Habits allow to you be efficient at things. You don’t have to think about what to do, your habits let you get on and do it.

Without habits, life would be clunky and tedious and we’d all be having to think harder about things we don’t really want to think about.

Habits create comfort zones. As the name implies, comfort zones are a set of behaviours and thoughts that you have tried and tested and now feel very comfortable – even when they’re dull or inappropriate.

This morning on twitter I tweeted about stepping out of comfort zones and @adamskib replied saying “reeta, I am rarely IN my comfort zone!! I get bored easily.”

I can completely relate to Adam’s statement because I too find it very easy to develop new interests and learn new skills and as a result, I am never bored or lacking things to do.

However, as I thought more about what Adam said, it struck me that comfort zones come in all shapes and sizes and that developing new interests and learning new skills is actually within my comfort zone! I may be stretching myself with the skill I’m learning but making the decision to learn the new skill is a habit.

There’s nothing wrong with this because this habit of mine – this comfort zone – is one that supports me. It does not hinder.

Remember, just because something is a comfort zone, it doesn’t mean that you MUST step out of it. Not all habits are bad habits. Some are fabulously efficient.

I asked a few people to define a comfort zone and the common consensus was that stretching a comfort zone involves making some kind of a grand statement such as running a marathon or walking out of a relationship that’s not working.

Sometimes, it is appropriate to stretch yourself in a “grand statement” kind of way. But often, it’s the small things that have the greatest impact.

Some of the most profound changes to your life come through changing a simple, habitual everyday behaviour… Something like the way you respond to someone who is annoying… Or perhaps the way you rush around in the morning only paying superficial attention to the people you love.

Make one small change to one simple behaviour. Create a habit that creates a comfort zone that supports you.

What kind of amazing ripples would changing one small habit create in your life?

Photo Credit: Topsoft

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