Fear, Your Comfort Zone, and Success

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Fear, Your Comfort Zone, and Success. How much do you know about fear, your zone of comfort, and its impact on your success? As I was writing my fourth book, Becoming Unbelievably Successful, I started recognising three things that hold us back from success.

1. Stress: The more we stress about things (work, money, relationships, health, etc.), the harder it is for us to focus on being successful.

2. Complacency: Complacency is genuinely a detriment to motivation, and when we are not motivated, we stall on our success journey.

3. Fear: The silent killer of success!

No one talks about fear!

Why?

Because no one wants to admit that they have fears. Admitting that you have a fear makes you feel vulnerable, and no one likes feeling vulnerable.

However, many people really do not understand fear – probably because no one talks about it. Therefore, they do not know what is happening or how to overcome the effects. More specifically, they do not know what is happening to their comfort zone.

The “Zones”

Traditionally, people often talk about the four zones that we commonly deal with. They are the zones of comfort, fear, learning, and growth, in that order. These four zones are often depicted as four concentric circles, with the zone of comfort as the smallest and the zone of growth as the largest.

This is a misrepresentation of what is actually happening in this depiction. Typically, our zone of fear is much larger and foreboding than the other zones, while the zones of learning and growth are relatively small, as we do not spend much time in these zones.

Our Zone of Comfort

Our zone of comfort is a psychological space where our behaviours and activities fit patterns and routines that minimise stress and risk. This zone provides a state of mental security. Within this sphere of tranquility, there is little anxiety, and our emotional well-being is safeguarded.

Our comfort zone is the environment where most of us function on autopilot, drawing from established habits, routines, and knowledge. Essentially, the comfort zone is a cosy, predictable bubble that makes us feel safe and protected.

While our comfort zone offers protection from potential failures and uncertainties, it also holds back things like exploration, innovation, and personal growth, which are necessary for success. Although this zone provides emotional security and minimises stress, it can also be a breeding ground for stagnation. When we constantly operate within our comfort zone, we miss out on new experiences, knowledge, and skills.

This level of comfort can lead to complacency, where we feel content with where we are, resulting in resistance to change and a lowered ambition to strive for more. Complacency prevents us from seeking out new challenges, and when we do not challenge ourselves, we curb our potential and limit our paths to success.

Growing Our Zone of Comfort

Moving from the zone of comfort to the zone of learning involves confronting and pushing through our fears. But mere learning is not enough. We might read a book about skydiving, but that does not make us fearless and competent jumpers. The real expansion of our comfort zone happens when we apply our learning. This takes place in the zone of growth. For instance, after reading that book on skydiving, we then take the leap ourselves. By actively applying what we learned, we not only gain experience but also expand the boundaries of our comfort zone.

Doing this repeatedly builds a vast zone of comfort. This allows us to operate in many ways without fear, since we are comfortable with the areas of learning that are not scary anymore.

What Happens When Fear Stops Us

If we consistently allow fear to deter us from venturing outside of our comfort zone, the zone starts to shrink. Every time we decide not to take a risk, or avoid a challenge, our world becomes a little smaller. When we do step out into the zone of fear and are pushed back because we cannot deal with the fears we face, the zone grows smaller still.

Over time, this can result in an extreme aversion to anything unfamiliar. The effects can be so debilitating that some may find themselves paralyzed by fear, unwilling to venture outside their home or take on even the smallest of new tasks. This heightened state of fear will lead to missed opportunities, regrets, and an overall reduced quality of life.

Steps to Success

Achieving success often requires navigating intricate emotional and cognitive terrains. While the path might be lined with obstacles, understanding certain vital principles can illuminate the way forward. Here are three fundamental steps to guide you on your journey to success:

1. Push through your zone of fear. Acknowledge the fear, but do not let it dominate you. The more you face your fears, the more power you take away from them.

2. Turn learning into growth. Actively apply what you learn. It is in the application that you truly grow and evolve.

3. Avoid complacency. Always seek new challenges. As you grow and evolve, your comfort zone will too. But remember, the key is not to get too cosy. Always keep that thirst for learning and growth alive.

In the journey towards success, understanding and navigating our zones is paramount. While the comfort zone offers security, it can lead to complacency, which is a barrier to growth. Fear, on the other hand, while daunting, is a signpost indicating where growth lies beyond. By pushing through fear, turning our learnings into actionable growth, and avoiding the pitfalls of complacency, we can continually expand our comfort zone and pave the way for success.

Remember, it is not about eliminating fear but mastering it, and in doing so, we unlock the doors to our full potential.

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John Knotts
John is a personal and professional business coach and consultant with over 30 years of experience in military, non-profit, and commercial leadership and operations. He has an extensive background in strategy, change, process, leadership, management, human capital, training and education, innovation, design, and communication. John is a 21-year Air Force Veteran, was a former consultant with Booz | Allen | Hamilton, and was a strategic business advisor with USAA. John owned a consulting business, Crosscutter Enterprises, since retiring from the Air Force in 2008. He’s been very involved in non-profit organizations since the early 1990s. John was a Doctoral student in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology with Walden; holds a Master’s Degree in Quality Systems Management from National Graduate School; and his Bachelor’s is in Management from American Military School. He has a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Smarter Solutions, a Master’s-level certification as a Change Management Advanced Practitioner from Georgetown University, and Change Management certification from Prosci. Additionally, he has had extensive training and education in information technology, project management, and agile methodologies. John has an extensive writing, speaking, facilitating, and teaching background. In the Air Force, he was instructor-certified and is an Advanced Toastmaster with experience in 13 different clubs in Europe and the United States. John’s also a certified Master Speechwriter. For both National Graduate School and Hallmark University, John’s been an Adjunct Professor. He’s published six books, is an avid blogger, and is a prolific writer for Forbes. John and his wife, Lori, enjoy horses, golf, reading, writing, and traveling. Together, they own Fine Print Farms, an Equestrian Eventing Destination in the Texas Hill Country. They also are the founders of two equine-related non-profits.