However, with the slow process of integrating into a new country, I’ve slowly questioned why we are so afraid of leaving our comfort zones? From an evolutionary perspective, comfort zones make sense. It was better to stay warm and toasty in the cave than risk losing energy outside and being consumed by a bear – okay, maybe that last one still has some truth for Alaska! However, on the whole I’ve come to see that while our comfort zones protect us from uncomfortable new situations, they also prevent us from growing.

 

I am guilty of this. I can think of endless times I’ve sat in my cave watching Netflix, avoiding that trip I’ve put off or a hobby I’ve always wanted to do, but was too scared to go to the class alone. I’d constantly justify my excuses, and eventually, the cave became my routine, sheltering me from my potential. The amusing thing is, as soon as I stepped out of it, I realized the cave wasn’t such a comfortable option after all. Stepping outside of my comfort zone has made me realize that our comfort zones will grow over time if we challenge them. As they do so, opening up the world for us to explore in ways you never thought possible.

 

I may not have figured out exactly how to get a credit card or why the grocery stores are just so big, however, I have become more fearless, more confident and made some fantastic friends already. I can also safely say I have never felt more fulfilled in my life.

 

There’s a saying coined by American author John A. Shed that reads, “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for”.