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It is always recommended to work out of your comfort zone for appropriate growth and development. However, one always works, consciously or subconsciously, in the comfort zone so as to avoid discomfort. It is important to work in the comfort zone to avoid stress but not at the expense of growth due to the fear of change or due to fear of discomfort or procrastination. On the contrary, one should try to attain2 the maximum by staying in the comfort zone, getting motivated to achieve from it and being ready to handle unpredictable discomforts. The following article highlights the importance of being in the comfort zone, how to efficiently utilize your comfort zone, and how to create comfort. Further, the article explains to the readers the well-known idiom "how and why to rock one's own boat in the middle of the sea". The article is based on teachings given in Sadguru, Jaggi Vasudev’s- 'Inner Engineering Course: 'how and why to accept things as they are’ and also based on individual know-how.
Keywords: Build personality, likes, dislikes, Inner Engineering, Sadguru, acceptance
Factors for Comfort
When things occur as per one’s expectation, or things that create peace, relaxation, happiness and joy depict comfort.
Social media, family and society influence one to create an ideal lifestyle and comfort zone.
A pleasing view, a beautiful home, a beautiful office, comfortable arrangements- a comfortable chair, neat working desk, updated gadgets, having sufficient or bonus income, having sufficient to eat or having an additional favourite dish after a meal are examples of tangible components creating comfort.
Living in a good society, having good relations, excelling in a career, having good health, and sufficient sleep or extra sleep can be counted in the list of intangible components creating comfort.
Factors for Discomfort
The factors that are against one’s expectation or that create stress or irritation, or aggression depict discomfort.
The factors include unpleasant ambience, being cornered, failing in endeavours, having enemies, insufficient resources, bad relationships, an ill-health, uncomfortable arrangements, difficult guidelines, unfulfilled desires, being in a new team or a new place or doing work in an area where one is not specialised in, or if one is unable to find suitable opportunities or if one has to do repetitive work, or if one is overloaded with work, or if one has disagreement in views can cause discomfort.
Importance of comfort zone
The comfort zone is the place where one wants to live in. An appealing surrounding brings positive impact and happiness and enhances work efficiency.
The upbringing, social network and the resources available to a person play a crucial role in building personality, building passion and also help one to gain success in endeavours.
Making correct choices related to a profession or partner creates a comfort zone and prevents one from the struggle, which is an outcome of wrong choices and helps one to face and sustain in the undertakings.
The comfort zone brings focus and aids in specializing in a subject, similar to a horse whose eyes are shielded to allow a focused view.
Further, a comfort zone improves one's sustainability because, in a comfort zone, one tries to resolve setbacks and does not give up.
Drawbacks of being in the comfort zone
However, being in the comfort zone, if one is not exploring or is avoiding new things, the comfort zone becomes a killer to one's abilities.
Because performing a routine task, limiting oneself to a defined work area, being dependent on a particular thing, failing to find alternatives, or exploring new things is like following the phrase ‘pond is the limit to the frog’ may bring saturation and hinder one's growth.
Further drawbacks of being dependent on one defined working sector make one inflexible. They may bring a 'pause' when there is a lack of opportunities in a particular work sector or when one has to leave the job for any reason in the sector. One may thus keep getting frustrated watching the closed door (pause) and may fail to realise that the next door may open.
Having a pause is important. It helps one analyse self and evolve. However, if the pause becomes too long, it may create negative emotions like social fear, fear of entering a new work area, the anxiety of “what will be my image if I choose a different work area”,; or may even lead to suicidal tendencies. One should work, see alternatives, seek help, and get mentored to tackle the 'pause'. As it is said, "when one door shuts, the next door is always open. Only one has to remember to look at the next door rather than wasting time observing the shut door".
Utilize the comfort zone
In order to be strong for facing untold discomfort.
One must take a few steps each day while in the comfort zone. One must develop and practice a good habit daily, as 'drops together help to fill the bucket'.
One should explore and invest in new work sectors where slowly one may build interest, and hence create new opportunities and get secured from the 'unpredictable pauses'.
In other words, one must learn to rock one’s own boat in the middle of the calm sea'.
Advantages of being in discomfort
One understands the value of comfort only when one faces discomfort.
While working to create comfort, the discomfort assists one in surfacing one's talents and skills and strengthens one to tackle the discomfort.
Creating Comfort
Sometimes comfort zone may get created by themselves. For example, a parent creates comfort for a child, or a manager creates a conducive environment for his employees, or society or government works to create comfort for their people. Such obtained comfort are blessing gained by good deeds/ karma one has done in a past life or in the present, and one must value such comfort and work to retain such obtained comfort.
But, knowingly or unknowingly mixture of good and bad karma occurs in one's life. Hence, the discomfort becomes part of one's life. And one has to work to create comfort. Creating comfort is a process which is linked to one’s ability, interest, and tolerance.
Find the cause of discomfort
Check if it is possible alone or if one needs a helping hand to create comfort.
To create comfort:
--> Think alone to find ways
--> Seek help by discussing with someone
--> One can ignore, let go, forget and forgive.
--> One can re-work in a different way in case of failure.
--> Meditating and chanting create good vibrations and help one cut bad karma and eventually helps one create comfort.
--> Reading, uttering, writing or listening repetitively to one's desires creates vibrations and aids in creating positive thoughts, makes one strong and helps one to attain desires and eventually helps one to create comfort (please follow Sadguru's guided meditation on achieving goals- from his Inner Engineering program app for better results).
--> De-socialise, forget the influencers,
--> Erase the definition of the perfect or ideal life.
--> work at your own pace.
--> compete with self.
Learning to be at peace or in comfort in spite of dis-comfort helps one to:
a.) Improve Tolerance Level,
b.) Create A Flexible Natured Personality,
c.) Understand the Feelings Of the Front Person,
d.) Break the Barrier Of Likes And Dislikes,
e.) Accept Things As They Are,
f.) Overcome Failures,
g.) Accept Challenges As An Opportunity,
h.) Build A Strong Personality
i.) Face the unpredicted discomfort.
Conclusion
In the comfort zone, work efficiency is high.
Each one tries to be in the comfort zone or works to create a comfort zone when there is discomfort. Comfort zone brings sustainability.
One must be thankful and confident to say about being in the comfort zone.
One must value the comfort zone, and one must work, explore one's potential, create new opportunities, discover one's niche, and prepare oneself to face the untold discomfort caused in life while being in the comfort zone. In other words, "one must remember to rock one's own boat in the middle of a calm sea" and seek the boundless sky as “Pond is limited to the frog, but an intelligent should seek the boundless sky”.
Also, one must note that each one has a unique story. In other words, "There is always a unique and beautiful way out for every discomfort to transform into comfort".
Stepping out of our comfort zones is often touted as the key to personal growth and development. However, it's important to balance challenging ourselves and seeking comfort to avoid stress and burnout.
Our comfort zones are composed of both tangible and intangible factors, such as pleasant surroundings, good relationships, and a fulfilling career. These factors contribute to our happiness and productivity, and help us handle setbacks and challenges.
On the other hand, being too comfortable can hinder our progress and prevent us from exploring new opportunities. By sticking to routine tasks and limiting ourselves to a single area of expertise, we risk becoming stagnant and missing out on potential growth.
To maximize the benefits of our comfort zones while avoiding stagnation, we can take small steps to develop good habits and explore new areas of interest. By gradually building up our skills and knowledge, we can expand our comfort zones and be better equipped to handle unexpected challenges.
Moreover, facing discomfort can actually be an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. By acknowledging and accepting our discomfort, we can learn more about ourselves and develop resilience in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, we should strive to find a balance between comfort and discomfort, and actively work towards achieving personal growth and development. By embracing the power of our comfort zones and seeking out new challenges, we can unlock our full potential and live fulfilling lives.
