A friend of mine shared with me an article by Derek Silvers about pushing out of your comfort zone. My friend, knowing me well, picked a intriguing & relevant article for me to read, as I’m dedicated to pushing my own limits & making sure I don’t get too comfortable.
The questions the article asks at the end, “what scares you now? what’s intimidating? what’s the great unknown?” are thought provoking & so I ask myself…
What scares me now? What’s intimidating? What’s the great unknown?
When I really think about it, I feel like I’m scared of a lot…
- I’m scared of getting stuck…getting stuck in complacency, stuck in one place, trapped in my own thoughts.
- I’m scared of losing people who are close to me.
- I’m scared of physical pain involving needles. Random, okay. I have vaso vagal…lay off.
- I’m scared of making the wrong decisions for myself & my business.
- I’m scared of getting hurt, emotionally.
But then, what does it really mean to be scared? According to the Dictionary scared is being “thrown into a state of fear, fright, or panic”. Is fear different than not liking something? or not wanting something to happen? Even though I’m scared of some things, doesn’t mean I avoid them like the plague. I still make decisions, sometimes wrong. I still have to confront needles & risk passing out. I still get vulnerable & risk emotionally getting hurt. The fear in those I think provides some adrenaline that pushes me through to actually crossing through the barriers. Some element of fear can be helpful in that regard.
On a more specific level, for me, the “great unknown” is living a different life…in a different geographic location mostly. I have lived in Ann Arbor for 6 years (“lived in” should be in quotations because I’m kind of nomadic when it comes to living & I haven’t always “lived in” Ann Arbor even though my life has been based here). I am comfortable with this area. I know my way around. I have my favorite places to visit, eat, shop. I have a routine. And even though I can & do shake up my routine by traveling, trying new things, & meeting new people, I do believe there is a “great unknown” out there for me – what is it like to move to a new place? start from scratch? I don’t know. The last time I moved I was in 6th grade, so my parents did most of the planning. Starting college is quasi moving to a new place & starting anew, but doesn’t quite count for full independent living.
Another “great unknown” is a different occupation. What if worked in an entirely different industry? What if I was on Saturday Night Live? (still waiting on that call Mr. Michaels - call me maybe) What if I didn’t have a job? I don’t really know the answers to any of these questions (hence, “great unknown”).
Am I too comfortable? What do I need to shake up? What “great unknowns” do I need to explore? How can I push myself & my comfort zone?
What scares you? What is the great unknown to you? & what are you doing about it?
venture on,
mel, the venture gal
