Jessica Wilde's Blog - Posts Tagged "growth"
Nothing Great Ever Happens in Your Comfort Zone
I like being comfortable. Anybody who has ever seen one of the million couch shots of me snuggled down with Sophie, should be able to figure that out. But I’m also keenly aware of the value in making myself decidedly uncomfortable, forcing myself to step outside that place where I feel safe and secure. That darkness beyond the border? That’s where people go to grow and evolve.
I discovered this on my very first cover photo shoot. I was already well and truly outside my comfort zone by flying to New York City on my own. Once I got to the photo studio and saw all the lights and cameras, I was flat-out terrified and self-conscious. I felt like I was in over my head, but deep down I knew that if I didn’t push myself through those feelings, I would never achieve what I hoped to accomplish in life.
It wasn’t the most fun I ever had, that first photo shoot, but it was an incredible learning experience and really empowering. Ever since, I’ve forced myself into and through uncomfortable situations to move forward toward my goals.
Along the way, I found a little secret about venturing outside the comfort zone: it can help to not be the “you” you see in the mirror. Sometimes, when I get into a challenging situation that I think I might not be able to handle, I channel my inner Rihanna. I think of her as a cool, badass lioness. I adopt that as an alter ego, and push past any self-doubts. I think we all occasionally find it easier to believe in someone else—even an alter ego—than to believe in ourselves.
I’m a goal-oriented person; as soon as I achieve one goal, I look for the next milestone. That means I’m constantly jumping out of my comfort zone. Pushing myself in that way is the reason for whatever career success I’ve had. I challenge you to test the limits of your own comfort zone—the fear you feel is really just satisfaction waiting to happen.
I discovered this on my very first cover photo shoot. I was already well and truly outside my comfort zone by flying to New York City on my own. Once I got to the photo studio and saw all the lights and cameras, I was flat-out terrified and self-conscious. I felt like I was in over my head, but deep down I knew that if I didn’t push myself through those feelings, I would never achieve what I hoped to accomplish in life.
It wasn’t the most fun I ever had, that first photo shoot, but it was an incredible learning experience and really empowering. Ever since, I’ve forced myself into and through uncomfortable situations to move forward toward my goals.
Along the way, I found a little secret about venturing outside the comfort zone: it can help to not be the “you” you see in the mirror. Sometimes, when I get into a challenging situation that I think I might not be able to handle, I channel my inner Rihanna. I think of her as a cool, badass lioness. I adopt that as an alter ego, and push past any self-doubts. I think we all occasionally find it easier to believe in someone else—even an alter ego—than to believe in ourselves.
I’m a goal-oriented person; as soon as I achieve one goal, I look for the next milestone. That means I’m constantly jumping out of my comfort zone. Pushing myself in that way is the reason for whatever career success I’ve had. I challenge you to test the limits of your own comfort zone—the fear you feel is really just satisfaction waiting to happen.
