Since the time we were enrolled into kindergarten for the point of meeting new kids and benefiting from social interaction, we have been encouraged to step out of our comfort zones and into the "unknown zone," where nothing is for certain. In this realm of uncertainty, we aren't sure if we'll blend well with the new people we meet, we're unsure if they'll accept us for who we are, and we can never be certain when the right time to let our barriers down is.

So if stepping out of our comfort zone is so uncomfortable (and potentially dangerous), then why is it encouraged, and why should we do it?

Well here's a little saying that has always summed it up well for me...

It all goes to show that whatever you want to call it: magic, life, adventure...the pivotal stuff all happens outside of our comfort zones, and that's why it's so important for all of us to try to step out of it time and time again.

For most people (like myself), our life inside the safe and comfy comfort zone consists of sticking to what's known, and commonly being referred to as a creature of habit by those who know us. But if we all reflect back on our lives then I'm sure that we can all trace pivotal moments, memories, and experiences to times where we weren't in our own personal safety bubble. (Myself included!)

These various moments were most likely filled with anxiety, excitement, and probably some fear. Although, no matter if these moments turned out to be amazing experiences, or served as times to look back on as something you'll never do again, they served as important learning experiences for our futures.

All of our interests, and what we want out of life is different, and because of this we will all have different ideas of what it actually means to step out of our comfort zones. For those of us who are more quiet, putting ourselves out there to meet new people is hard; and for those others who are the social butterflies, it can be a challenge to find time for yourself or to just simply spend a night in.

Overall, stepping out of our individual comfort zones is something I believe to be difficult and scary...but also necessary. There are so many opportunities in our lives that would have been missed if we hadn't taken the fateful leap, and stepped out of our bubbles.