Comfort Zone Vs. Growth Zone Pt. 1: What Is So Comfortable In The Comfort Zone ?

On January 31, 2011, in Blog Series, Comfort zone vs. growth zone, Personal development in MLM, by Oliver

Comfort zone vs. growth zone: What is so comfortable about the comfort zone ?

There’s a lot of talk about the so called comfort zone – what is it and is there such a thing ?

When I hear the words “comfort zone”, I think of my dreams and it sounds and feels good – I see my wife and myself comfortably lying at the beach and I hear and see my kids playing in the water while we are reading a book or are doing nothing. Good laziness.

An important factor is that money keeps coming in whether we work or not.

That’s my imagination, and it’s becoming reality – but it’s not what we refer to when we are talking about the “comfort zone”.

When we are referring to it, we are talking about bad habits that are hard to overcome, especially the very bad habit of busy-ness and working for money.

We are thinking of the very bad habit of procrastination.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THIS EXPRESSION ?

In most cases, we know deep down that we are supposed to do something, that we need to change our lives, that we can change our lives and that we procrastinate – and that we are inventing superb excuses not do anything, to remain in our – what ? – yes, comfort zone.

The bills, the kids, the spouse, the rent, the mortgage, the car loan, the boss, the parents, the parents-in-law, the “economy” etc. etc.

Our excuses are eating us alive, aren’t they ?

To me that is something that made my “comfort zone” very very uncomfortable. Or what is comfortable about School-Work-Die ?

I came to the conclusion that there’s no such thing if it consists of making excuses, procrastinating and being eaten alive.

It’s a bad-habit-zone, nothing else. And sometimes even a very-bad-habit-zone.

What is comfortable about that ?

Learn more about the real comfort zone – the growth zone – in part 2.

Growth is comfortable !

What is your opinion ?

I always love your feedback, so please leave me a comment down below with questions, thoughts, or feedback.

And (yes, here’s my call to action) please share this post with your Twitter and Facebook friends by clicking on the share buttons below. I appreciate you telling others.

To a prosperous life,

Oliver Tausend
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21 Responses to “Comfort Zone Vs. Growth Zone Pt. 1: What Is So Comfortable In The Comfort Zone ?”

Attraction Marketing Online's Top Commentators For January says:

January 31, 2011 at 12:19

[...] good friend and fellow blogger, Oliver Tausend, started implementing this brilliant idea some time ago, so I decided to follow [...]

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Nelly Paekukui says:

January 31, 2011 at 13:18

Hi Oliver,

Great topic here and one to really think about those terms.

Actually being too comfortable is like being complacent with no chance for growth.

It is only when we do not like a situation or become uncomfortable is when we have that opportunity to change if we choose. It is while being in that growth zone there where we are able to improve, and in essence, expecting to being uncomfortable becomes the norm.

Looking forward to part 2.

Thanks for sharing.

Nelly
Nelly Paekukui recently posted..Determination in Racing as a Metaphor for Life

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:46
Hi Nelly,

I believe that a very important key to success is becoming comfortable outside one’s comfort zone.

Thanks for your wonderful comment.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Marcus Baker
Twitter: marcus_baker
says:

January 31, 2011 at 14:14

Hi Oliver,

This is a topic everybody can relate to and I very much enjoyed reading your thought provoking post here.

I agree that when one wants to grow in a particular area/direction one has to extend past what is familiar (The comfort zone) however I have also learned that one cannot be in continual state of ‘discomfort’ for too long either. This leads to a feelings of fear and disillusionment. .

It is far better to know how far to step into unfamiliar territory, stay there until it becomes more familiar, even enjoy the familiarity for a while and then ‘rinse and repeat.’

Being able to do this requires one to develop a level of conscious awareness so one knows exactly where one is on the continuum at any time.

~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Still Looking for The Secret to Success

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:45
HI Marcus,

incremental growth, so to speak. Makes perfect sense to me. If it becomes too uncomfortable, we talk about panic zone. Growth becomes impossible then.

Thanks for adding value with your comment, very much appreciated.

Take care

Oliver

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kisane says:

January 31, 2011 at 14:56

Hi Oliver

The words ‘familiar’ and ‘complacent’ have been used and I think these do capture for me the meaning of being in one’s ‘comfort zone’.

It is when the pluses of moving beyond the space outweigh the pluses of staying, that movement occurs. And this is usually when it is less painful to change than it is to stay the same!

Another very interesting post Oliver!

ciao
Kisane
kisane recently posted..Resisting The Urge To Provide Too Much Value!

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:43
Hi Kisane,

I like the idea that we start moving when staying becomes more painful than moving. It goes hand in hand with the concept that our subconscious mind wants either to feel joy or avoid pain.

Thanks for adding value to the discussion !

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Steve Nicholas says:

January 31, 2011 at 16:02

Great post, Oliver! I think that it is very important to remember that there is a difference between comfort and complacency. The latter might seem like comfort in the beginning, but like The Slight Edge tells us, complacency can easily become stagnation. I’d rather have a few rough years now and a lot of comfortable years later than the other way around.

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 18:06
Hi Steve,

thanks for your comment. I like it that you refer to the Slight Edge. At the beginning, we see no difference. This might be the reason why so many people follow their old routine again after a short period of time.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Mavis Nong
Twitter: MavisNong
says:

January 31, 2011 at 18:23

Hey Oliver,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thought-provoking post. You nailed it! What’s so comfortable about the comfort-zone that is related to bad habits? Strange that people become accustomed to this way of life instead of creating a real comfortable life.

Thanks for sharing your insights, Oliver. I look forward to Pt. 2

All the best,
Mavis
Mavis Nong recently posted..Is Your Blog Completely Safe and Secure From Hackers

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:41
Hi Mavis,

it might look comfortable from the outside, but I am sure that it’s eating away at them on the inside.

Thanks for your valuable comment.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Joe Young says:

January 31, 2011 at 20:54

Hi Oliver,
great post here. Yeah, comfort zone can be interpreted both ways, as good or bad. Bad, in sense of doing nothing, excuses, or good, you are living comfortable, outside the rat race!

But, we know what it usually means, the bad!

Great thoughts to consider……either way, I am quite happy rocking the boat and thinking outside the box!

- Joe
Joe Young recently posted..Network Marketing Recruiting Tips- Avoid Juicing Up Your Business

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:40
Hi Joe,

of course, we are referring to the bad. Complacency is the most used word in comments to this post to describe this. This whatever we may call-it zone prevents us from growing, that’s the bottom line.

Thanks for your wonderful comment.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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John says:

January 31, 2011 at 23:09

When I hear the words “comfort zone” I start to think about my dreams too. However, I can see your point that the comfort zone is a bad-habit-zone because I when people get too comfortable the get complacent, sluggish, and even lazy.

The truth is I think everybody is looking for this comfort zone, but it may not be the best idea. I’m looking forward to you continuing your thoughts on this topic in your part 2. Thanks for sharing Oliver, I enjoyed reading.
John recently posted..How To Remove Moles From Your Face Naturally Using Cheap Household Items

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 23:37
Hi John,

thanks for your comment. I agree that we shouldn’t get complacent and our “comfort zone”. It something that creates bad laziness.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Sherman Smith says:

February 1, 2011 at 02:09

You made a really valid point here. The comfort zone isn’t really the comfort zone, but a bad-habit zone. Although it’s easy to break bad habits, a lot of people, including myself as well, have a difficult time in breaking them. We’ve been doing it so long that we feel that we’re “entrapped” in them. But the fact of the matter is that if we make an effort to change our thinking and really see that bad habits doesn’t get us anywhere and start developing good habits, then we can being “entrapped” in that sense will be beneficial.. Thanks for sharing!
Take Care
Sherman
Sherman Smith recently posted..What Are You Not Doing That Every Successful Leader Is Doing

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 12:17
Hi Sherman,

we all can relate to having bad habits. Chances are we only have too many of of them and not enough good ones

What do you think ?

Thanks for your wonderful comment.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Stacy
Twitter: growwithstacy
says:

February 1, 2011 at 21:48

Oliver,

This is a great post. I really believe that living in one’s comfort zone is like fencing off any room for growth. We need to step outside of what is comfortable in order to grow. If we aren’t willing to to try something new we won’t grow, we will just sit where we are comfortable and we won’t experience any changes. Except perhaps changes for the worse. I think of someone sitting on their couch watching tv and eating potato chips because it’s more comfortable than exercising.

Have a great day!
Stacy
Stacy recently posted..The 100-0 Principle

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 22:20
Hi Stacy

…and watching sports, lol. That’s a great image ! If we don’t grow, we start dying. We won’t see and feel the difference when we get started, but the pay off – negative or positive – will be enourmous.

Thanks for sharing your insights, very much appreciated.

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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Ilka Flood
Twitter: ilkaflood
says:

February 4, 2011 at 20:54

Hi Oliver,

I love how you termed the comfort zone “bad habit zone.” Very true! But, aren’t most people very comfortable in their “bad habit zone?” Just look at Joe Sixpack sitting on the couch, drinking his well, six pack, and stuffing his belly with chips while watching re-runs on TV. As long as there’s nothing earth-shattering happening for him, he won’t be moving off of that couch.

I think it’s all in the minds of people. They either decide to make a change, or they decide to keep holding on to their bad habits. Most entrepreneurs, don’t feel comfortable in the “comfort zone,” because it doesn’t challenge them.

I’m off to read part two of this great series. Thanks for sharing it!

Ilka
Ilka Flood recently posted..Top Supporters of The Enlightened Networker for January

[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 18:40
Hi Ilka,

thanks for your great comment. The question is if Joe Sixpack feels some type of remorse or not: Does he feel and know deep down that he’s supposed to change something ?

Take care

Oliver

[Reply]

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