Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Comfort Zone

Whenever I find myself doing some particular thing again and again, I analyze it in detail. Specially I focus on whether I am doing is right or not. (Don't ask how do I derive 'right' or 'wrong'!)

People, when in group, are more comfortable within the group and not outside of it. If you have observed, you always have a 'Comfort Zone' defined. Consciously or subconsciously you wanna remain in the comfort zone and not go beyond that. I was thinking about this particular characteristic and let me admit that I did ask myself questions from both the side i.e. pros and cons..

If you are still wondering what do I mean by comfort zone then let me try to define:
Comfort Zone is a particular set of situation or people or place where you feel most comfortable, you enjoy and you feel secure.

There are quite many reasons to stay in the comfort zone and why not?
-You are among the people who know you.
-If you make any blunder, you feel secure within your own people.
-You can ask any question as many times as you want without any hesitation.
-You can talk in the language which is most comfortable for you.
-what else.. in general, you tend to enjoy because you are comfortable.

Thinking about the uncomfortable zone, we normally have a strongly denying part in us which says 'No' to something different/difficult. Why? I don't know. May be it just doesn't get us confidence, it just doesn't promise certainity in something.

I am not saying you can't adjust in a new situation, of course you can. But normally you try to avoid such condition until you are in a 'no-choice' situation. Willingly, you would never prefer an uncomfortable zone.

One of my friends recently switched his job and I really appreciate his guts to go out of the comfort zone (many friends, known place, familiar way of life) and try different set of challenges in life to achieve some other prioritized dream in his life. That incident is fresh in my mind which adds to current thought processing and says - Yes.! people really need to build the confidence to face a new/unknown and hence initially uncomfortable zone without hesitation.

Today while attending some presentation, I was analyzing the willingness to remain comfortable & cushioned among my own people. And somehow, for a change, I thought to try an uncomfortable zone. And trust me, it wasn't 'feel good' type at all But yes, it wasn't difficult to try for. So my conclusion for myself, Staying in a comfort zone is good, but I must try the uncofortable zone with confidence, without hesitation.

Can you think about something similar going on with you?

~KrupA

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Adopting the 'unknown' is certainly a part of growing up n maturing I believe. From childhood we are conditioned to shun the unpredictable (thats why we get Mapquest directions before any venture). All we need to do is 'uncondition' ourself, all of us have that 'innate' ability to adapt to the unknown. Only the first step is the most difficult.

Krupa said...

Great said.. I can not disagree at all. :)

Thanks..

Anonymous said...

Great topic Krupa, I find my self thinking about the comfort zone all the time, whether it’s at work, or when I am out. There is no right or wrong answer to this, because let’s face it all comes down to what you think and what you think will have allot to do with what you do. So I do agree with you, it all comes down to certainty and uncertainty. We all want a space where we feel certain, and when we are certain we feel that we have accomplished something in that moment. It’s like checking off tasks from your, “To Do List”. We all just want to feel complete, and most of us stay in that comfort zone which makes us complete like when we come home after a great night out with our friends, we can say, “aaaahhhh, it was a great night.” People are afraid of results when they are in an unknown space because they are uncertain, and the only way to get around is like you said is, “to build the confidence to face a new/unknown zone without hesitation”, and when one learns to do that it’s a great high which will turn into a beautiful addiction and will spread like a wild fire of love without you knowing it.

~A~