We all have them, don’t we? How do you manage yours?
If like me, you might be allowing your comfort zone to dictate a bit more than it should. The past year has been crazy and we all have read and experienced enough to not want to hear more about the pandemic. But wait, did you use it to let your motivation and drive slide away? I did. When this new year started, I was determined to not let opportunities pass me by this year. I want to do more with my writing, I want to be recognised for the work I do. Don’t we all, I hear you say, yet what have you done to achieve this?
I made my forever near me, to-do list, (You can read about this in my previous post, https://marytbradford.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/being-overwhelmed-stops-me-from-sleeping/ ) and added my dreams and hopes for this year.
When I was offered an opportunity to engage with my local community using my writing experience I accepted it without much thought. I knew if I left it to ferment in my brain, I would find an excuse, my comfort zone was being challenged. This also meant if I was sharing my knowledge, then those who read my articles might very well want to read my novels. This led to my books needing to be in shops locally and beyond within the 5km rule due to lockdown. Once you step out from that zone of being safe, it leads to other stuff that needs handling. Challenging oneself is healthy, and I was being well challenged.
I dread asking shops to stock my books. For me it feels like Oliver Twist asking for more food. But if I want to make my writing dreams work, I need to bite this bullet. I approached the stores and was met with wonderful kindness and encouragement (why had I feared these encounters?). My legs wobble, my breathing quickens when I face the store managers, and it happens when it comes to returning to restock and invoice the stores for successful sales. Yet I walk out feeling I’ve conquered Mount Everest.
I was completely outside my comfort zone in doing the above. In the past it was easier to say, I’m a writer, not a marketing woman. But it is part of the business and I needed to push the cosy safe comfort zone to the side and take action. I published my second adult romance novella this month too, and I will share more about that in my next post, (This is the link if you want to buy a spicy hot over 18 read to cuddle up with https://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Weekend-Flirtation-Ignites-ebook/dp/B08YNZ5PT7/ ) This brings its own challenges.
What are your comfort zones? What is it that stops you from achieving a goal, or a wish you would like to see come true? It is easy to let our fear whisper to us, don’t do it, it’s not you to do this or that, and because we listen to this constant self criticism that we shove our hopes into the shadows. Consider what is the worst that can happen if you take the first step to conquer that dream? Pick the least difficult from your list, if it’s possible but fear holds you back, take a deep breath and go for it. One step at a time.
Comfort zones are there for us to feel safe but they are also a reminder that we need to live and take a chance, that something may feel out of our depth but hey, we might overcome it and what’s more enjoy the experience. The adrenalin from achieving what we thought we couldn’t do will be the reminder that turning our mountains into molehills is possible.
Mary T Bradford 