First a quote: “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Hello and happy Monday.
Recently, I had the privilege of working with senior leaders from a Fortune 500 company. It was a truly rewarding experience! The participants were engaged, eager to learn, and enthusiastic about coaching and sharing their insights with each other.
As part of this learning experience, the participants were tasked with completing an “action learning project.” These team-based projects allow them to apply newly acquired skills and insights into real-world scenarios.
A senior leader introduced these projects, explaining that participants were given real business challenges to research, explore, and potentially solve. Interestingly, these challenges were intentionally assigned outside their areas of expertise—and, by extension, beyond their comfort zones.
These projects were referred to as “stretch assignments,” designed to push participants beyond their current comfort zones, expand their knowledge, and enhance their skill sets.
Hearing about these stretch assignments reminded me of an article I first wrote in 2019.
Here it is:
The Power of Stepping Beyond Your Comfort Zone
As humans, we are creatures of habit. We take the same route to work, sit in the same chair at meetings, and follow daily routines, from the coffee we drink to how we start our mornings. Many begin each day immersed in our devices or responding to texts and emails.
Even in our free time, we tend to gravitate toward familiar activities.
While routine can be comforting, it can also be limiting. Staying within the confines of familiarity may restrict personal growth, learning, and the richness of life experiences.
Perhaps you’re living in a “comfort zone prison” of your own making.
If you reflect on your life, and your significant learning events, I predict most happened outside your comfort zone.
Think about the first time you rode a bike, learned to ski, started a new job, learned a new skill, or spoke in front of an audience. Those moments of discomfort were also moments of tremendous growth.
I suspect your list of “uncomfortable lessons learned” during those times of discomfort are almost endless.
Our most powerful learning experiences often occur beyond the edges of our comfort zones, in what I call the “learning zone.” This zone is inherently uncomfortable.
“Most everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.” – Jack Canfield
How Adults Learn Best
Research suggests that many adults retain very little from long lectures and PowerPoint presentations. (I can personally attest to both delivering and enduring my share of “death by PowerPoint” sessions! 😊)
As seasoned facilitators, we find that experiential learning activities and simulations are far more effective at nudging participants out of their comfort zones and into their learning zones.
However, every individual has a unique learning style. Some participants eagerly contribute to class discussions, while others may not speak at all unless encouraged. The size of our personal comfort and learning zones varies greatly.
Striking a balance that works for all can be a challenge in group learning situations.
Each of us tends to learn differently. The size of our individual comfort and learning zones are all unique in size and shape.
When pushing people out of their comfort zones, it is important to recognize most adults don’t learn well when forced beyond their learning zone and into their “terror zone” either. (See illustration above.)
For example, I vividly recall being called to the chalkboard in my high school algebra class to solve a problem in front of my peers. I was so anxious the only lesson I learned that day was how much I disliked algebra!
Finding the Right Balance
The key is to challenge ourselves without overwhelming ourselves. This principle applies not just to workshops but to life in general.
So, I ask you: Where are your comfort zones limiting your learning, growth, or ability to live life to the fullest?
As we move forward in 2025, perhaps now is the time to step outside our comfort zones. What that looks like will differ for each of us.
Ideas for Expanding the Size of Your Comfort Zone
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Feeling stagnant at work? Volunteer for a special project, ask for a lateral transfer, or shadow a colleague to learn new skills. Consider starting a “lunch & learn” series led by volunteers.
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Looking to mix things up? Try a new recipe, visit a restaurant with a cuisine you’ve never had, or order something different from your go-to spot.
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Feeling lonely or uninspired? Sign up for a class, teach a class, join a club, or start one. If you love reading, consider launching a book club in your community.
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Want to expand your network? Join Toastmasters, enroll in an adult learning course at a local university, or explore a topic that intrigues you but is completely new.
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Have you been putting off a hobby or project out of fear? Now might be the perfect time to take the leap.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Have you had any personal discoveries while stretching your comfort zones? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Related articles:
Are you currently living in a “comfort zone prison” of your own making?
How will you live, love, or lead, differently, or better, this coming week?
Bonus Quotes Below.
Sincerely,
Bryan Yager
“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”
- This article was first published on December 8, 2019. It has been revised and updated here.
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Bonus Quotes:
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“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fear.” – Les Brown
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“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.” – Rudyard Kipling
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“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!” – Jillian Michaels
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“Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place?” – Carlos A. Godoy
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“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb
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“All growth starts at the end of your comfort zone.” – Tony Robbins
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“Everything we want is outside of our comfort zone and on the other side of fear.” – Sivaprakash Sidhu
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“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
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“Before anything great is really achieved, your comfort zone must be disturbed.” – Ray Lewis
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“The only thing that is stopping you from where you are to where you want to go is your comfort zone.” – Dhaval Gaudier
