Jane Thrall

I never saw my father wear a pair of shorts or sandals in the summer . He had one ancient bathing suit that he wore for his entire adult life . With the exception of Christmas morning , he ate the same breakfast every day . My father was not comfortable with change .

As a child I never gave this much thought ; I didn ’ t recognize the significance of his desire to stay within his comfort zone and how this was reflected in his life choices .

A person ’ s comfort zone encompasses more than what clothes they like to wear or what foods they prefer to eat . A narrow range of comfort can affect all aspects of their life including work , pastimes , and relationships .

The comfort zone is a state of being where a person ’ s anxiety level is neutral , they are neither bored nor overstimulated . It ’ s a “ happy place ” where a person feels relaxed and in control .

People are pretty good at measuring the perimeter of their own comfort zones . These boundaries are partially determined by the emotions they envision themselves experiencing while performing a certain task or activity . If the emotion is fear or anxiety , the activity may fall outside their comfort zone and what may seem mundane to one person can be overwhelming for another .

This can result in lost opportunities for growth , learning new skills , or taking on challenges . There ’ s a risk of becoming complacent and possibly not reaching one ’ s full potential .

So why do some people stay firmly planted within their own comfort zone ?

Well , it ’ s obviously far less risky . There ’ s little chance of failure or rejection if you stay planted in one spot . Be it your career , your relationship , or your home , the comfort zone is a pretty safe place to be if you ’ re nervous about change .

Some people love to push beyond their usual scope of comfort while others get extremely anxious trying new things . It ’ s important to understand that a person with a smaller comfort zone isn ’ t deliberately trying to thwart progress ; they may genuinely be happier where they are .

Nor is it simply a matter of introverts being less bold than extroverts . Some people can be an extrovert in social circumstances but cautious about attempting a new physical activity . An introvert may

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