Why You NEED to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

When I realized how many things I could cross off my bucket list Cape Town, South Africa, I made it my mission every week to step out of my comfort zone in a big way.

Stepping out of my comfort zone caused a spike in my anxiety and all the acid reflux, nausea, sweating, and teeth grinding that comes with that. I spent most of the month stressed out and sometimes just plain scared.

However, the unease I felt also took me one step closer to becoming the worldly, emotionally intelligent, strong woman living with mental illness I strive to be.

Here’s how my month went.

Week One

I got used to walking around a city known for being unsafe. I felt on-edge anytime I walked somewhere. I clutched my bag and walked quickly on well-populated roads, but I still felt threatened when followed by homeless people begging for food or money.

I often felt depressed and trapped—especially after some women in my travel group were robbed at knifepoint. All I wanted was to be somewhere safe and comfortable, but I kept going out into the streets. Despite my fear, I felt I owed it to the people of Cape Town to really see their city and learn about the troubled history that led to it being seen as such an unsafe place.

Week Two

I went cage diving with sharks. The sharks didn’t really scare me, but the intense wind and nauseating waves that came with it sure did. My stomach turned the whole time we were out at sea. I was anxious and embarrassed to admit that I just wanted to be back on land.

Week Three

I went skydiving. My anxiety shot through the roof when the small plane took off. I was sure I would throw up on my tandem jumper. I spent the ride praying that when I inevitably died on this jump, I would end up in heaven. It was stressful, to say the least.

Week Four

I flew to Sabi Sands in Kruger National Park for a four-day safari trip. I slept in a tent in the middle of the bush with only a thin electric fence to keep the big animals out. I sat really still in the safari vehicle while a leopard decided if it wanted to eat us. I made it through a near-attack of angry monkeys. After three days bouncing around in the truck, my back was wrecked, I was exhausted, and I was ready to rejoin civilization.

Why Did I Do It?

Why did I go out of my way to feel more uncomfortable than I already do living with anxiety and depression? After all, my anxiety causes headaches, acid reflux, and shaky hands on a good day. My depression makes me chronically tired and causes me to question my relationships with others daily. Logically, it doesn’t make sense to add an upset stomach, an injured back, and a general sense of unease to my long list of day-to-day issues.

When I was first diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression, stepping out of my comfort zone felt like the worst thing to do. I never felt strong enough to take on the added stress. It was safer to just stay where I felt comfortable and focus on caring for myself.

But what I’ve learned over the years is that staying in my comfort zone is the worst thing for me to do. If I never leave my comfort zone, then I never grow. I never learn what makes my anxiety and depression worse and what doesn’t. Inside my comfort zone, I never develop the skills I need to ease my mental illness or to become a better person.

Walking around the streets of Cape Town forced me to examine my privilege and prejudices and work to counter them. Shark diving reminded me that I can get through the rough patches on my own (with the help of ginger candies). By skydiving, I proved that I am stronger than I often believe and taught myself how to face real danger. On safari, I once again recognized the need for self-care, both mental and physical, and was forced to admit that I am not invincible and I can’t survive on my own.

Yes, my month in Cape Town was stressful and scary, but it was also a remarkable experience that I will never forget. I learned things about the world and myself I didn’t know before. I saw intense beauty and intense pain. I felt waves of overwhelming terror and waves of overwhelming gratitude and love. And I wouldn’t have felt that if I’d stayed in my apartment with a good book.

Your Turn

Stepping out of your comfort zone might seem unnecessary and crazy, but in reality, it’s exactly what you need to do to build mental resilience and find your happiness.

You don’t have to jump out of a plane. Instead, attend a party or networking event that makes you anxious. Talk to someone close to you about your mental illness and how it affects you. Those things can feel just as scary and stressful as swimming with sharks or having a staring contest with a wild leopard.

My challenge for you this week is to do one thing that takes you out of your comfort zone. Share a photo (if applicable) of your experience on Instagram and tag it with #ComfortZoneChallengeAccepted. I can’t wait to see how you choose to grow. Maybe your posts will help me decide how I should step out of my comfort zone next.