Not many of us have been feeling comfortable lately. With COVID19 turning our lives upside down, discomfort has become the norm and we’re all desperate to get back to some sort of normality so we can all be comfortable again.
But when that time comes, don’t get too comfortable!
You’ve heard of the Comfort Zone – that place beyond which we know we should occasionally push ourselves. But I don’t think the word ‘zone’ is enough to portray how limiting it is when you play it safe. That’s why the name I’m choosing to describe this from now on is “enclosure” – The Comfort Enclosure.
An enclosure is a place that is safe and protected – where you can avoid mistakes and too much exposure. It’s the land where there are high defences against criticism or judgment, and the opportunities for failure are non-existent. But all of that safety comes at a price: your potential is curtailed; growth is stunted and you never find the answer to that question that lays quietly unanswered in the back of your mind: who can I be? how far could I go? what am I really capable of?
One of my favourite expressions says “ The lies we tell ourselves are the biggest lies of all.” I think it’s perfect for what we often tell ourselves about how capable we are and where we want to be. We tell ourselves we have a great reason for staying where we are, when what we’re really doing is playing it safe, holding onto comfort.
In this week’s episode I talk about the Comfort Enclosure and share 8 signs that show you’re stuck inside it, for example:
· Doing your job with your eyes shut
· Procrastination and avoidance
· Lack of passion or interest in what you do
· Doing things because that’s what you’ve always done
Playing it self to avoid COVID19 is one thing. But you may want to question how much playing it safe in your career and personal life is really serving you. Listen in to hear more.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Episode 4: Fail Again, Fail Better
- Episode 11: The Discomfort Zone