It seems that I often hear people talking about their comfort zone, and it usually involves a comment about trying to get “outside” of that zone. Like most people, I think I automatically bought into the idea that we should always attempt to do this, because it somehow would either bring us new insight, or simply break us out of our rut.
Yet I recall an interesting talk with Dr. Armistead one evening during our Galahad training. As the team psychologist, she loved discussing these kinds of things. While it might have been her job to pull thoughts and comments out of me, I treasured the times she would quietly share her own observations and philosophies.
It had been a long day of training, and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the process. When I muttered something to her about needing to break out of my comfort zone, I remember that she smiled and said, “Not necessarily.” Although I can’t recall every word verbatim, she essentially said:
“It depends. It’s true that stepping outside the boundaries of the familiar can sometimes open up new ideas and expose us to new ways of viewing things. But, remember that our comfort zone serves a purpose, too. It provides us with a connection to our strengths, a lifeline of sorts from which we can explore. Sometimes it’s not about stepping OUT of that zone, but rather finding ways of using those strengths in new ways.”
I know that during our journey I’ve faced decisions where I could either try something completely unfamiliar, or I could rely upon the areas where I’m most confident. We all come to those crossroads from time to time, and I think it’s important that we evaluate each situation individually. I want to grow and develop, naturally; but I also want to remain tethered to my core strength, and not simply abandon that for the sake of artificially exploring new pathways.
As is true with so many things in our lives, the key is balance.
(What do you say, Galahad fans? Do you find yourself NEVER taking risks? Never stepping outside your own personal comfort zone? Or do you find yourself doing that so often that you begin to lose touch with your core strengths? Is it maybe a lack of personal confidence in those strengths that causes you to continually search for something different? What ARE your core strengths? Triana shares her thoughts with you, and you’re invited to do the same. Just post your comments here on Triana’s Journal, and feel free to share this site - and Triana’s thoughts - with friends and family members.)