Comfort is highly overrated.
I am an instigator. Much of the work I am doing these days involves offering people an invitation to step out of their comfort zone. Through writing, the retreats I lead and especially with my coaching clients, I love giving people permission to consider what might be on the other side of their fear.
Fear, doubts, questions and nervousness is a normal part of the landscape in the territory that exists between our comfort zone and our calling. Living fully alive requires stepping into the things that both tantalize and terrify us. It has taken me 50+ years to understand that being scared while taking the next step doesn’t mean I am doing something WRONG, it means I am doing something BIG.
Being scared doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong, it means I am doing something BIG. Click To TweetOften what we see as confidence in someone else is actually courage. We watch people doing something adventurous or risky, and we assume they are imbued with a sense of confidence we lack. Yet the more I talk to people who are living outside of their comfort zone and trying new things, the more I discover they are just as scared as I am. The characteristic that sets them apart is courage: they choose to say YES, despite their fear.
What fears lie in the space just outside your comfort zone? What encourages you and supports you when you bravely say yes? Tell us about a time you stepped out of your comfort zone and what happened as a result. Was it ultimately a good decision? Why or why not?
Linking up again today with my Five Minute Friday friends. Today we are talking about the word COMFORT.
“The characteristic that sets them apart is courage: they choose to say YES, despite their fear.” Totally love this… I’ve been known to say this… “Do it scared!” ever since God began to teach me how to “do it scared!” Plus, I can’t believe (yes, I can) that you have a picture of circles. I am seeing circles everywhere! When a pastor asked us to give him feedback on what we are doing ministry wise that no one in the church is aware of… I used circles to answer his question. Ha!
Thank you for sharing in FMF fun. I’m reading and commenting from spot #59 in the link up!
I bless you with a feast of JOY on your journey with Jesus, and do it scared!
Lisa
I love how themes or patterns emerge in our lives that God uses to whisper to us! Thanks so much for dropping by. I will go check out your entry for today! Blessings to you as well.
it’s nice to meet you kelly:) i’m your neighbor at FMF. i enjoyed your post:) it reminded me how grateful i am that i was pushed to live outside my comfort zone. GOD often pushes us to live there where we don’t always want to go, doesn’t He? have a blessed day:)
Sometimes we step outside our comfort zone and sometimes we get pushed! š So glad to have you drop by today. Blessings to you, writing sister!
Hi, Kelly.
Ah, fear. It’s something that we like to believe doesn’t exist for certain people. You know, the “Fear Nothing” type of people. Yet, I think I have to agree (for the most part) that it may just be courage that we see rather than confidence. Some, I’m sure shout “Fear Nothing” while shaking inside and maybe even denying the fear that really is there.
Fear has its place. It’s a warning and in certain cases, you need to listen to fear and evaluate the situation. There really are things that we to fear.
The last time I really stepped out of my comfort zone was when I attended a Toast Master meeting. Speaking is my kryptonite. I’m also a person who rarely goes out. Both put together was a huge stepping stone for me.
^_^
Sara, I loved what you said about how fear serves us. SO important to remember that fear can be our alert system telling us to pay attention. Part of the journey is figuring out when fear is God saying “slow down” or “stop,” and when fear is our inner critic trying to keep us stuck. So proud of you for doing Toast Master when you have a fear of speaking!! That is so brave! Good for you!
Kelly, this was beautiful and such a timely message for me. I have been holding off applying to begin a program to become a certified life coach because I’m terrified! I’m afraid of failing…..afraid I’ll let my kids down by being “unavailable” to them while I’m pursuing something I desire for a change…..afraid that I’ll never be “successful”….afraid of wasting my family’s time, money, and resources on myself…..GIRL! you name it, i’m afraid of it!! And the ironic thing is that when my kids are fearful or lack self-confidence about something i CONSTANTLY tell them, “Be afraid and DO IT ANYWAY!!” Yet, here I am. Paralyzed and unable to take my own advice!! But what you said up there—“being scared doesnāt mean I am doing something WRONG, it means I am doing something BIG.” Woah, sister!!! That blew me away! Those few words were a complete game changer for me today. Thank you soooooo much for sharing your heart here. You’ll never know how much your words have blessed me! #ftlwriters #ftlsisters
Nichole, do it!! Going through the process of becoming a certified life coach, and working with a coach myself as part of the process, has been life changing for me. I absolutely LOVE being a coach! If you ever want to talk more about it, please feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to support you in any way. And by the way, the line about “it means I am doing something big” is something my coach told me. Game changer indeed! Praying for your next big step, sister!