Build resilience by stepping outside of your comfort zone

Even if you’re perfectly happy in your particular zone, it’s good to step out of it from time to time, as it builds resilience.   Life is going to change and things are going to happen that we don’t like.  Regularly stepping outside of your comfort zone can help you adjust to unexpected, and unwanted, changes in your life.

According to the PsychologyToday.com article, “Learning to Recover : When life hands you a setback, readjust your identity”:

Resilience is an emotional muscle that can grow with use and practice — or atrophy if ignored.

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Always challenge yourself to go just beyond your comfort zone. Risk builds resilience, and it’s OK to take reasonable risks.

The simplest way to go beyond your comfort zone is to learn a new skill. Take up skiing, or snowboarding.

There is no end to the number of areas in which you can go beyond your comfort zone. If you argue a lot with your spouse, don’t give up. Try for an understanding one more time. If you are having trouble with a child, remember how much you love him or her.

The aim is to convert everyday stresses into opportunities for growth. You use them as springboards for developing coping strategies that ensure the survival of self.

Think of it like “stress training”! Plus, you may learn a new skill in the process!

What will you do today, to take a step outside of your comfort zone?