Written by: Tiffany Bartell
Editor’s Note: The following articles are written by counseling professionals from Counseling Services in partnership with the Southern Accent.
How many of us have found ourselves saying the phrase, “That’s out of my comfort zone,” when confronted with trying something new? As a therapist, I’ve heard many clients play tug of war with themselves as they simultaneously want to go out and try a new adventure but feel anxious and reluctant to leave the familiar and known.
I tend to think that our “comfort” zone is, more often than not, actually our “dis-comfort” zone. The space that feels known and familiar can feel safer than what lies outside it, but it can also be a confining and restrictive place that keeps us as a spectator in our own world.
According to an article on the Harvard website, the concept of a comfort zone was first coined in the early 1900s by psychologists who created what is called the Yerkes-Dodson Law. This principle states that our performance actually increases with stress or pressure — up to a certain point — after which it starts to decline, according to a Harvard Business Review article.
The idea is that there is a benefit to be had by doing something that makes you a little uncomfortable or causes a small amount of pressure or nervousness. That little bit of discomfort can give you the energy to tackle something new successfully.
When thinking about getting out of your comfort zone, it is important to remember that everyone has an individual and unique experience in life, and what is adventurous to one person might not sound like fun to someone else. It is important to challenge ourselves in ways that are oriented toward our personal interests and goals. Using your motivational tendencies can also be helpful. (For more information, check out Gretchin Rubin’s Four Tendencies Quiz.)
If peer pressure helps you move through that initial stress to tackle a challenge, doing the activity or training with a buddy can be helpful. If you are motivated and encouraged in a different way, use your knowledge of who you are to make a plan that is suited specifically to you.
I will probably never go skydiving, but I remember the butterflies in my stomach when I interviewed for my doctoral program. Taking the plunge to start a doctorate was very scary for me, but the feeling I had after graduating made every moment of nervousness worth it.
While you are in college, you will meet many everyday challenges, such as asking your crush to go to Vespers with you this week. You will also face times that feel more daunting, such as interviewing for your dream internship or dental school. Whatever the mountain you must climb, consider making friends with that nervous feeling or stress that you feel. It might just be the bridge from your “comfort” zone into a bigger and richer life.
