Times are changing!! We all should get out of our comfort zone. But really, what does it take to do it when we’re all facing uncertain times and financial doom and gloom??

It’s certainly is a pointed topic for both now and in the future:-)

I started 2010 in despair, having lost my longtime job as a corporate communicator (and related identity) and turning 60. Then I began my deep dive into learning and applying social media, reawakening a passion for life that is now taking me in exciting new directions. I’m now engaged half-time to set up and be the voice of a Canadian business across several social media channels. Doing this on a shoestring means I have to learn and use the tools myself. That can drain my battery like nothing else! But the successes are so sweet. Taking this risk has also led to a renewed faith in people. I’ve discovered so many great and giving souls through these channels.

I’m a big fan of SYTYCD. I actually watched the episode you talked about twice, staying up till 2 a.m. so I could experience it again! I love being part of and celebrating the dancers’ journeys, albeit remotely.

But the point you make about knowing how to do what seems risky is true; the problem is, most folks have that knowledge worked out of them by repetition of comfort, and then forget they even had the knowledge to start with…

Sure Alex Wong is a ballet dancer but he is a dancer. He knows how to move his body so it’s a stretch that becomes possible. The thing with getting out of our comfort zone is we make it seem so foreign. Many of our stretches simply take our current skills and apply them in a different environment or with different methods. As Alex Wong knows he can use his body to move to music, we can trust that we already know how to do what seems risky.

We all to remain aware of the fact that most of the time we do operate in our comfort zone so that we can encourage ourselves to get out of it an push the boundary.

Not as easy as it sounds though. I suspect i am not alone in the fact that when I know I need to go beyond what I’m doing that I don’t know where to start. It’s not just simply a question of saying “I must move beyond my comfort zone” – putting it into practice is what counts. For me, this is where getting a good mentor or two on board can really help.

Thanks for sharing dude.

One of my best friends, Susan Murphy, is a hugely accomplished speaker. Yet she would be the first to say that each time makes her as nervous as heck, but she just gets out there and gets it done. So yes, definitely a great way to build your confidence.