"Embracing the Power of Comfort Zone: Achieving Growth and Development"

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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.

"Pursue Dreams, Manage Stress- A Happy mother"

 

In the world today where both males and females have equal right to chase their dreams and make them true, the new mothers have to put in some extra effort. This article brings in the regime of a new mother, stress triggers for a new mother, and technique for stress management and to be happy. It will enlighten the readers with the teachings of Sadguru’s (Jagadish Vasudev) “Inner Engineering program”, to help new working mothers to accomplish their dream of being passionate about being financial sufficient.

After becoming a mother, the baby is the priority above personal precedence’s. But one has to also perform a certain compulsory task and also get involved in work to sustain financially.

Managing the home, taking care of personal hygiene and health are mandatory activities for a mother. Exercising, meditating, cooking, cleaning, maintaining grocery, taking an adequate amount of sleep are included in ‘compulsory predicted tasks’ (Image 1). The activities such as a sudden plan of a family program or a visit of a relative or a friend or certain government documentation work where it is uncertain as on how much time will it take or sudden falling ill of a family member and taking care of an unwell family member can be counted in ‘compulsory unpredicted tasks’ (Image 2). Activities like pursuing a hobby are not mandatory but are important as they bring fun, freedom and frees one from stress can be included in the category of ‘voluntary and predicted task’. While certain activities like a marriage of a distant relative can be included in ‘voluntary and maybe predictable or unpredictable task’ (Image 3) and can be avoided.

 

      

Image 1: Compulsory predicted task

  Image 2: Compulsory unpredicted task

 

Image 3: Voluntary predicted task (Hobbies)

The time of feeding the baby, playing with the baby, teaching a task to the baby, taking the baby for sightseeing, taking care of baby’s hygiene, a vaccination day or any other emergency are the tasks where the mother needs to attend the baby and cannot perform any other task. Such tasks can be categorized as ‘mother’s attention time’.

There are times when the baby sleeps and needs no attention but mother's presence is needed for feeding, patting and rocking the baby timely so that the baby feels secure, sleeps longer and peacefully. Under these circumstances, the mother can perform her tasks which require concentration. Such a task can be included in the category of ‘mother’s me time’. The tasks including office work, meditation or a hobby can be completed during this time. 

The time when the baby is engaged in playing by themselves and the mother simply is needed to be around for the baby’s safety while performing her mobile activities can be categorized as ‘mother’s mobile time’. The mobile activities include cooking, cleaning, etc. which require movement.

Apart from the predictable regimes, there are some unpredictable regimes (Image 4). Depending on the age of the baby (in months), the baby’s sleeping time, feeding time, activity time varies. The sleeping time of baby reduces with baby’s age which can increase the stress levels of the mother. Further, baby can wake up anytime, may get hungry anytime, may need cleaning any time and also, may need complete attention any time. A mother must be aware of the discussed uncertainties in the regime and confront the stress. This is where Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program comes into the picture. This program discusses "Accepting the Present as it is", which is a mantra for happiness and helps to confront stress. Thus, the new mothers should work in the direction of accepting reality as it is and try to accommodate her career dreams, happiness and self-fulfilment while being around the baby. This will not only facilitate the new mothers in shaping the baby’s initial months by nurturing the baby with all their time, love and affection but will also facilitate the new mother in not forgetting the women she is, her independence and in retaining herself the way she wants.

A new mother can manage her stress, retain her self and take care of the baby without losing her true self (perusing her dreams) by adopting the following measures-

I. Categorizing and prioritizing task (As explained in above sections)

A.) Compulsory predicted tasks, B.) Compulsory unpredicted tasks, C.) Voluntary and predicted task, D.) Voluntary and maybe a predictable or unpredictable task, E.) Mother’s attention time, F.) Mother’s mobile time, G.) Mother’s me time. A mother must prioritise compulsory tasks and not refrain if the timeline for voluntary task gets extended.

II. Get suitable toys: Having suitable toys and teaching baby to rightly play with the toys can engage the baby in activities which can help baby to build her cognition and help you perform other activities.

III. Singing songs or rhymes for baby: Singing songs or rhymes helps to enjoy her time.

IV. Taking power naps while making the baby sleep. The power nap can help in improving energy levels.

IV. Meditating for a minimum of 20 min while the baby is sleeping. Meditation can help new mothers to relax and improve work efficiency by reducing sleeping time for mothers. Meditation can be chanting a mantra or can be chanting simple ‘AUM’ (Meditations: Sadguru’s inner Engineering Program).

V. Maintaining strict hygiene conditions including keeping the floors, premises clean, cleaning baby’s toys, cleaning milk bottles regularly using bottle sterilizer can help to maintain babies health and reduce doctors visit. Also using disposable diapers instead of re-usable cloth diapers, making use of suitable anti-rash creams can be can help in maintaining hygiene for baby. Additionally, mosquito repellent can be used to protect the baby from mosquitoes.

VI. Get all electronic gadgets charged: Charging the electronic gadgets while doing the mobile task will allow a mother to work using a laptop/ mobile being close to the baby. This will help the baby to have a sound sleep as the baby frequently checks if someone is around them during the course of their sleep. Also, charging appliances will allow the mother to work in any corners and at any times, regardless of the charging points or power cuts.

VII. Maintain a minimum of five milk feeding bottles: Using five milk feeding bottles per day will help a mother to have sufficient me time as baby needs feeding while sleeping as well and feeding the baby while baby is asleep helps to prolong baby’s sleep time.

VIII. Use bottle sterilizer equipment Using automatic bottle sterilizer equipment instead of boiling bottles in an open vessel aids to save energy (time, fuel). Use a thermos bottle: Using a thermos bottle helps to keep the warm water ready for use when required for making the baby’s milk or baby’s feed. And can thus allow an efficient ‘me time’ for mothers. Also, using warm water for baby is required for the health of the baby.

IX. Feed and rock the baby while the baby is asleep: Feeding baby or rocking baby in arms (in case cradle is unavailable) or holding close in arms while the baby is asleep

X. During ‘me time’ work being next to baby, so that baby can be patted or given feed when required and hence mothers can prolong baby’s sleep.

XI. Accept that are and will be several uncertainties: There will be several uncertainties in both mother and baby’s regime which should not become stress triggers for the new mother.

XII. Mothers must write down the valuable ideas when they strike and plan to execute ideas stepwise in ‘me time’

XIII. If possible live in a joint family or hire people for assistance: The extra helping hands can help a working new mother to be emotionally balanced, be efficient in her activities and be a beautiful mother to the baby.

Thus, a new mother can provide the best care to her child as per her motherly instincts and continue with the activities that she loves (apart from taking care of her child) by making small changes in the day to day life and “ACCEPTING THE REALITY AS IT IS”.

Following are a few selected links  

Links for Sadguru's inner Engineering program: https://isha.sadhguru.org/inner-engineering-online/overview. Links of hygiene materials for baby safety and to easy work: floor cleaning 360⁰ mop https://amzn.to/3iNj6Gl, 5 L liquid floor disinfectant: https://amzn.to/3g4xwQT, wet wipes for baby: https://amzn.to/2DQuFxV, liquid handwash anti –germs after cleaning baby: https://amzn.to/2CwIyAq, Sanitizer spray for the room: https://amzn.to/30ZZzwq, hand sanitizer: https://amzn.to/2YaRyTD, baby moisturizer: https://amzn.to/3h4sogB, Baby bottle cleaning liquid odour free: https://amzn.to/3aBgbhd, Glass bottle cleaning brush set: https://amzn.to/3hci3zq, https://amzn.to/2Q0bZy7, Thermos bottle: https://amzn.to/34b7NDO Links for selective baby toys for building cognitive abilities of baby: https://amzn.to/3kMgkTL, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/3g8WWwp, https://amzn.to/310YfJA, https://amzn.to/3awOwOe, https://amzn.to/2Ef9Ag4. Links for baby diapers: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, https://amzn.to/313w9h5, https://amzn.to/2EeWHmc Links for baby feeding plastic bottles: https://amzn.to/3kSUWvV, https://amzn.to/3g1JBWY, Link for breast feeding pump for collecting milk https://amzn.to/310WxId, https://amzn.to/3haItBO Link for baby bottle sterilizer: https://amzn.to/2CzBTWd, Alexa: https://amzn.to/317YJ0s

Acknowledgement:

I would like to acknowledge Sadguru’s Inner Engineering program to make me realise to “Be certain in uncertain times by accepting the present situation as it is".