The courage to take a leap of faith and embark on a new life journey is equally one of the bravest and scariest things a person can do—and it can change the course of your life for the better.
We all have reasons why we're hesitant to step outside of our comfort zone and shake our lives up by going down a completely different path, but once you realize that discomfort is often what pushes you to find your purpose, you'll be more open to giving it a try.
Make no mistake, it's definitely not an easy thing to do. With the combination of your family and friends telling you how crazy you are and your own inner self-doubt, leaving your comfort zone takes courage, but that is what makes it significant, because most people are afraid to even attempt it.
Once you decide that you are officially leaving your comfort zone behind, the next thing to do is to put your plan into action. Whether you hope to improve your career, your love life, your health or a myriad of other things, following a specific set of steps can make the transition easier.
We put together some ways to step outside of your comfort and never look back!
1.Embrace Discomfort
Feeling discomfort during your process, especially in the beginning, is expected and instead of letting it deter you from your end goal, use it as fuel to keep going. When embarking on anything new, there is always a level of discomfort, but if you don't begin, you won't get the end results you're seeking.
2.Turn Failure Into A Learning Experience
Some of the most successful people in the world failed more than once in their lives and it's nothing to be ashamed of. If it takes you a few tries to find your rhythm, that's okay, take that failure and learn from it by not making the same mistakes again. If everything comes easy, you won't appreciate it as much because there is often beauty in the struggle.
3.Have A Clear Vision Of What You Want To Achieve
If you have a clear vision of exactly what it is that you want to achieve from the very beginning, it makes things a lot easier. Write your vision down, say a personal mantra to yourself, or visualize yourself getting exactly what you want. These are all ways to fine-tune your vision of success while you're still in the process of making it a reality.
4.Pace Yourself
Slow down, you don't have to do everything a warp speed. Putting a time limit on things can easily make you feel worse about stepping outside your comfort zone because if you don't hit certain milestones within a specific time frame, you'll feel like a failure. Instead, pace yourself by setting smaller, realistic goals to achieve that are doable for you and your endgame.
5.Filter Out Doubt
Doubt can come from all sides when you decide to step outside your box. From your family/friends, co-workers, or even yourself, doubt has a way of polluting your process. Try to block it out and focus on positivity and why you're doing this in the first place. Believe in yourself even when it gets hard because those are the moments when doubt likes to filter in the most.
6.Put A Support System In Place
As much as we all like to think we can conquer any and everything on our own, there is nothing wrong with asking for guidance, advice, or help. Implement a support system to help you as you transition to something new. Ask those who have done it before what their process was like, call on your most supportive loved ones to pick you back up when you want to throw in the towel. Simply surround yourself with as much positivity as possible.
7.Remember Why You’re Doing It
In those moments when you want to give up and revert back to your old routine, remember why you wanted to step outside your comfort zone in the first place. That will help give you the motivation you need to see things through to the end.
Featured image by DISRUPTIVO on Unsplash
- 3 Ways to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone - wikiHow ›
- 10 Ways To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Enjoy Taking Risks ›
- 10 Ways To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Enjoy Taking Risks ›
- 12 ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone every day | The ... ›
- 12 ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone every day | The ... ›
- 5 Benefits of Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone | Psychology Today ›
- The Science of breaking out your comfort zone (and why you should ›
- Overcoming Fear: 10 Ways To Step Outside Your Comfort Zone ›
- Why The Magic Happens When You Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone ›
- 6 Reasons To Step Outside Your Comfort Zone | HuffPost ›
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The origin of the word "discipline" can be traced back to the Latin word "disciplina," which means "instruction" or "teaching." Over time, however, discipline has come to be synonymous with punishment, with parents relying on shame, fear, and/or physical pain to curb undesirable behavior.
Teaching takes time, so nipping it in the bud in whatever fashion parents deem necessary (within reason) has become the norm. But is this what’s best for children? And when does it become less about curbing undesirable behavior and more about getting our licks back for offenses we feel our children should know better to do?
In my work as a parenting coach, I’ve often heard parents say, “I asked him nicely three times before spanking him. He didn’t stop doing it until I did, so clearly talking doesn’t work.”
And the parent isn’t wrong. Talking often doesn’t work the first, the third, or the even the 10th time. And the reason is directly tied to brain development.
Children cannot and do not process information the way an adult can. Auditory processing is not fully developed until a child is 14 or 15 years old. And even then, if a child has auditory processing delays or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), they may always struggle with processing auditory commands. According to Susie S. Loraine, MA, CCC-SLP, the term auditory processing refers to how the brain perceives and interprets sound information. Several skills determine auditory processing ability—or listening success. They develop in a general four-step hierarchy, but all work together and are essential for daily listening.
Without this understanding, discipline can easily become revenge because parents will then view their child’s misdeeds as a personal slight. Instead of teaching them to do better, parents now want to show them the consequences of not doing better. This is why it's imperative for parents to discern between discipline and revenge to maintain healthy relationships with their children.
5 WAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND RETALIATION:
Understanding The Intent
Discipline is rooted in love and concern for the child's well-being. It focuses on teaching lessons and helping children understand the consequences of their actions. Conversely, revenge-driven actions stem from a desire to inflict pain or punishment as payback for perceived slights or disobedience. Parents should reflect on their motives before taking disciplinary actions. Ask yourself whether your intention is to help your child learn or to make them suffer for upsetting you.
Example: If a child accidentally breaks a valuable item, a disciplinary response would involve discussing the importance of being careful and working with the child to come up with a way to replace or fix what they’ve broken. On the other hand, a vengeful reaction might involve yelling, harsh punishment, or bringing up past mistakes to intensify guilt.
Maintaining Emotional Regulation
Effective discipline requires parents to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when children misbehave, but responding with anger or resentment can escalate the situation and blur the line between discipline and revenge. Before addressing the issue, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts.
Example: If a child cannot follow instructions, a disciplined response would involve calmly explaining why their cooperation is necessary in working with the child to accomplish the goal. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve shouting, name-calling, or resorting to physical punishment out of anger.
Promoting Growth and Learning
Discipline should always aim to promote growth and learning. It involves guiding children toward making better choices and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Effective discipline strategies include positive reinforcement, setting clear expectations, and providing opportunities for reflection and growth.
Example: If a child repeatedly forgets to complete their chores, a disciplinary approach would involve discussing the importance of responsibility and finding solutions together, such as creating a chore chart or setting reminders with Siri or Alexa. In contrast, a revenge-driven response might involve imposing overly harsh punishments or belittling the child, which can undermine their self-esteem and hinder their ability to learn from their mistakes.
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Building Trust and Communication
Trust and open communication are essential components of a healthy parent-child relationship. Discipline should strengthen this bond by fostering trust and encouraging children to confide in their parents without fear of judgment or retaliation. When children feel safe and supported, they're more likely to accept discipline as a form of guidance rather than punishment.
Example: If a child admits to breaking a rule or making a mistake, a disciplined response would involve listening to their perspective, discussing the consequences of their actions, and working together to find a solution. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve accusations, blame, or shutting down communication, which can erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Parenting is a learning journey, and, disciplining children is a delicate balance between guiding them toward responsible behavior and nurturing their growth. By understanding the intent behind our actions, maintaining emotional regulation, promoting growth and learning, building trust and communication, and seeking professional guidance when needed, as parents we can help our children built on love, respect, and understanding.
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