Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone
At the beginning of the month, we talked about how survivors of sexual or other kinds of abuse often create a comfort zone for themselves.
This is our “known zone.” It is familiar to us but can keep us stuck and prevent us from growing.
In this blog, we will explore what a comfort zone might look like for you and how to move beyond it and into your healing zone.
Visualizing your Comfort Zone
First, get comfortable in your seat and take three cleansing breaths.
- If you are able, close your eyes.
- Allow yourself to envision your comfort zone.
Next, consider, what have you surrounded yourself with to feel safe and secure.
- What does it look like? Color? Texture?
- What does it feel like?
- What is it protecting?
- What is it keeping out?
- What is it preventing you to experience?
Now, if you have a journal, write down the thoughts that came to you. Maybe draw what your comfort zone looks like.
Moving into your Healing Zone
Here is the next step: ask yourself, “Is the value of staying in this comfort zone outweighed by the value of stretching yourself to begin to embrace the life you want and the person you would want to be?”
Now, if you want to take a step towards stretching, let’s go back to visualizing.
- Once again, take three deep breaths.
- Now allow yourself to envision the person you would want to be.
- Does an image come to you?
- How would you want to be seen?
- What would you want to claim for yourself?
Finally, capture what came to you in your journal. If an image came to you describe or capture it.
Stretching Yourself
Now identify one small thing you can do to stretch out of your comfort zone and begin to claim for yourself.
My comfort zone was to “not stand out” because that could make me vulnerable. This created a layer between me and others. I want to be seen as kind, fun, and insightful by those around me.
- A small step toward kindness could be to notice those around me more and take action to show that I care.
- A small step for fun could be to think of something I would enjoy doing and invite someone to join me or to spontaneously respond to something that brings me joy.
- A small step toward being insightful could be to have the confidence to speak what I know to be true.
The important things to remember as you seek to grow and move out of your comfort zone are:
- Recognize where you are and what walls you have created,
- Identify the direction you would like to move, and
- Take small, achievable steps to begin to grow into the wonderful person you were meant to be!
If you would like to claim your beautiful self even more, the book, Awakening the Light: A Survivors to Thrivers Going-Forward Story takes you step by step to identify your innate self and those things that keep you stuck in your comfort zone. You can purchase the paperback book or e-book through our Book tab.
Here is one review of the book:
“The move from darkness, shame and silence to light, love and freedom is possible when we have the courage to acknowledge and face the harm we have experienced. It is the gift of the honest and helpful book to make this hard and necessary work seem possible.”
LeDayne McLeese Polaski, M.Div., ED of Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network
At Survivors to Thrivers, we are committed to encouraging and supporting you as you seek to embrace your healing and growth.
We would love to hear the steps you have taken to move outside your comfort zone.
Please know we are here to cheer you on– every step of the way!
Talk To Tambry
I am glad you have taken the time to engage with this blog. Sometimes it is helpful to process new insights that emerge. If you would appreciate brief time with a someone who understands, our Talk to Tambry offering is for you. For 30 minutes, you can receive support from Tambry who is a certified life coach, spiritual director and a survivor who has been on the journey as well. This is offered at a reduced rate of $50.
