I have spent most of my life being told to get out of my comfort zone. This seems to be a theme in so many circles, and lately I’ve seen quotes like the one in the image saying ‘Great things never come from comfort zones’.
I would like to disagree with this.
I have spent my life outside my comfort zone, pushing myself to do things that I’m simply not designed to do.
Often, I’m not sure what my comfort zone is… then I’ll have times like I did yesterday. I went to a café for lunch and sat and wrote a chapter of a novel. When I went home, I started looking for an illustrator for a new picture book. These actions helped me feel calm and productive and, you know something else? These things are activities IN my comfort zone.
Writing stories and sharing them is what is in my comfort zone. I may be bragging a bit when I say that I write great stories. These stories come from where I feel comfortable.
Yes, it can be a bit scary putting them out there, but it’s something I love doing.
I love sharing my stories with others.
I love going to markets and talking about my books.
I love going to writers’ groups and sharing what I’ve written.
Writing and sharing my story is entirely within my comfort zone.
It’s when I step out of my comfort zone and try to push myself too far, that I get overwhelmed and start to fall apart. I am also coming to the conclusion that this pushing myself out of my comfort zone is one of the big contributors to my burn out.
Here’s the thing. Great things DO come from being in your comfort zone. This is something I want to explore more and embrace. I’m starting to do that with the creation of a new picture book, and spending some more time writing and sharing my stories.
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