3: My Comfort Zone Is Where I’m In Control

While it is true that you are responsible for the choices in your life, actually being in control of your life is not possible inside or outside of your comfort zone. In fact, fear will encourage you to be more controlling, people-pleasing, passive aggressive, or “right” in an effort to take matters into your own hands, but sadly, those efforts will ultimately lead you to the very fear you were trying to avoid.

Myth #4: My Comfort Zone Keeps Me From Failing

No one wants to fail! Failing is right up there with other major fears like public speaking! Failing is a negative experience to be avoided at all costs.

In truth, failing happens to everyone! It’s just another way of learning and growing. Giving up or not trying – that’s failure. So, while you might feel like you have successfully sidestepped failure inside your comfort zone, you may be caught in the failure trap and not even know it.

Myth #5 My Comfort Zone Keeps Me From Experiencing Fear

Stepping out and trying new things is scary. It requires that you be willing to experience fear and push through those feelings. The more you practice, the easier it gets. The more you successfully move through fear, the more your confidence grows. Successful people aren’t people without fear, they are people who have faced their fears and moved forward anyway.

When you approach life from a place of fear, you are not able to give or receive love – something we all need and desire. Love and fear can’t coexist.

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. I John 4:18 (GNT)

Myth #6 My Comfort Zone Won’t Keep Me From Walking In My Calling

Excuses and procrastination pop up when you are pushed to venture outside of your comfort zone. You find yourself saying things like “If God really wanted me to do that, He would have made me more outgoing, bold, eloquent, skilled, assertive, or____________.”

The truth is that your calling will always take you to stretching and uncomfortable places! God wants you to depend on Him and that’s exactly what you are forced to do outside your comfort zone! He wants you to accomplish your calling together. When you do that, He is glorified, and that’s what it is all about!

It was stepping out in faith and relying on God that made it possible for Joseph, Moses, David, and many others in Scripture to do what they were called to do.  You can read about more faithful folks who stepped out of their comfort zone in Hebrews 11.

Myth #7: My Comfort Zone Is My Happy Place

The easy place is not the same as your happy place. Happiness is the byproduct of growing, stretching, and accomplishing more than you ever thought possible. A life brimming with meaning – that’s a happy life!

Stepping out of the bubble of comfort is challenging, but remember, even small steps outside of your comfort zone count! That’s where you will see results. And the more you venture out, the easier it gets.

What you crave: safety, stability, meaning, etc. are all found in God – let Him be your comfort zone!

What have been avoiding because it was outside of your comfort zone? Where do you need to venture out of your safety bubble?

Originally posted on 11/18/14, this post has been updated and revised just for you!

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