Exiting the comfort zone


{image via autoentropy}

I’m an odd being, really. I get bored easily, as many Geminis do. I like change. But I also love my comfort zone. Stepping outside it has me in fits of anxiousness.

For the past year or so I’ve been speaking to a counsellor. I’ve mentioned it a few times here. We first started off working through my body issues and helping on the path to self-love, and for the past six months or so we moved into a different direction. Julie has been my life coach, helping me move towards my best life.

We’ve set goals, ticked them off the list and worked through other things. In the past few weeks we’ve talked about stepping outside of my comfort zone. Julie asked me to write a list of things that would push me. She assured me that I might not have to do them, but it was good to have a list all the same.

I was hesitant with writing the list because I knew at some point I was probably going to push myself to do them {with some gentle nudging from Julie}. I knew I was never going to go bungee jumping or sail around the world solo. So what was I going to do? I wrote down just two things: run and speak in public.

Both of these things give me the he-be-jeebies. I watch people speaking into microphones and I wonder how on earth they do it. Firstly, on the practical side – are they yelling or speaking with their normal voice? I’d probably hold the darn thing at my torso and have everyone straining to hear a word I said.

And running? After being scarred in the past by people being unkind whilst exercising, I get a little anxious at times. {Isn’t it funny how one random event can change the way you feel for years?} Walking is one thing, but if I ran – what would people say?

The day after we spoke about the list I went to a local park for a walk with my Ma, Lil Sis and Lacey. We were just walking along and I mentioned to my sister that I’d like to try running. My Lil Sis is a personal trainer and PE Teacher, so she was all ‘yeah!’ and ‘let’s do it!’. I didn’t plan for it, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I wanted to run. I hadn’t run for 4 years. I didn’t think I could. But I put one foot in front of the other, and we ran. I pushed Lacey in the pram and she was excited by the speed at which we moved.

“Just to the grey car,” my sister urged me.

“I think I can even do to the white car,” I replied without sounding out-of-breathe.

My legs took me to the white car {about a minute or so of running} and then we went back to walking at a steady pace.

I grinned from ear to ear. I ran. I ran! I turned to my Ma and said, “I ran!”

“I’m not surprised,” she smiled, “You’ve always been fit.”

Five minutes later we ran again. Lacey was in heaven, “Wheeeee!”

So I ran. I haven’t run again since. I’m not ready to do it alone. But I will, one day. As for the public speaking? Well, watch this space. I might just be coming to a microphone near you.

P.S. I know a few of you have emailed to ask about Julie and how to get in touch with her. You can visit her site here for more details.

Do you ever exit your comfort zone? What would be at the top of your list?

20 thoughts on “Exiting the comfort zone”

  1. Incredible Chantelle! So very bloody impressed. And the public speaking thing? My coach is doing a day long course in Sydney next week. She totally changed me forever in that department. I'll email you details. X

  4. I have put my hand up to be the President at my daughter's Kinder next year – its soooo out of my comfort zone I don't know what I was thinking. It means chairing meetings, making decisions and a lot of group speaking. I haven't done stuff like this since before children. I'm half excited half petrified. I'm with you on the running – I go early morning and make sure I wear my sunglasses. I pretend they have some sort of invisible magic which makes others not see me 🙂

  5. Well done. All it takes is putting one foot in front of the other a little faster than if you were walking – AND YOU DID IT !!! Good for you. I started off running the same way – I was out walking and wondered to myself “Can I ran to that lamppost?” – and it snow balled from there. Last night I did the 4.9km loop at a rate of 6'48″ – I finally broke the 7min/km rate that I wondered if I would ever break.

    Have a fantastic day !

  6. I really felt your excitement, reading this! How lovely and supportive is your ma 🙂

    I used to be terrified of public speaking, now I do it all the time … in fact my job is public speaking! I just found the more I had to do it (presentations while doing my degree, etc), the more I felt comfortable. It took a while, but now I can talk to tons of people at a time! It's one-on-one that makes me nervous.

    So happy for you!

  8. Awesome! I was so much like you with the running thing – worried how I'd *look*. I still have to make those little voices shut up when I head out, but they are getting quieter now.

    I totally recommend the C25K program for starting out running – it's great for your confidence and you can always repeat weeks if you struggle.

    Public speaking… can't help you there. Eeeeeeek!

  10. Oops was so excited I didn't even answer your question 🙂 I have gotten the hold of public speaking now – that was previously out of my comfort zone. The key for me is being 100% comfortable with the topic. & then in August I travelled solo – I was in charge of my passport (blush, previously I let my man do all the grown-up stuff) and everything. It felt gooood. Kicking goals 🙂 What's next? Not sure. Maybe grilling meat perfectly… (the small things)
    Heidi xo

  11. You're not alone with the public speaking thing – it terrifies me. And well done on the running. We all have those things we want to do, but it's cracking that first step (a literal first step for you in this case).

    I bet this post has a bunch of people motivated to give something a try out of their comfort zone today!

  12. From one fellow gemini to another – good on you!! I too would like to run for exercise but i don't really do it. I used to be terrified of public speaking and hated doing speeches at school, but after leading youth groups and growing up a bit more it's not so bad. I just have to know what I will be talking about otherwise I will get all tongue tied and freak out about it…

  13. I loved reading this post. I'd love to be able to run and I'm constantly saying that to my Hubby.

    But with Bubs due any day now I'm settling for forcing myself out of the house alone to take the dog for a walk (I hate going anywhere by myself so that's a big thing).

  14. I have been called fat whilst running before. Ironically it was when I was a borderline anorexic size six. That was AWESOME for my state of mind!

    I gave up running for ages because of tiny stress fractures but I have been getting back into it with the Couch to 5KM app. I love it!

    I am terrified of most things from sharks to public speaking. My biggest example of getting out of my comfort zone is when I photograph weddings and events and have to address strangers. My other big example has been working in retail, it forced me to address strangers in a way I never would if I were just 'me'.

    Good for you for addressing your fears and 'issues'. It makes life so much more wonderful ♥

  15. Sounds exhilarating!

    I was anxious about going to the gym for a while- no make up, gym clothes, stretching :s and also because of something an old man said to me.

    Anyway, we should do what we set out to do, otherwise those people win.

    I have re-joined the gym and I've been twice a week for 3 weeks now 🙂

    Stepping out of my comfort zone would now involve karaoke, and unfortunately, running in public (outdoors), I'm only just beginning to make friends with the treadmill!

  17. oh dear, i feel your pain… i have been seeing julie too and my poor comfort zone has been taking a hammering! i owe her flowers actually, because this week, i actually cleaned out my wardrobe to temporarily avoid one of my assigned tasks (personal budget euw!)…
    i cannot say how much difference having julie there cheering me on (and kicking me up the backside when necessary) has made.
    all the best with your running… she'll have you running marathons before you know it 😉

  19. Well done you, well done, it's hard to take that set out of the comfort zone, but change and growth is part of life.

    I did the C25k this year, couldn't believe it. I never did run a whole 5k but have done 4k… then last Sunday did a 1.5km ocean swim. Wow!!

    I look forward to hearing you speak aloud and proud in public!

  20. Hi Chantelle, I just found your blog and I love this post. Wow well done you that is fantastic. That is exactly how I began running 20 years ago! I see others have suggested C25K… How about following that by joining my 'running for premature babies' team in the half marathon?!? Honestly anyone CAN do it! (You may remember you wrote about me last year on Kidspot?) Sophie

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