Walls were meant for breaking
Let me ask you a question… Do you ever find yourself feeling stuck in your current routine and wonder if there’s more you could achieve? If so, then I want to assure you that you’re not alone, and here’s why.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” - Neale W.
Life is about growth! We are creatures of growth, constantly seeking new horizons. If placed in an 8x8 box, we aspire to knock down the walls and venture into a 100x100 box. Once in the 100x100 box, we quickly look for ways to expand further. However, when it comes to our mindset, many of us are content to stay confined within our 8x8 box, or what I refer to as our comfort zone.
Breaking down the walls of our comfort zone allows us to expand into an area of growth, also known as a “growth mindset." To truly grow in life, we must be willing to let the walls come down and see what’s on the other side. If our life is a box and we are confined within it, the only way to grow is by expanding our walls. We must first be willing to let the walls come down to allow for that expansion and then build new ones.
Staying within our comfort zone might feel safe and secure, but it also limits our potential. It prevents us from experiencing new opportunities, learning new skills, and achieving greater success. A growth mindset encourages us to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously strive for improvement.
To start breaking down these walls, we can take the following small, manageable steps:
Challenge Yourself: Step out of your comfort zone by taking on new challenges. It could be as simple as learning a new skill, taking a different route to work, or engaging in a new hobby. These small actions can lead to significant growth over time.
"The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." - Puala C.
Embrace Failure: Understand that failure is a part of the growth process. Each failure is an opportunity to learn and improve. Instead of fearing failure, see it as a stepping stone to success. As kids we had no fear of failing when it came to getting something that we really desired. We were relentless in our pursuit. So where does that passion retreat to once we become adults? While failing seems daunting, not achieving our goals in life should greatly eclipse our any fear of failing to try.
Set Goals: Establish clear, achievable goals that push you beyond your current limits. These goals should be challenging yet attainable, providing you with a sense of direction and purpose. I prefer starting out with small goals and working your way towards greater accomplishments. As my dad used to say, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” While I’m not into eating elephants, I am passionate about achieving new heights in life.
Seek Feedback: Actively seek feedback from others to gain different perspectives. Constructive criticism helps us identify areas for improvement and accelerates our growth. This is potentially the most daunting task within the list. With fear of failing already weighting heavily on our shoulders… The last thing we want to hear is where we are deficient, but this post is about getting comfortable being uncomfortable and feedback is essential for seeing what we may be blind to along with reinforcing our areas of strength.
Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your progress and make necessary adjustments. This helps ensure that you are continually moving forward and not getting stuck in new comfort zones. Once the train starts moving we want to sustain that momentum. Over time our actions will become more and more effortless. Similar to a bolder rolling down a hill. At first it’s nearly impossible to make the bolder budge, but once we get it rolling the momentum carries it with greater speed and less energy.
By embracing a growth mindset and breaking down the walls of our comfort zone, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities. We allow ourselves to grow, learn, and achieve more than we ever thought possible. Life is limitless, so let’s start knocking down those walls and see what’s on the other side. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards of personal growth and fulfillment are well worth it.
Peace Crew,
PTW Christian
