It is often said that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. The comfort zone is the ultimate killer of motivation, drive, grit, and creativity. A person needs to be tested and pushed to the extreme level in order to create something meaningful. If you too feel like you have been sitting in your comfort zone too long, both professionally or creatively, then perhaps its time to push the boundaries and emerge as a person who came over all their challenges and limits.

Here are some easy tips to let go of your comfort zone and grow as a person:

Hajida Saidi/Unsplash. Let go of all past trauma and arbitrary standards you’ve set for yourself and challenge societal norms to step out of your comfort zone.

Let go of the past!

The times we have been through shape our perception and self-image. There is something called the ‘deserve level’; these are the limits we have  bound ourselves to in terms of status in life and our capabilities. It is heavily influenced by our childhood memories. The people who are the ultimate rebels, bringing about change in society have learned to let go of the arbitrary limits they have set up in their minds. For them, nothing is unachievable, and that is what our new perception should be. ‘I am enough, and I can do anything’, should be your new mantra.

Walk the talk

Joshua Earle/Unsplash. The path outside our comfort zone is paved by hard work.

According to Einstein, ‘a genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration’. This reinforces the idea that mere lofty ideals and grand plans are not enough. The path outside our comfort zone is paved by hard work. Notions of good luck mean nothing to those who are willing to work hard, as they create their own luck. Most experts in their respective fields have no extraordinary mental capacity, they extraordinarily worked to be where they are right now.

Take calculated risks

Edge2Edge Media/Unsplash. A risk taken at the right time could be a gamechanger.

What stunt performers and high performing leaders have in common? Their ability to gauge the situation and take calculated risks, without incurring any harm to their family or organization. Yes, a risk taken at the right time could be a game changer, but it is not just the leap of faith, but a series of situations and instances leading up to the moment, to make something great. What you need is a perception wide enough to look at a risk from all angles, and then take a risk, assessing its impact.