30 days Outside of my comfort zone

Written By Soso

I spent 30 days doing things outside of my comfort zone - from dining by myself to going on a hike for the first time - here are my thoughts.

What I learned

  • The moments when my courage was required most - when I was actually facing true discomfort - were the ones I didn’t share online

  • The more I lived outside of my comfort zone (even if just a little bit), the easier it got over time to be bolder. It was like a muscle you could train.

  • Even when I initially wanted to do the challenge for 30 consecutive days, I allowed myself to shift that goal to post 30 posts in total. That adjustment took off some pressure - yet since I had already started with the series publicly, I wanted to stay accountable.

  • Coming up with challenges wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Honestly, a week might have been enough :)

  • I realized that most of the time, my head was my biggest obstacle. This challenge helped me rephrase my mantras that I had been telling myself, break through my limiting beliefs, and speak more kindly to myself.

  • Speaking of which: how you talk to yourself during moments of discomfort MATTERS. Your brain cannot distiguish between truth and lies and thus believes what you are telling it.

Why you should do this challenge too

Under the premise of doing a self-experiment, dip your toes into the cold water of discomfort. You might find that the water will soon no longer feel cold, or that cold waters still scare you, and that’s okay. There is no right or wrong on how to start.

Pick one or multiple things you have (secretly) always wanted to try and tell yourself:

“It’s for the challenge!”

Gamify your experience to make it more fun or tolerable. You’ll learn that discomfort is temporary . (Just to be clear, I am only referring to things you are fully consenting to.)

You don’t have to share your experience online - but I do recommend journaling or noting them down. It becomes a record of your growth! :)

List of all the challenges

(These are personal items and may not be fitting for your challenge)

  1. Dining by yourself

  2. Discover something that is new to you

  3. Move your body in a new way

  4. Be f*cking for real (share vulnerable thoughts, doubts, etc.)

  5. share something embarrassing

  6. Try out a new food spot

  7. Do something that helps others

  8. Wear that outfit

  9. Don’t use your phone (I technically failed this challenge, but then again, my city was in a state of crisis)

  10. Anger Management

  11. Declutter

  12. Speak in Upper Austrian dialect

  13. Announce your (hosting) retirement

  14. Analysing your finances

  15. Fixing the mess (clean up your apartment)

  16. Call yourself out on your BS

  17. share your dream

  18. share a random skill you’re not good at (yet)

  19. share a video using B-roll only

  20. romanticise your life

  21. on shame

  22. share about a new chapter

  23. a CATWALK

  24. pose for photos in public

  25. Go to church (I got invited)

  26. share your Summer reset

  27. celebrate WINS

  28. Life lessons you didn’t want to, but probably needed to learn

  29. Go on a hike for the first time

  30. share an honest glimpse of your life

Final thoughts

“30 days outside of my comfort zone” has shown me that every small step matters. You may not always be able to see the end goal or where exactly you are heading, but you can always take a small step forward. You can also rest, lift up your head, and take in your surroundings - the view might be a different than 30 days ago.

You’ll be surprised to (re)discover parts of yourself you thought you had buried or had not known existed :)

BE BOLD,
Soso

Soso
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