In psychology the comfort zone refers to a mental state where the person uses behaviors and thoughts with which to avoid fear and anxiety in daily life. Being in the comfort zone people create a routine lifestyle, where they do not demand beyond their capabilities and do not have to take any risks.
When an individual is in the comfort zone, It is often said that it is in a state of #automatic pilot, since everything it does was previously programmed by itself, with the sole purpose of being able to continue without having to face new challenges or problems.
It is essentially a is a personal space composed of strategies and attitudes that are used recurrently or very often, which provides a good load of comfortable feelings, which is installed in the way of acting because it generates a certain security.
Man interacts daily with his environment, modifying it if necessary to progressively adapt so that it is safe, but with sufficient motivation to aspire to better conditions.
Isolated from External Factors
Although it is usually in some sense certainly pleasant to be in the comfort zoneAs it is natural to avoid the impact and stress caused by external factors as much as possible, this attitude tends to promote a conformist attitude, and which also keeps the individual at the same level always, since this false comfort paralyzes the search for progress or improvements in the quality of life, due to the fear of failing and not being able to overcome the possible challenges that may arise.
This area only covers the known, the environment where we are comfortable and we feel safe because everything is under our control, but passivity and routine causes apathy and existential emptiness, preventing personal growth by giving up taking initiatives that expand the limits of this zone.
The biggest problem with being in this area is that the well-being that you feel is not the product of satisfaction or personal pride, but of the absence of negative emotions such as uncertainty or insecurity, of being confined in a known environment, therefore, It comes to dominate a kind of limbo where there are no negative emotions, but neither positive ones, giving rise to existential emptiness.
The comfort zone comes in many ways, sometimes it is working on something simple in a safe environment without wanting to promote yourself, and other times it is maintaining a relationship that gives security despite being unhappy. All this for the simple fact of not venturing into the unknown.
Routines and Habits
Now, there is a big difference between building a comfort zone and develop structures oriented to habits and routines. Success orientation requires developing disciplines aimed at achieving objectives and goals not only at work, but also in personal life
Establish balanced eating routines, exercises and of course night rest with good rules and habits such as wearing a Pijama it does not mean that it is a comfort zone.
The successful man understands that there is a mental and physical preparation to be able to achieve a better lifestyle. Eating and sleeping very well are essential factors to face the day with energy, as well as taking care of an integral health and an impeccable image.
The man who sleeps in Pijama, highlights the attitude and character of an orderly man, who takes care of his personal hygiene in detail, in addition to giving himself a taste of self-love.
Behaviors Describing the Comfort Zone
Sometimes reflection and self-observation work is enough, a little to self-evaluate real competencies, a little to analyze what the self-concept is, in the case of the comfort zone there are certain behaviors that are clear alerts that you can have a life based in it, some of these are:
- State of demotivation, which prevents them from growing emotionally and productively.
- Becoming routine permanently and being afraid of leaving that routine because you do not know how to act in the face of change.
- Isolating oneself socially, for fear of not knowing how to initiate social contact and failing in the attempt.
- Feeling of sadness and loneliness, which in more severe cases can lead to self-destructive depression.
How to Exit the Comfort Zone?
Leaving this zone is not easy if you have been in it for a long time, especially if you try alone, the best thing to get out of a comfort zone is to ask for help, from a friend, family member or even a therapist, this will do the job. much easier.
The main thing is to face those fears, on many occasions even this paralyzing fear is not so great in fact, by doing this it is strengthened psychologically.
After facing these fears, the next step is to gain confidence in all abilities, competencies and own capacity, for this the best thing is to establish small goals and achievements that can be achieved step by step, in this way to build the necessary capacity to achieve objectives.
It is very common that, when trying to get out of a comfort zone, states of anxiety or discomfort arise, so that almost automatically the mind makes excuses to return to a state of comfort, to avoid which functions should be anticipated, a good technique It is mentalizing yourself to act in the opposite direction to what the body asks, assuming that a little anxiety is positive to improve and take advantage of performance and also increase mental flexibility.
Feeling anxiety or stress is absolutely logical, since it understands that in a new and insecure terrain that must be explored, accepting the effort as a challenge.
When trying to escape from a comfort zone, a process of awareness of fears and mental barriers begins, which gives way to a stage of self-knowledge, which will allow us to know how to act in favor of improving.
Daring to do things differently, daring to make mistakes and go beyond the known, expand the horizons of knowledge, emotions and personal growth.
Remember that life changes and change is uncertainty, that it is also possible to adapt to change, managing to be better people and more satisfied with abilities and achievements.