Where the Magic Happens...

Most of our growth occurs outside of our comfort zone.

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We are afraid of failing, being uncomfortable, not fitting in.

I have this one example from my life that I always think of when it comes to going outside of my comfort zone. I did ballet for 9 years, and decided I needed a change. In 8th grade I began to play volleyball, and my first year of playing club, I was somehow put on the best team for my age group. I was super un-confident, and incredibly uncomfortable playing with girls who were all better than me. I constantly stressed about what they might be thinking about me. Every Monday, we would have volleyball clinics where you would play with a bunch of different girls of all ages and skill levels. I used to dread going. I would always be so embarrassed and would come up with loads of excuses not to go. Thankfully, my parents continually pushed me to go, and I began becoming more confident, and I started to enjoy going. Now I love going! I always have so much fun, and I have improved so much because I get to play with girls with different experience levels and helped by coaches with different perspectives! Of course I always take with me my sword of confidence (not an actual sword), because it can definitely be uncomfortable playing with older, better, different girls.

When I look back on all the greatest things I have achieved, all of the closest relationships I have, all of the things that I am most proud of, they all sprouted from me stepping outside my comfort zone.

Hopefully now you will be able to notice when you are nervous because something is outside of your comfort zone. You will be able to think “I really have to do this because although it may be a little uncomfortable at first it will make me stronger” and you can face the challenge wielding your sword of confidence (which I totally should make into a real thing! I keep imagining a Minecraft foam sword). As my mom tells me “when you feel shy or uncomfortable you need to overcompensate with confidence.”

This is why I love public speaking and giving presentations because I always change my nerves into confidence. And I don’t mean to toot my own horn but (Toot tah toot toot) I have been very successful with presentations and given sooo many (part of it is practice and each time you will be more and more confident). Of course, I still sometimes get nervous even though I know presenting is one of my personal strengths. One of my tricks to feeling more confident is that I will go to the bathroom right before and hype myself up and then I give it my all and exude all of the confidence I have. (Sorry this honestly sounds like a college application response😂 but hopefully my experiences will help you recognize the instances in your life when you are outside of your comfort zone and have the potential to grow).

I understand how frightening certain situation can be, but the feeling of pride that comes after tackling a scary situation is so empowering.