Go Outside Of Your Comfort Zone!

Hello Friends! Yes, whether you have a disability or not, I would be recommending that you go out of your comfort zone, but I am emphasizing it more for my fellow friends with disabilities as well as their parents and/or caretakers. We are becoming too complacent, too sedentary, too use to saying, “Nothing, same old, same old,” when someone poses the question, “So what’s new?” Take a moment, think about it, and welcome to your comfort zone! While I am all for chillin’ once and a while, being lazy (well, not too often), and simply staying at home from time to time, let’s really be honest with ourselves and ask ourselves, “Is this really me or is this who I have become because of my disability?” Did I strike a chord? (hopefully not your spinal cord!) If I did strike a chord, guess what? I am glad and so should be.

The time has come for us all to shake things up a little bit and move away from our comfort zones…knowing full well that we can always return to it if or when we so choose. When was the last time that you did something out of the ordinary? Be careful that your wonderful, yet protective mind does start reeling off a series of excuses. Seriously, when did you eat a different type of food, watch a different type of a movie, push backwards in your wheelchair, do a different type of an exercise, listen to a type of music you would never even dream of listening to, just go for a drive in a car and have no idea where you are going, pull out some markers or crayons and just start drawing, go up to a random stranger and say “hello,” try meditating, do a crossword puzzle, try a musical instrument, call an old friend, go for a push in the park, and the list goes on! I could go on forever but I believe you get my point. Your brain, your body, and even your spirit want to be stimulated. This stimulation, besides electric stimulation that I know some of you use, has nothing to do with your disability…so stop using your disability as an excuse!

One of those major factors that I know contribute to many peoples’ comfort zones is technology. I have always compared the Internet to heaven and hell. It is heavenly in that it has allowed us to connect with people at the speed of light, socialize on another level, and can be done used such ease. On the other hand, it is hell in that it has sheltered people even more than they were before, limited the way that we socialize and connect with people, and no matter what attempts are made, will never be able to be fully policed properly. So, what’s the remedy when it comes to getting out of our comfort zones when technology is involved? Take a technology fast! Begin by saying that I am not going to use any form of technology (cell phone, computer, TV, DS, you name it) for a the entire morning. Then expand your commitment by not using technology for the entire day (may want to try this over a weekend when things may not be as busy). Make the commitment as an individual, then get family and friends involved. Obviously there can be exceptions to this rule, like if there is an emergency, etc., but just be honest with yourself. For many of my coaching clients who I have challenged to do this, many of them did not know what to do with themselves because they had become so dependent on using technology. This should send a red flag to you immediately that it is time to shake things up, maybe just getting out of your house. You never want to become dependent on anything or anyone.

Now for my friends who require 24 hour care and those who care for someone 24/7, I realize that there is a level of dependency here, but I also know that the power to choose is still ever present. If a person who requires this level of care wants to sit outside by him or herself for a change, that could be one simply way of going outside one’s comfort zone. There are countless ways that comfort zones for people who require this level of care or are providing this level of care can be broken down. It could mean big changes or just small changes.

Friends, your mind is going to try to convince you that the status quo is fine with you, all that you know, and all that you need. Don’t allow it to fool you. I am all for living a simple life, but a simple life that is exciting and enjoyable, no matter what one’s disability may be, is not built on a foundation of one’s comfort zone! Just get out there and do it…and think about it later!! Enjoy the journey!

Did this post inspire you to go outside of your comfort zone? How so?