Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

“In order to improve you must get out of your comfort zone. Compete.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns

We are on the verge of yet another March Madness. The NCAA Basketball Tournament and all of its excitement and glory offers a great opportunity to see competition at its highest level and in its most passionate form. The chosen teams have competed for nearly five months, working to improve so that they will have an opportunity to win the championship trophy.

A comfort zone is a place where we have no stress and feel safe. It is created by the habit of doing the same thing all the time or by staying within certain limits we are confident about operating inside. We are comfortable in our routines and I don’t think that is a bad thing. Many times, being in our comfort zone can allows us to perform tasks at a high level of efficiency and creates great contentment in our current situation. However, it can be trap for the unwary as well.

Contentment leaves us vulnerable when we are in a competitive situation. Those teams in the NCAA Tournament cannot be content with their ordinary performance level when they are competing in a “loser leaves” scenario. Those that will win multiple games in the tournament will have to play different styles of basketball, uncomfortable ones, and the players, teams, and coaches that can adapt to the pressure of being outside of their comfort zone will likely prevail. Those that “compete” regardless of the circumstances will give themselves a better opportunity to win the contest.

When we stretch our muscles further, they become more limber. When we lift more weight than we have previously, our muscles get stronger. When we step out and develop relationships with persons outside of our normal group, we open ourselves to personal growth. When we open ourselves to new ideas, we grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. No matter the context, our age, or our perceived limitations, we can all stretch to grow on any level we so choose.

Where do you need to “compete” and grow in your life? Athletically, at your job, financially, in school, in your relationships? All present opportunities to stretch beyond what has been comfortable and to experience growth. Coach pushed his players to do more than what they were comfortable with. He constantly pushed for improvement and achieved results by pushing us to compete at the highest level we were capable of competing.

As you watch March Madness, reflect on the effort expended and the focus on improvement by the players and coaches involved. Apply effort and focus to an area of your life where you can stretch and grow. Compete for a more full life, open to opportunity, and deserving of the blessings that await.