Comfort Zones

You may have heard this many times before, particularly in the workplace, but it seems to be quite an enduring idea that we should all get out of our comfort zones. That we need to somehow get uncomfortable, stressed or afraid to improve as people. It seems to be something that returns again and again in offices in particular and in terms of people development that feels like a failure of a duty of care.

I’ve never been fond of this idea that we need to get out of our comfort zones to grow and improve, and I do wonder if it’s somehow migrated from offices to culture at large,

happily pushed by people trying to sell us things.

For me, comfort zones are a place where we’re safe. Where we can just get on with things and live our lives. And to me we can get better at the things we love, we can get better as a whole, within that comfort zone just fine.

Telling us to get out of an environment or a routine where we feel safe is all well and good if you’re someone who feels safe all the time, but what about those of us who aren’t always safe or don’t always feel safe? Those of us who have had to or still have to make a special effort to build a situation where we’re okay in a world that’s not always designed for us? The notion of a comfort zone as lazy or as a type of stagnation just feels privileged and out of date.

So let’s throw this idea that someone being comfortable is a problem in the bin once and for all.

As a counsellor, I think it’s healthier to be more direct. If we’re genuinely unhappy about something in our lives, whether we’re bored or feeling unchallenged, or there’s something upsetting us, then let’s use that language. Counselling can help you explore what’s going on. It can help you discover your values and what really matters to you as a person, and set you on a new road where you might feel more fulfilled.

But don’t feel pressured to make changes or somehow torture yourself just because you find yourself comfortable and ‘safe.’ You deserve to feel comfortable and safe. Life is tough enough.

If you’d like to work with me on your mental health, get in touch by completing the online form or emailing me directly at mckellarCBT@gmail.com